Free Fallin’

Employers are required to provide working conditions that are free of known hazards.

Falls are among the most common causes of serious work related injuries and deaths.

OSHA standards dictate that fall protection be provided at four foot heights in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.

This requires employers to put procedures in place to prevent falls off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls.

Fall protection is also required when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

According to OSHA, here’s what employers must do to prevent injuries from falls:

• Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover).
• Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway.
• Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt) employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling and getting injured.
• Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
• Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails.

Here is a resource list from OSHA to assist employers in fall prevention.

• Prevention Videos (v-Tools): Construction Hazards. OSHA, (2011). Intended to assist those in the industry to identify, reduce, and eliminate construction-related hazards. Most of the videos are 2 to 4 minutes long, presented in clear, easily accessible vocabulary, and show common construction worksite activities. There are several related to Falls in Construction, including Floor Openings, Fixed Scaffolds, Bridge Decking, Reroofing and Leading Edge Work.
• Fall Protection in General Industry. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3257), (December 2010). Provides fall protection hazard prevention methods.
• Aerial Lift Fall Protection — Over Water in Shipyards. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3452), (September 2011).
• Fall Protection Safety Tips Sheets for Employers and Employees.OSHA and the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Alliance. Two tip sheets, one for employers and one for workers, covering hazards and prevention methods.
• Stairways and Ladders: A Guide to OSHA Rules (PDF). OSHA Publication 3124, (2003). Informational booklet explaining OSHA requirements as they apply to stairways and ladders, as well as glossary of commonly used terms.
• OSHA and Lamar Bridgeport Alliance Working to Improve Safety and Health of the Outdoor Advertising Industry’s Employees. OSHA Region I Success Stories, (November 30, 2004). Describes gains made and lives saved by the alliance, through pooling knowledge and resources on fall protection and safety measures.
• Fall Protection – Roofing. Washington State Video, (2013).
• Fall Protection – Trusses. Washington State Video, (2013).
• Fall Protection Publications. Oregon OSHA. Includes fall protection publications for the construction industry, for setting and bracing wood trusses and rafters, for setting floor joists, sheathing/decking, and constructing exterior walls, options for specialty contractors, temporary elevated work platforms, and walking working surfaces.
• Safety Belts, Harnesses, and Lanyards. Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Tip sheet for cleaning and caring for safety belts/harnesses/lanyards.
• NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Dangers of Tree Trimming. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-122, (December 7, 1992). Explanation of cause for, and coverage of, NIOSH Alert on tree trimming.
• Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-106, (August 1992). NIOSH Alert considering case studies of electrocutions and fatal falls of tree trimmers, and discussion of hazard prevention methods.
• Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100, (December 1989). Describes eight deaths resulting from falls that occurred during work around these openings.
• For additional information, see OSHA’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Safety and Health Topics Page.

We’re happy to discuss any of your workplace health needs, just give us a call at xxx-xxx-xxxx or email at workdocs@occmed.com

PS – Enjoy this “workplace” song – Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

Make sure your providers are conversant in treating worker’s comp injuries – see the Occmed for Providers course to get everyone up to speed