Mistake #3: Lack of Quality Training
Often times injuries and deaths from falls are in direct relation to the amount or lack thereof of quality instructor led and hands-on training performed by companies to their exposed personnel. This lack of training and subsequent understanding of when and how to use a fall protection system has resulted in serious injuries and fatalities. Companies need to take a serious look at their training modules and effectiveness of training by ensuring their exposed personnel not only have had instruction on the specific systems they are to use but that they understand when, how and why they are using them. If signs of knowledge deficiencies or unsafe behaviors are found re-training should be conducted immediately.
Mistake #2: Anchorage & Free Fall Calculations
Throughout my seven years working in and around trades that are exposed to falls, one of the most common scenes that repeats is improper anchorage. I have seen roof personnel tied to buckets of material, tower climbers tied to a rotating or loose antenna booms and even workers tied to each other. Appropriate anchorage is determined by OSHA as a point that can withstand 5,000 lbs. of force. A competent person is responsible for determining these points of anchorage and ensuring personnel will be safe in the event of a fall. Often times during training we tell trades to imagine that they bought a brand new S-10 pickup truck and have to hang this truck, without insurance protection, from their proposed tie-off point. If they can confidently answer that they think their point of anchorage can hold the truck then it’s likely a suitable anchorage for an individual’s fall protection.
With the emergence of self-retracting lifelines (SRL’s) the necessity for calculating free-fall has been reduced somewhat. However, rope grab systems and even SRL systems need to be planned so that free fall of greater than 6 feet cannot occur. Often times you will see an individual working at a level 20 feet above grade with 30 feet of slack in their rope system. Or you will see an anchorage set at the leading edge with the contractor working 10 feet directly perpendicular to the anchor allowing for a 10 foot free fall. Even more common you will see workers performing activities at height just above the 6ft. requirement in which fall arrest system could not prevent contact to a lower level or grade. Free fall considerations can only be made for each individual working scenario at the time of the work to be performed. Personnel must understand the importance of limiting free fall as well as ways to work with the limitations of the systems they are provided with.
Mistake #1: Incompetent or Indifferent On-Site Supervision
It’s a matter of fact… Most tradesmen will work the way they see their supervisors work. Your on-site management is the most important cog in the fall protection system. If your on-site supervision requires safe behaviors and safe actions you will likely see safe behaviors and actions from their subordinates. If your supervisor has the mentality of get it done as fast as possible no matter the risk then you are likely to see unsafe actions and fall protection set-ups as a result. Your on-site direct supervision has the most sway on worker safety and therefore should be of mindset that mirrors your fall protection program and goals. Without this “buy-in” from you on-site competent person, all is for not. Companies should take a long hard look at the people they have running their work in high hazard situations and make sure that these individuals have what it takes to educate, instruct, discipline and decide how the work should be completed in a safe and compliant manner.
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