All fall protection was not created equal. When it comes to fall protection, there’s a hierarchy. The higher up the hierarchy, the better the protection. The lower down, the less effective the protective measure becomes.
Where on the hierarchy does your organization’s fall protection strategy fall?
The Hierarchy of Hazard Controls
When it comes to health and safety hierarchies, the fall protection hierarchy isn’t usually the first one to come to mind. Most are familiar with the hierarchy of hazard controls:
The Fall Protection Hierarchy
The fall protection hierarchy is like the hierarchy of controls, but instead of being a hierarchy for controls over all hazards, it is specific to fall hazards. Both hierarchies help people select the best possible protection.
Elimination: Like the hierarchy of control, we start with elimination. When it comes to falls, sometimes the risk can be eliminated. When at all possible, eliminate the need to work at heights.
Passive Protection: Next on the hierarchy is passive protection measures, namely guardrails. Guardrails at the edge of a work area at heights or around unprotected holes provide the next best protection after eliminating the risk.
Fall Restraint: Fall restraint is very effective when used with guardrails! It is also an effective PPE measure in the absence of guardrails. A fall restraint is a tether attached to a harness that prevents workers from approaching an edge using an anchor point and a fixed-length lanyard. Workers who wear fall restraint devices must be trained.
Fall Arrest: Like a fall restraint system, fall arrest is a PPE system that includes a harness and an anchor point, but instead of a fixed-length lanyard, it uses a lifeline. Fall arrest equipment DOES NOT prevent falls! Fall arrest equipment stops, or arrests, a fall in progress. If a worker experiences an arrested fall, they require rescue, which may create a severe added risk to the rescuer. Fall arrest, though low on the hierarchy of fall protection, is a useful last line of defence when other fall protection methods can’t be used. Workers who wear fall arrest devices must be trained.
Administrative Controls: Administrative controls for fall hazards is the lowest form of fall protection. Examples include warning signage and policies. These are considered the least effective method of control because they leave the safety of each worker up to the individual.
MSW recommends using at least one method of fall protection in conjunction with administrative controls. If you’re not sure you’re doing all you can to protect workers who work at heights, call us. We’ll help you determine the safest way to get the job done, and we’ll take care of all your working at heights training needs.
Working at Heights Training
All workers who work from heights require training on how to use fall protection equipment, care and inspection, rescue procedures, and any other fall protection knowledge that may apply to the work. The more information your employees have about the dangers of working at heights, the more likely they are to complete the job safely. Plus, working at heights training is the law! It’s found in several locations through the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations:
Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training O. Reg. 297/13
Construction Projects, O. Reg. 213/91 Section 26.2
Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851 Section 79
Oil and Gas – Offshore, R.R.O. 1990, Reg 855 Section 21
Window Cleaning, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 859 Sections 9 and 45
MSW provides Working at Heights training in association with Langlois Safety Training and Consulting Services, a CPO-approved Provider.
Trust MSW Training and Consulting
MSW provides in-house and on-site Working at Heights Training and Working at Heights Refresher Training. You can trust MSW to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs.
To ask to learn more, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at mswsafety.ca.
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