Fall Protection

provided that keeps the worker safe is the best equipment to use, despite what the Hierarchy suggests. Fall arrest equipment is not inherently more dangerous, but it does not prevent a fall— it simply aims to mitigate injuries incurred from a fall. Travel restraint equipment is more effective at preventing falls, in theory, but fall arrest equipment like SRLs limit freefall and contain shock absorption, trying to account for equipment misuse and mitigate injuries incurred.

However, workers subject to EM385 standards( used by the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers and enforced on many federal government properties) explicitly prohibit the use of fall arrest equipment on articulating boom lifts and require active travel restraint equipment to be used instead. In this case, it is imperative for employers to train employees on the limitations of restraint lanyards and emphasize that extreme fall forces will be felt if the worker misuses the equipment and subjects themselves to freefall.

Unique Hazards During Winter Months

While OSHA mandates will not change in the winter months, there are certain risks that present themselves in colder weather that safety managers must mitigate.

For one, users will likely wear bulkier clothing or more layers of outerwear when working in colder climates. Employers must ensure the fall protection harness provided will fit the worker, no matter their choice of apparel. An ill-fitting harness is not a safe harness. Too tight of a harness runs the risk of accidental disconnection or malfunction. If a harness malfunctions during a fall, the user could be ejected from their harness and subject to severe injury or worse.

Slippery surfaces or slick roads can present many risks to MEWP operators during the winter. While often overlooked, slips are a dominant precursor to falls. If an operator is walking around a lift platform with an icy surface, they could be subject to slipping and falling. Even a minor slip fully contained in the basket could lead to wrist or head injuries or could cause a worker to lose their balance enough to be ejected from their lift.

Additionally, icy roads can increase the chances of lifts losing traction while moving and could cause user ejection or the unit tipping over. Also, icy conditions raise the risk of vehicle accidents, which can be extremely dangerous for vehicle-mounted lifts performing roadside repairs. Even with the best planning, falls can happen unexpectedly, and safety managers should provide equipment that will protect workers from the worst-case scenario. While it may be inconvenient for the crews assembled and put repair or maintenance projects behind schedule, workers must advocate for“ stop work” authorizations if weather conditions prevent safe work from occurring.

Conclusion

The IPAF Global Safety Report of 2023 noted an increase in reports of falls occurring but also observed a decline in fatality rates among accidents. The data from the report suggests that employer actions being taken to better enforce fall protection policies and train workers on how to prevent falls while operating MEWPs are having a positive effect. While any injury incurred during work is tragic and can be a life-altering event for the worker, progress must be celebrated. A decline in fall fatality rates this year will hopefully lead to a decline in falls occurring in the near future. If we want to decrease the number of fatalities caused by falls, we must work to prevent falls from occurring in the first place. If we can prevent the falls, we can prevent tragedies.

Philip Jacklin is the continuing education program manager for Diversified Fall Protection. He is an AIA continuing ed provider, QSSP certified, OSHA-30 trained, and has been a partner to the fall protection industry since 2018. Jacklin has a background in worker advocacy, team leadership, and fostering camaraderie among peers. He enjoys playing music, writing, and spending time in the sunshine with his family in Virginia Beach.

https:// catalystcommunicationsnetwork. com / programmatic /

Full-Service Programmatic Campaign Management www. facebook. com / catcomnet /?_ rdc = 2 &_ rdr www. linkedin. com / company / catalyst-communications-network /? viewAsMember = true

Reach and captivate your target audience exactly WHEN and WHERE it matters most.

Step into the future of sector-specific advertising with Catalyst Communications Network. www. catcomnet. com x 800-247-2000 x info @ catcomnet. com x

22 l November-December 2024