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Session Objectives:
1. Enumerate the sources of fall hazards;
2. Discuss the appropriate methods of fall
prevention and protection;
3. Discuss the difference between fall restraint
and fall arrest;
4. Outline the elements of fall arrest system;
5. Learn how to inspect the parts of fall arrest
system;
6. Discuss the fall containment system; and
7. Identify the training needs in fall protection.
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 HOW LONG DOES IT
TAKE TO FALL
4 FT? 16 FT? 64 FT?

• a body in free fall can travel 4 ft. in 0.5 second

• a body in free fall can travel 16 ft. in 1 second
• a body in free fall can travel 64 ft. in 2 seconds

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 FALL HAZARDS

1. Falls from elevation

➢ Scaffolds
➢ Ladders
➢ Roof
➢ Elevated
workplaces
➢ Floor openings
➢ Leading edges
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FALL HAZARDS

2. Fall on the same level

➢ Slipping and tripping hazards
3. Being struck by falling objects
➢ Objects that are:
- improperly stored
- improperly disposed of
- mishandled at elevation

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 APPROPRIATE METHODS
OF PROTECTION

 Elimination
 Prevention
 Control

ELIMINATING THE FALL HAZARD

 Requires careful assessment of the

work to be done and how to safely
accomplish that work
 Develop a different way of performing
the work
 Design safety into the construction
process

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 Preventing employee
exposure

Fall prevention methods

➢ Providing proper access to elevated

work area
➢ Protecting unguarded openings and
leading edges
➢ Practicing good housekeeping

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 STAIRS AND LADDERS

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Handrails – Assists balance

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 GUARDRAIL

 A barrier erected to prevent employees from

falling to lower levels
 Work locations requiring guardrail protection:
▪ Elevated work platforms (such as form work)
▪ Scaffolds
▪ Openings/holes in bridge decks, floors or other
unprotected surfaces
▪ Unprotected sides of ramps/stairways/platforms

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Guard Rail Systems

Top Rail
Mid- Rail
Toeboard

Guard rails at least 1 m tall

Toeboards at least 15 cm high

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 Unprotected sides & edges

Unprotected sides and edges must

have guardrails.

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 Wall opening

If you work near wall openings 6 feet or more above

lower levels you must be protected from falling

Walkways and Ramps

Guard ramps, runways and other walkways

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 This 1/4" nylon rope alone is not a proper
way to guard this open side.
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SURFACE OPENING
PROTECTION

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Floor Holes

Improperly
Covered

➢ Cover completely and securely

➢ If no cover, can guard with a guardrail

Sky lights and Other

Openings

➢ Holes more than 6 feet high must be protected

➢ This opening could be made safe by using a
guardrail, or strong cover

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 Good
housekeeping
can reduce
hazards of
falling objects.
You should
keep your
workplace
clean and tidy
daily.

CONTROLLING THE FALL

 Should only be considered after

determining that the fall hazard cannot
be eliminated or the possibility of
falling prevented
 Least desirable method of protection
because it minimizes the
consequences of a fall rather than
preventing its occurrence
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 Fall Restraint

Or
Fall Arrest?

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Travel Restriction Systems

Use to prevent the user from reaching an
area where free-fall could occur (e.g.
leading edge roof work)

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 USE OF BODY BELTS

 Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are

prohibited as a fall arrest device. (OSHA)
 Body belts can still be used as a
positioning device.

