With any construction site job or most utility and maintenance careers, there are many risks that pose a threat to your safety. One of the biggest, and most fatal of these risks is a fall from height. This could result in broken bones, paralysis, brain damage, or death. With stakes this high, it’s important that your team is fully prepared on how to handle, prevent, and protect against falls.
By completing three steps, you can help ensure that you are learning how to protect yourself and your crew against the dangerous conditions and risks of the job.
Get Training For Your Team
Fall Protection Training is extremely important and required for crew leaders and any employees who regularly have to work at heights on the job. You can find many different classes that cover all of your needs, including competent person fall protection training, general fall protection awareness, fall rescue training, equipment inspection classes, and much more. Educating yourself and taking brief refresher courses on the safety of your team and how to keep tragedy from striking is often a required part of being in a place of leadership.
The USACE and OSHA recommend that a refresher course is taken by a supervisor in charge of a team that fits the standard for dangerous work that could lead to falls. Keeping up with these classes will help you as a competent person and give you the best understanding on how to protect those below you.
Make A Fall Protection Plan
Thanks to the knowledge you’ll get from being in the fall protection training classes, you can begin to put together a good plan to protect your team. Things to cover in the plan before bringing it to the crew should include proper training on all equipment being used, positioning and locations of equipment on site, as well as assigned roles for your team including all rescue personnel.
The plan should also include information about nearest hospitals, numbers to call for emergencies, first-aid kit locations, and a list of anyone on-site who would have medical training. Everyone stays informed, and the plan is known by all to help prevent and handle emergencies, if they do happen.
Use Reliable Equipment
A large cause of incidents comes from damaged, malfunctioning, or low quality equipment. Paired with the potential for reckless or rushed behavior, this can be a very dangerous combination. All work equipment that is relied on for your crew’s safety should be checked, tested, and monitored throughout all shifts to ensure it’s always in full working condition and isn’t wearing out in places that could break and result in a fall. Equipment at a minimum should be inspected by the end user, prior to each use.
Your team should also always be fitted with correct gear and all the proper necessities they need for fall prevention. Proper training and a fall protection plan will help you identify potential areas for improvement with your crew, and help you decide training and equipment needs in the future. Your equipment is just as much responsible for holding your team’s weight as you are. If you have any questions please give your friends at Trivent Safety Consulting a call today (800) 819-6092.