Did you know that falls are the most common cause of serious work-related injuries and death? Fall protection training is crucial to keep employees safe in all industries that operate in hazardous situations. Here’s what you can expect from fall protection training and an overview of the knowledge you’ll gain.
Identify and recognize the types of fall hazards
Some of the most common types of fall hazards include:
- Ladders
- Roofs
- Scaffolds
- The top of equipment
- The top of work trucks
- Elevated platforms
- Unguarded work areas
- Stairs
- Ramps
- Dock boards
Most fall hazards are foreseeable and can be recognized with a trained eye. A fall protection course teaches workers how to identify these areas where a fall is likely to occur. This is especially beneficial for workers who frequently visit new sites or deliver products to clients. Regardless of whether they’ve been to the workplace before, employees can recognize a hazardous area and protect themselves accordingly.
The correct procedures for handling personal fall protection systems
Workers will be trained on how to correctly install, operate, and disassemble personal fall protection equipment such as (but not limited to):
- Portable guardrails
- Safety net systems
- Mobile ladder stands
- Mobile platforms
Fall protection training also specifies the limitations of these devices. Workers will also be made aware of how misuse can lead to injury or death.
Understand the plans and procedures to prevent falls
Employees will understand how the procedures established for each fall hazard will protect them from injury or death. While solid plans and procedures prevent workplace fall hazards, employees won’t know these plans exist without training and how they protect them from harm. The goal is to instill the knowledge and confidence that workers need to do their job safely.
The anatomy of a fall
This may sound peculiar, but fall protection training goes over the anatomy of a fall. It’s not the fall itself that causes injury or death, but the sudden force of hitting the surface below. Employees will understand how many seconds it typically takes to be aware of a fall and how quickly the body reacts. Our fall protection course includes fall arrest, which involves the safe stopping of a person already falling.
Who needs fall protection training?
In the past, fall protection plans and procedures focused primarily on the construction industry. However, this has extended to general industries, including (but not limited to) electricians, plumbing, shipping and receiving, manufacturing, and any workplace in high-hazard environments. If there is a fall risk present or a history of fall injury or death at the workplace, employers must ensure workers are trained in fall protection.