Fall Protection 101 for Working at Heights The fall protection world can be overwhelming. What’s the difference between active and passive fall protection? Is it four feet or six feet? From the edge or off the ground? Let’s break it down and talk through some of the basic concepts of fall protection for working at heights. WHY DOES IT MATTER? • On average, 2 workers die each day as a result of a fall • 366 of the 971 construction work* fatalities in 2017 were falls from height to a lower level • After traffic accidents, falls from height are the second leading workplace fatality Taken from BLS Data How the regulations read. “Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems.” OSHA 1926.501 Duty to have fall protection is industry and application specific. When a fall hazard cannot be eliminated or substituted, OSHA requires that fall protection be in place whenever: 0• feet when working over dangerous machinery 4• feet in general industry workplaces 5• feet in shipyards 6• feet in the construction industry 8• feet in longshoring operations 10 • feet for scaffolding work MSHA Fatality Alert, March 7, 2019 Comal County, TX. A 46 year old contractor with three years of experience was fatally injured when he lost his balance and fell backwards through a narrow gap between two log washers and landed on a cable tray approximately 12 feet below. How close can I get to an Unprotected Edge? There is no safe distance unless you are wearing adequate fall protection, or there is a barrier/parapet wall or guardrail at least 42" in height. *Construction Work: OSHA 1910.12(b): “Construction Work” means work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating. See discussion of these terms in 1926.13 of this title. SAFETY
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