Preveting Injury Fall Protection Systems

It can be more difficult to keep certain workplaces safe compared to others. Certain professions simply carry more risk, and some level of injuries are almost inevitable. However, every injury can and should be prevented. It’s up to employers, supervisors, and managers to do their utmost to prevent harm to all employees, and for many reasons it’s best to invest in fall protection systems whenever possible. Of course, there is the obvious human concern to take into mind. The last thing anyone wants is to risk a person getting seriously injured, or worse. Human life and quality of life is the top priority for any good employer. But the employer is also at risk should any serious injuries occur at the workplace. Personal injury cases are serious issues for companies to combat. They not only cost the companies a lot of money — often ending in expensive settlements — but smear their reputations. It can be difficult for a company to recover from a personal injury lawsuit, just as it’s difficult for a person to recover from a workplace injury. Therefore, avoiding both is in everyone’s best interests. Below, we’ll look a little closer at this issue and discover how companies can avoid workplace accidents and the repercussions that follow.

Fall Protection Systems: Listening To OSHA

It should go without saying that the organization with the most interest in a safe workplace is OSHA. It’s very likely that, should a company not have the proper protective measures in place, OSHA will be a part of the ensuing investigation As such, it’s a good place to start when looking into fall protection systems. When it comes to preventing falls, OSHA uses a three step process: plan, provide, and train. A company should plan for the worst case scenarios, provide the correct fall protection systems, and train employees to better prevent falls. OSHA provides certain guidelines that a company can follow to keep employees safe. If an employee falls from a distance of six feet or more, they’re at serious risk of major injury or death. Employees can prevent this through implementing the right fall protection equipment, such as ladders and scaffolding, as well as safety gear. According to OSHA, fall protection equipment needs to be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry, and eight feet in longshoring operations. OSHA should be a company’s main point of reference when making safety provisions.

Preventing Falls: Fall Protection Competent Person Training

There are many different ways through which accidents and injuries at the workplace can be prevented. Fall protection courses may be the best starting point for most employees, as they’re easy to comprehend. They also give the employees some level of responsibility for their own safety, which is always helpful for all involved and decreases the risk for incidents in the first place. Fall protection certification goes one step further and ensures that the employee is empowered to prevent not only their own accidents, but the accidents of other employees. This is an important step in keeping everyone at the workplace safer.

Fall Protection Equipment: Your Many Options

It’s important to remember that there are many different ways to prevent employees from being injured, and many different type of equipment that allow for protection. Slings are among the most common types of protection. Among the different sling types are included endless, single, two, three, or four leg slings. Slings need to be inspected on yearly basis for normal use, and a quarterly basis for severe use. Though strong, slings are not impossible to damage. As such, companies need to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines metallic-core wire rope slings at temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit or below minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, uncoated mesh slings are known to withstand temperatures of 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

A company can withstand a lot; but there isn’t much that can be done after a person has been injured seriously. Thus, protection and prevention are the best steps.