Fall protection important because lives can be forever changed when work related falls happen. They can result in serious injury and even death. Employers must set up safe working environments to ensure the safety and well being of employees. Training is complete with fall protection equipment, fall protection training, crane safety training, proper lifting gear, and forklift safety training sessions when needed. Crane and rigging training might seem obvious to employers, as well as expensive, but having a trained, capable staff may cut down on work related accidents. Using web slings, chain slings, wire rope and wire rope slings, employers can prevent employees from falling of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in floors and walls.
OSHA insists fall protection must be provided at elevations of four feet or higher in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards and six feet within the construction industry. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.
Fall protection training is necessary to remind employers of the importance of maintaining safe working environments. To prevent employees from falls, employers must guard floor holes with railings, toe boards and floor hole coverings. Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety and harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails. Fall protection training ensures that employers provide working conditions that are free of known dangers, ensure the use of protective equipment, are clean and dry when possible, and staff trained employees who are aware of the dangers associated with the work.