Year after year fall protection is number one on the top 10 OSHA violations. According to the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers. In 2019 they caused more than one in three fatalities in the industry. Falls are prevented by installing protection measures such as handrails. However, sometimes workers must work outside those protections. When that occurs, fall protection PPE is often the next step. Gear such as harnesses and lanyards protect workers from falling a great distance, thus reducing t ..read more

Fall protection. It seems like it should be a no-brainer. If someone’s working at heights, they need a fall arrest harness (and a fall arrest system). And yet: OSHA 1926.501 – Fall protection – general requirements was the most cited OSHA violation in 2020. It was also the most cited standard in 2019. There are many moving parts involved in fall protection, but the fall arrest harness is often the most overlooked. A harness needs to do more than meet OSHA standards. It needs to fit the individual wearing it. Because if the harness doesn’t fit correctly, then the harness could contribute to a p ..read more

Statistics show that 42 percent of construction worker deaths involve falls. While this may not be a fixed statistic across all industries, it does highlight the need for better implementation of fall protection PPE and processes. Choosing a fall protection method that fits your workplace should be treated as a high priority. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Mitigation and risk factors associated with each fall protection device should be carefully assessed before deciding what is best for worker safety. Types of Fall Protection Below are the several types of fall protection methods, li ..read more

No one thinks a fall accident will occur until it does. In fact, fall protection was the most-cited standard enforced by OSHA in 2019, and falls remain the leading cause of death in construction workplaces.  Fall hazards can’t be ignored — even when it’s crunch time. A robust fall protection program not only safeguards your employees, but it also bolsters your financial health by preventing costly claims and legal issues. The Most Common Workplace Fall Incidents The construction industry leads the way in the most fall-related injuries in the workplace. In fact, construction workers are se ..read more

Falls continue to be one of OSHA’s Top 4 Violations year after year. While addressing falls from a behavioral standpoint is effective for prevention, there is also ample opportunity for better products and technology to set the stage for sweeping risk reduction.  In this article, I take a closer look at new wearable, software, training, and hardware solutions. These exciting advancements in technology can reduce the number and severity of construction falls:  Fall Safety Training Apps and Games  Wearables for Fall Prevention and Warnings Leading Indicators Apps New Fall Prevent ..read more

Falls from ladders are completely preventable, yet they still occur thousands of times throughout the year. Many ladder accidents lead to recordable injuries and lost time from work. With inspections, you can improve your team’s ability to assess ladder damage and remove faulty ladders from service. General Ladder Safety Inspection Ladder safety principles should be second nature, but it’s easy to overlook things when you’re focused on the job. Use this checklist prior to climbing a ladder at work to be sure you’re equipped to climb safely. Applicable to any industry, any employee who uses or ..read more

Falls are the leading cause of preventable injury and death in the construction workforce every year. OSHA’s Stop Falls campaign addresses this common yet severe workplace problem. To reduce the risk of a fall in your workforce, says OSHA, you must plan, provide, and train. Plan to Prevent Falls Job sites are an ever-changing environment. Even if you visit them every day, there is always something new that you will come across. That is why it is important for employees to be prepared for the task they are going to complete. Working at heights exposes staff to the risk of falls and injuries. It ..read more