Workplace falls in General Industry: Don’t fall behind in your training

Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), with support from the National Safety Council (NSC), encourages employers to pause work briefly to discuss fall protection and safety during the National Safety Stand-Down. The Stand-Down began as a 2-year initiative in 2012 to raise awareness about preventing fall hazards in construction but has since turned into an annual event at the start of each construction season in May. Although the Stand-Down is geared toward falls in construction, every industry can participate. This year, Stand-Down takes place from May 4 to May 8.

In general industry, employees can fall from working at heights like roofs, platforms, ladders, scaffolds, and openings in floors or walls. Employees can also slip and trip on walking-working surface hazards like wet floors, uneven surfaces, and cluttered walkways, which can lead to falls. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), falls from heights kill hundreds and injure over 100,000 workers each year, while slips, trips, and falls on the same level cause over 300,000 injuries and dozens of fatalities annually. Fortunately, falls in the workplace are almost completely preventable with the proper engineering controls, safe work practices, personal fall protection systems (PFPSs), and training.

If you’re planning a Stand-Down, the NSC suggests holding a training session on fall protection and safety. So, what should be part of your fall protection training?

Training requirements

OSHA’s walking-working surfaces training requirements for fall protection in general industry (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.30) apply to employees who use PFPSs or are exposed to fall protection equipment hazards. Employees must use a PFPS at heights of 4 feet or more when guardrails and other engineering controls aren’t in place.

Before employees are exposed to a fall hazard, they must be trained by a qualified person in at least the following topics:

• The nature of the fall hazards in the work area and how to recognize them;
• The procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards;
• The correct procedures for installing, inspecting, operating, maintaining, and disassembling the PFPSs employees use; and
• The correct use of PFPSs and equipment.

Recognize hazards

Your employees must be trained to recognize fall hazards specific to your facility. Common walking-working surface hazards that could lead to a fall on the same level include:

• Clutter
• Spills or leaks
• Protruding objects
• Uneven surfaces
• Poor visibility

Hazards that can result in a fall from height include:

Falls from a higher level to a lower level, such as from a roof, platform, or scaffold;

• Working around unprotected sides and edges
• Working in hoist areas
• Working near holes and openings
• Working on a ladder
• Potential falls from dockboards in loading/unloading areas;
• Falls from runways and similar walkways; and
• Working around dangerous equipment and falling from or into that equipment.

Minimize hazards

Your employees should also know what procedures and equipment are in place to minimize fall hazards.

Employees should always:

• Walk, not run.
• Keep the work area clean, neat, and orderly.
• Look around and be aware of their surroundings. Know where the nearby fall hazards are located.
• Listen to verbal warnings—they may be approaching a fall hazard without knowing it. They should pay attention when a coworker warns them of a hazard.
• Use fall protection for every fall hazard, and don’t go near a hazard unless some form of fall prevention system is in place.
• Avoid dropping objects like tools and materials to the level below them. Someone below could be killed or seriously injured.

Common forms of protection for falls from heights include:

• Guardrails
• Safety nets
• Personal fall arrest systems (PFASs)
• Travel restraint systems
• Positioning systems
• PFPSs

If employees are required to use a PFPS, such as a PFAS, positioning system, or travel restraint system, they need to know how to properly install, inspect, operate, maintain, and disassemble it. They also need to know how to properly use the PFPS and any other fall protection equipment.

How to fall

Even though falls are preventable, employees should know what to do if they accidentally fall.

There are multiple ways to fall depending on how you fall, but in general, employees should:

• Tuck their chin into their neck to avoid injuring their head
• Turn slightly to avoid a flat back or head impact
• Bend their ankles, knees, and hips on impact to help absorb and distribute forces
• Not lock their elbows
• Avoid excessive body stiffness
• If a worker falls while wearing a PFAS and is suspended in a harness, they should push their legs against an object and raise their legs if possible.

Stand-Down

In addition to conducting a training session as part of a Stand-Down, the NSC suggests conducting a toolbox talk, performing a safety inspection with employees, developing a fall rescue plan, and/or showing a safety video. BLR® offers a variety of fall protection training materials for you to plan your Stand-Down and remind employees of the importance of fall protection.