FALL PROTECTION

Introduction

Falls account for approximately 15 percent of all lost time injuries and fatalities in British Columbia workplaces. Falls not only happen in traditionally hazardous occupations, such as construction work, but can occur in all types of workplaces.

What to Expect:
Fall Protection Employee Training

.Fall protection employee training presented in an easy learning environment.
The use of overhead slides to convey essential information
Safety information to help protect you.
Information on how to activate your occupational rescue plan.
Instructor demonstration of skill sequence and technique with emphasis of key point information.
Ample hands-on practice to develop knowledge, skill and confidence.
Positive reinforcement and feed-back from the Instructor. A maximum of 12 students per Instructor.
Scenario-based practice sessions that provide a sense of real-time involvement.
Information on retraining, how it is conducted and how to sign up.
The opportunity to fill out a class evaluation form and have it sent to 02000 I ADANAC College.
An appropriate Certificate of Recognition upon completion.
We hope you will enjoy your training and that it will benefit you, and your co-workers.

Categories of Falls

Fall to work surface (Decks to the ground)
Fall against an object
Fall from moving vehicle/equipment (aerial manlifts and forklifts)
Fall from stairs, ramps and ladders
Fall from one work level to the other
Fall from edge of work level
Fall into/through a hatch or other opening
Falls due to slippery surfaces ( oil, paint or water covered surfaces)
Note: In British Columbia, an employer must ensure that a worker is protected from falling a vertical distance of 3 metres (10 ft.) or more, as required by regulations under the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. This should be considered to be a minimum requirement as a fall from a lesser height must be considered as possibly injurious.

Evaluating the Risk

When assessing the workplace for fall hazards, it is important to undertake a complex risk evaluation. This evaluation can be done in the form of a job hazard assessment, where the work task is broken down into a number of distinguishable steps. The steps are then analyzed to determine the hazards and identify preventative measures to protect against the hazards.

It is necessary to use a process such as this to determine where there is a risk of falls in the workplace. Once the hazards have been identified, preventative measures can be undertaken to protect against such falls.

Control Measures

Fall Protection Systems Categories

Surface protection (non-slip flooring and housekeeping)
Fixed barriers (handrails, guardrails )
Surface opening protection (removable covers, guardrails)
Travel restraint systems (safety line and belt)
Fall arrest systems (safety line and harness)
Fall containment systems (safety nets)
The selection of the particular fall protection system to control the hazard to the worker is dependent upon the circumstances and the job task.

Ideally, the choice of a protection system will be one that removes the risk of falling entirely. For example, it is preferable to provide a fixed barrier to prevent a worker from falling, than personal protective equipment (safety harness and lifeline). In this way, the worker is never in a position where an actual fall may occur .Otherwise, the worker must rely on the personal protective equipment system to safely arrest the fall. Personal protective equipment should always be the last consideration in fall protection.

Introduction to Fall Protection

Falls aren't new. Ever since the first animals emerged onto dry land, gravity has been slamming them down into the ground. When our human ancestors began walking upright, the likelihood of falls increased.

Many falls begin with a simple slip or a trip. If this occurs near a vertical edge, even one only a few feet above a lower level, a slip or trip can be serious.

In this course you will learn how to protect yourself from the hazards of falls.

This includes:

Proper use of the fall protection equipment and following work procedures.
Understanding fall forces and the meaning of arresting forces, clearances and swing falls.
Performing equipment maintenance and inspection.
Following emergency procedures.
Fall Statistics:

540 workers a year die from falls on average.
717 workers were killed from falls in 1999.
About half of all falls occurred during construction activities, which meant they were that industry's leading cause of death.
The older the worker; the greater the risk of death in the event of a fall.
10% of workers killed were wearing fall protection equipment.
75% were not tied off at the time of the fall
13% were using fall protection systems that were faulty in design.
Competent Person:

A competent person can be defined as follows:

One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the work environment and who has authorization to take prompt measures to eliminate the hazards.
A competent person must be assigned at each job site to implement the written fall protection plan and train workers.