Fall Protection
Background: Fall protection includes any equipment, system, or process used to prevent workers from falling or to safely arrest a fall if one occurs.
Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry (accounting for 49% of all falls nationally and one-third of worker deaths per the CDC) and remain a primary cause of Wisconsin workplace injury claims.
Mandatory Training Requirement:
If your work requires fall protection equipment, you must attend Workplace Safety’s Fall Protection Training. Only personnel who have successfully completed training are authorized to check out equipment from the tool room.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Workers: Strictly follow established fall protection procedures, inspect gear, and correctly use all assigned safety equipment.
- Supervisors: Ensure compliance with safety standards, oversee daily work, and actively monitor safe work practices.
- Safety Managers: Provide appropriate safety training, conduct regular site inspections, and perform annual equipment inspections.
Common Fall Hazards
- Elevated Work Areas: Working at heights on roofs, ladders, scaffolds, lifts, or elevated platforms.
- Unprotected Openings: Unprotected sides, edges, floor openings, skylights, or wall holes.
- Surface Conditions: Slippery, cluttered, unstable, or structurally compromised walking/working surfaces.
- Equipment Misuse: Incorrect setup, improper fit, or misuse of fall protection equipment.
Types of Fall Protection Systems
- Guardrail Systems: Passive barrier protection installed along unprotected edges (roofs, platforms, open floors).
- Safety Net Systems: Passive catch systems installed beneath elevated work areas to stop a falling worker.
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS): Active system comprising an anchor point, full-body harness, connectors (lanyard/lifeline), and a descent/rescue system.
- Positioning Device Systems: Restraint setups that support workers on elevated vertical surfaces to allow hands-free work while preventing falls.
- Warning Line Systems: Designated perimeter boundaries that alert workers when approaching an unprotected edge.
Fall Prevention vs. Fall Protection
Eliminates the hazard or stops you from reaching the drop edge (e.g., guardrails, personal fall restraint systems).
Safely stops and catches you after a fall has occurred (e.g., Personal Fall Arrest Systems [PFAS], safety nets).
When is Fall Protection Required?
| Work Environment / Type | Height Threshold Required |
|---|---|
| General Industry Work | 4 feet (1.2 m) or more |
| Construction & Maintenance Work | 6 feet (1.8 m) or more |
| Scaffolding Operations | 10 feet (3.0 m) or more (Guardrails or PFAS) |
| Aerial Lifts & Bucket Trucks | Required at all heights (boom lifts & bucket trucks) |
Pre-Work Safety Checklist
- Plan Ahead: Identify all potential hazards and plan how to perform the work safely before starting.
- Verify Training: Ensure you have completed required fall protection training for the specific equipment needed.
- Inspect Gear: Visually inspect all components (harness, lanyard, carabiners, anchor points) for wear, fraying, or damage.
- Confirm Connections: Ensure all hardware hooks, latches, and anchorages are secure and in good working condition.
- Report Defective Equipment: Immediately tag, remove from service, and report any damaged or defective gear to your supervisor.
- Establish Rescue Plan: Confirm a site-specific fall rescue plan is established and understood by all team members before elevated work begins.