Skip to main content

Different Types of Fall Protection Equipment

Different Types of Fall Protection Equipment
Employers of various constructions sites are primarily concerned about fall injuries, for they are responsible for a large number of fatalities. However, OSHA has established a number of threshold heights, where various types of fall protection equipment are required. For workers and employees in the general industry, the basic height is 4 feet above a lower level. But, at a construction site, the threshold height is 6 feet, above a lower level.

They key to protecting workers and employees, in these dangerous situations is to employ the right type of protection systems and personal protective equipments. Some of them have been mentioned in the list below:

1.Ladders: Firstly, fall protection is not required for portable ladder use in either the construction or the general industries. But fixed ladders have a different story, for they may not always have ladder safety devices or cages.

2.Handrails and Guardrails: These are horizontal or vertical barriers, normally consisting of an assembly of mid rails, top rails and posts to prevent workers from falling or slipping to lower levels.

3.Scissor lifts: These are considered by OSHA to be a form of scaffolding. Hence, fall protection requirements for scaffolding apply to any form of work that takes place 10 feet above a lower level.

4.Safety nets: This is another type of fall protection equipment that is used to eliminate fall hazards. Hence, these nets need to be placed close to the area where employees are working.

5.Harnesses: These are fall protection systems. These systems consist of three parts, an anchor point, a body harness and a life line. They basically prevent workers from falling more than 6 feet.

Comments