3 0

D-rings

Remember: DO NOT USE SAFETY

BELTS THAT SHOW SIGNS OF
DAMAGE!!!
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FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

 Protect you AFTER you fall by stopping the fall before

you hit the surface below
 Purpose:
▪ Stop the fall
▪ Distribute the impact energy experienced during
the fall arrest
 Includes:
 Full body harness
 Safety nets

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 Elements of a Fall Arrest System
1. Anchor Point
2. Lifeline
3. Lanyard or Rope
4. Full-body Harness

ANCHORAGE

 A secure point of attachment for

lanyards, lifelines, or deceleration
devices capable of withstanding the
anticipated forces applied during a fall
 Shall be located above the worker to
avoid unnecessary swing in the event
of a fall

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  Anchoring Non-Anchorages
Devices/Points ▪ Guardrails
▪ Structural Members ▪ Railings
▪ Anchors/Fasteners ▪ Ladders/Rungs
▪ Eyebolts ▪ Scaffoldings
▪ Imbeds ▪ Ductworks/Pipe
▪ Turnbuckles Vents
▪ Shackles ▪ Conduit/Plumbing
▪ Slings ▪ C-Clamps
▪ Retractables ▪ Roof stacks, vents,
▪ Cross Arm Straps fans
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LIFELINE

- is an independent length of
synthetic fiber or steel wire rope
attached to a point of anchorage at
one or both ends. It is used to guide a
fall arrest device.

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HORIZONTAL LIFELINE

• Consists of a fixed rail or

synthetic fiber rope or
wire rope rigged between
two substantial anchor
points

• Allows a worker to move

horizontally

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VERTICAL LIFELINE

An independent length
of synthetic fiber or steel
wire rope attached to a
point of anchorage. It is
used to guide a fall
arrest device.
It allows a worker to
move vertically on an
aerial lift device.

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LANYARD

Flexible line of webbing or a synthetic or wire

rope used to secure a safety belt or full body
harness to a lifeline or anchor

Inspect the lanyard

before each use

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SHOCK ABSORBER

A shock absorber slows and

cushions the fall, reducing
the force of stopping the fall.
Warning: The shock absorber
may increase the length of
the lanyard by as much as
1.2 m (4 ft)during a fall. Allow
for this extra fall distance
when you include a a shock
absorber in your personal fall
protection system.

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FULL BODY HARNESS

 Wear a full body harness if you are at risk of

falling
 It consists of straps passed over the shoulders,
across the chest, and around the legs. In a fall,
a full body harness protects you more than a
safety belt, because it distributes the force of
impact over a greater area of your body.

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INSPECTING YOUR FULL BODY HARNESS

 Inspect your harness before each

use.
Buckle

Webbing
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 D-rings
Look for bent, cracked, nicked, or
gouged rings.

Remember: IF THE HARNESS IS

DAMAGED OR WORN, DO NOT
WEAR IT!!
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SWING FALL HAZARD

Be careful not to tie

off to an anchor in
such a way that if
you fall, you’ll
swing into an
obstruction
A swing fall can be
as harmful as
falling to the ground

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AFTER A FALL

Immediately remove from service all

equipment used to arrest the fall. You
cannot use the equipment again until it
has been inspected and approved by the
manufacturer or other approved agent, or
by a professional engineer.

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FALL CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

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 SAFETY NET/MESH

 Constructed of materials of sufficient strength

to catch a falling person or debris
 Sufficient tension and clearance to prevent a
falling person against contacting any surface
or structure below the net
 Inspected at least once a week for wear,
damage and other deterioration

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 ✓ You should use overhead shelter and
follow the designated passageways
✓ Do not take short cut to save time as you
may hit by falling objects when you do not
follow the designated passageways.

Overlay net is important because it protects

workers and public from being hit by falling objects

When entering or
leaving a building,
you must make use
of designated entry
point.

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 Training
Employers must provide fall protection
training which may cover:
➢ Fall hazards
(recognition and
minimization)
➢ Fall protection
systems
➢ Use of fall protection
devices

SUMMARY

 If you can fall more than 6 feet, you must be

protected.
 Use fall protection on:

➢ walkways & ramps, open sides & edges,

holes, concrete forms & rebar,
excavations, roofs, wall openings and
bricklaying
➢ Protective measures include guardrails,
covers, safety nets, and Fall Arrest
Systems

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 END OF MODULE.

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