Defy gravity with an 
effective fall protection plan

As shown in the accompanying article, “The ups and downs of fall protection”, no construction trade is immune from falls. Those fortunate enough to survive a fall may be hurt badly enough to never be able to work again.

The International Society for Fall Protection (ISFP) is a non-profit group of professionals from 14 countries who strive to reduce slips, trips, and falls in today’s workplaces.

Following is the framework it suggests to build your own fall protection program. For more information, go to www.isfp.org. 

An effective fall protection program is a balanced strategy that’s founded on management commitment, hazard identification, appropriate protective countermeasures, training, and program administration.

Step 1: Pick the team.
Your fall protection planning team should include managers, supervisors, engineers and safety officers. This team must be committed to building, then following through on the program it develops. The team’s first job is to gather information on fall prevention and protection regulations, procedures, equipment, consultation services and other available resources.

Step 2: Evaluate conditions
The team, supported by qualified “competent persons” who are experienced in fall hazard analysis and prevention should review all work procedures that expose employees to fall hazards. The work analysis should include all users of ladders, scaffolds, work platforms or lifts. Look at any job that puts the worker at heights greater than 4’.

Step 3: Identify the dangers
The fall protection program must carefully address the following areas:
• Where falls are most likely to occur
• Types of fall hazards at these locations

Workers can be very helpful. They already know the hazards and often have ways to address them practically.

Step 4: Implement 
appropriate protective measures
Once hazards are identified, it’s time to take steps to deal with them. There are two ways to protect workers, listed here in order of preference:
• Eliminate the fall hazard by changing the work process; or
• Prevent workers from direct, unprotected exposures to fall hazards with fall protection             devices such as guardrails, barriers, travel restriction systems, personal fall arrest systems or safety nets.

Step 5: Develop written policies and procedures
Once hazards are identified and fall protection systems are agreed upon by the team and the competent persons, write down the policies and procedures to address each hazard. The policies and procedures should state what fall protection measures shall be used, how they shall be used, and who is responsible for overall supervision and training.

The policies and procedures should be practical, functional and enforceable and they should be taught to and clearly understood by all workers.

Step 6: Identify your “competent person”
Each job location should have at least one “competent person.” It may or may not be the supervisor on the jobsite. This person must be knowledgeable and qualified to understand:
• the nature of fall hazards in the work area
• the correct procedures for using and inspecting the fall protection equipment
• the correct procedures for handling and storage of equipment
• the impact of all regulations, laws, and standards that apply to fall hazards

The competent person should be responsible for training jobsite workers on all aspects of the fall protection program.

Step 7: Train supervisors and workers
Ongoing worker training is key, and often a required component of a successful fall protection program. Training should cover the following areas:
• Understanding of all regulatory mandates
• How to identify fall hazards
• Know what fall protection equipment is needed for specific jobs
• How to wear and adjust a full-body harness
• How to properly use all equipment
• Proper anchor point selection
• How to calculate fall clearances to avoid contacting lower level
• Rescue procedures in the event of a fall
• How to inspect equipment
• How to clean, maintain and store equipment

If you need some advice in developing a program, the distributor that sponsors your Contractor Tools and Supplies subscription can offer you advice as well as put you in contact with industry experts who can answer your questions or help develop and conduct training.

Step 8: Administer and audit the program
The competent person(s) and the supervisor should be accountable to implement the fall protection program at their jobsite.

Step 9: For success, involve employees
No fall protection program will work if there is not broad support for it in the organization. Once you make employees part of the process through open communication and quick response to employees’ questions and concerns, the more likely the program will be successful.

Published in the May/June 2001 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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