Fear of heights and vertigo aside, working in high places can be an intimidating task—even for experienced workers. Working at height can be a dangerous undertaking; it is one of construction’s “fatal four,” making up around 40 percent of all fatal accidents in the construction industry every year—the most lethal cause of death by far. The remaining three “fatal four” including being struck by an object (9.4 percent), electrocuted (8.3 percent) and caught in/between (7.3 percent). However, they seem marginal compared to the number of fatalities caused by falls from height. 
Yet, those types of accidents are completely avoidable by planning jobs thoroughly and in accordance with safety compliance. First and foremost, every new site should be assessed by a health and safety consultant who can advise what equipment is needed to protect workers from potential hazards. In recent years, safety equipment has become cheaper and more advanced, making it easy for the employer to provide a safe working environment.
Investing in high-quality, durable and well-tested equipment will help to create a safer, more productive and happier work environment that can produce top results. It is important to pick equipment suited for the specific task at hand, rather than hoping to find a one-size-fits-all solution that might not be able to cover all needs of protection. Typically, the following four types of equipment will be needed to safety work at heights.
EDGE PROTECTION
Whether working on balconies, rooftops or facades, edge protection is mandatory if the site has unprotected edges. Edge protection can range from steel clamps and threaded rods to net barriers. The type that is chosen depends on the task and should be picked carefully with potential weather conditions and other challenges in mind.
Often, employees forget to install protection around holes and floor openings. No matter the size or depth of the opening, a wrong step can end in strained or broken limbs and worse, if not careful.
SCAFFOLDS
It’s important to find a scaffolding system that can work with complex and awkward geometric situations. Choosing a highly customizable and adaptable solution will guarantee that the scaffolding can be reused and reconfigured to meet new challenges. However, reusing safety equipment requires regular inspections and maintenance or else erosion can get in the way of safety and compliance.
SAFETY NETS
Safety nets not only protect workers from falls, they safeguard civilians from falling objects and the building structure from damage, which can be a costly error to the project. Nettings come in many different materials, sizes and shapes to ensure they fit the task at hand perfectly. When properly cared for and inspected on a regular basis, safety nets can be reused and therefore are an affordable but trusted option for smaller businesses. It’s important to use netting that complies with OSHA standards and can be customized and reconfigured if needed.
Anchorage structures are one of the most helpful tools to make sure employees are protected if they fall. Picking a versatile and reusable roof anchor is a good investment, as they can be fitted to many sites and situations to come. Some anchor systems can secure multiple employees using retractable lifeline cradles, which makes safety equipment cheaper when working in teams and encourages double-checking precautions with coworkers.
OSHA is running fall prevention campaigns to remind employees and employers that occupational fatalities are preventable. Planning tasks carefully and instructing workers on how to safeguard themselves and others from hazardous situations is the groundwork for safety compliance and injury prevention. Most accidents happen due to poor education and insufficient instructions on how to use equipment correctly—equipping workers with the most expensive and modern tools will not prevent accidents if the workers cannot use them properly.
Equipment must be used in compliance with OSHA standards and product-specific instructions to guarantee they are working correctly. Unfortunately, choosing an awarded tool alone does not save from accidents. In the end, the worker using equipment mindfully and with care and expertise is the key to accident prevention and smooth business operation.
Original Article: https://www.constructionexec.com/article/how-to-choose-the-right-equipment-for-fall-prevention
