What are OSHA’s Top Fall Construction Risk Hazards that Cause Accidents and How Do You Prepare for Them?

Any business owner involved in the construction industry knows that working from heights is just part of the job. Unfortunately falls are also one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in construction work. But did you also know that falls can be prevented?

This Construction Safety Guide will go over everything you need to know to keep your employees safe and substantially reduce the risk of fall hazards, so everyone goes home safe at the end of their shift.

Understanding Fall Hazards

When evaluating your worksite for fall hazards you will typically find four categories that fall under this type of safety concern. These four categories include elevated work surfaces, unprotected edges, floor openings, and unstable surfaces. Below we will cover what these hazards are and how to properly train your employees to recognize them.

Elevated Work Surfaces

Any surface that is raised above the ground can be considered an elevated work surface. This can include ladders, scaffolding, etc. Employers should make sure that there is some type of guardrail or handrail that prevents workers from falling off these elevated surfaces. You should also ensure that your workers are wearing proper PPE such as hard hats and steel toe boots when working on elevated areas.

Unprotected Edges

Edges that have the potential to cause someone to fall are known as unprotected edges. An example of this would be an open stairwell that does not have a guardrail. Just because someone may not fall several feet down your staircase doesn’t mean they will be okay after falling. That is why it’s important to place guardrails or some type of handrail whenever you have an unprotected edge.

Floor Openings

Similar to unprotected edges, floor openings can cause someone to fall significant distances. Floor openings can be something as simple as damaged material used on a walking surface. To help prevent someone from getting hurt by falling due to a floor opening it is best that you regularly inspect your workplace and repair any openings immediately.

Unstable Surfaces

The last fall hazard is unstable surfaces. These are also floors that could cause someone to fall but are caused by different factors. Unstable surfaces can be wet floors or freshly painted surfaces. Before allowing your workers to walk on any unstable surfaces, ensure the area has been secured to prevent falls.

Fall Arrest Equipment Necessary for Protection

Fall Hazard Evaluation & Planning

The key to preventing falls is planning, training, and ensuring you have the right fall protection equipment ready to go. Below we will go over some tips to help you properly plan for fall hazards.

Conduct a Hazard Assessment

Performing a hazard assessment will allow you to identify risks that your employees may encounter while on the job. When performing your assessment, there are many factors you should take into consideration. Such as Working Conditions, Equipment, Materials being Used, Tasks being Performed, and even Employee Capability.

Benefits of Conducting a Hazard Assessment

There are many benefits to your business when performing hazard assessments. Not only will it help you identify hazards before they become an issue but also will help you save money. Avoiding accidents and injuries can be extremely costly. Performing regular hazard assessments can also help you ensure that your safety policies are up to date and being followed correctly.

How to Identify & Evaluate Fall Hazards

Working at heights is one of the most dangerous tasks that a construction worker can perform. Every year falls cause hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries. Fortunately, with proper planning and training these accidents can be avoided!

To help you identify and evaluate fall hazards on your worksite we have prepared a step by-step guide on how to protect your employees from falling.

Run Through each of These Steps to Identify and Evaluate Fall Hazards

• Conducting a risk assessment- Before beginning any project you should always perform a risk assessment. Make sure you identify all possible fall hazards such as unprotected edges, openings, scaffolding, etc. Remember to have some of your workers and supervisors help run you through the risk assessment as they’ll know the worksite best.
• Fall protection plan- Once you have identified all fall hazards it’s time to prepare a fall protection plan. This is a customized plan that will outline how you will prevent workers from falling. Things to be included in your plan are employee training, properly maintaining your equipment, and even site inspections.
• Train your employees- As mentioned before, training your employees on fall hazards and how to stay safe when working at heights is essential. Ensure that they know how to properly use all fall protection equipment as well.
• Use proper equipment- Providing your workers with fall protection equipment is just as important as training them. Falls can happen so quickly and to prevent any injuries ensure that you have all the correct equipment prepared.
• Encourage safety- Lastly, fall prevention should be every employer and employee’s main priority. Not only should you have the correct fall protection equipment and training, but you should also encourage your employees to stay safe. Allow them to help run you through safety inspections and speak up if they think something on your worksite isn’t safe.

Fall Protection Training Will Help Prevent Falls

Fall Prevention & Safety Measures

Once you have identified fall hazards it’s important to take the proper steps to prevent them. Fall prevention can fall under a few different categories. These include Engineering controls, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment.

Engineering Controls

These types of controls will help to eliminate fall hazards by creating a barrier between the employee and the fall hazard. Such as guardrails, safety nets, or even fall arrest systems.

Administrative Controls

Administrative Controls will help to prevent employee injuries by ensuring you have set safety procedures and training. An example of this would be safety meetings or toolbox talks. Or even implementing a buddy system and assigning someone to be a job site safety officer.

Personal Protective Equipment

As mentioned above, fall protection equipment should always be used when working at heights. Fall Protection Equipment can include safety harnesses and lanyards, helmets, and even slip-resistant shoes.