Falls are one of OSHA’s notorious fatal four. They’re one of the leading causes of injury and death across numerous industries, including the construction industry. If you’re working at height, defined as an elevation of six-plus feet, it’s crucial to minimize your risk of falling. These tips on how to stay safe while working at height will help you prevent accidents and injuries.
Wear Adequate PPE
One form of PPE you’ll need while laboring at height is a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), or full-body harness. Any ANSI-compliant harness will work, but there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when buying one. For example, choosing the correct size and D-ring placement is crucial for a comfortable and secure fit.
Choose a Solid Anchor Point
The anchor point is the point to which your harness is affixed. You need to ensure your chosen anchor point is solid and won’t buckle under load. A suitable anchor point is one that’s been constructed and approved by an engineer or one that can easily accommodate 5,000 pounds of force. Structural steel will usually hold up, as will roof carts or anchors.
Know Your Fall Clearance
Your fall clearance is the distance it takes for your full-body harness to begin to exert force and slow your descent. To calculate your fall clearance, you need to add your lanyard length, your body length below your harness’s D-ring, and your harness and anchor point’s sag. It’s easy to assume a 6-foot lanyard will protect you from a distance of 10 feet. But when you factor in your height, sag, and deployment time, you’ll realize that you’d hit the ground long before your PFAS stopped you using a lanyard that short!
Use Railing
Railing is a simple but effective precaution you can use to protect yourself from falls. It provides an additional buffer between you and the ground in case something goes awry.
Working high above the ground is dangerous, but by using these tips on staying safe while working at height, you can curtail your risk.
