An estimated 1 million workers and 25,000 businesses across
the country are participating in fall protection training activities this week,
June 2-6, as part of OSHA’s National Stand-Down on Falls in Construction. OSHA
urges employers to take time this week to train workers on effective fall
protection strategies and offers a certificate of participation to businesses
participating in the stand-down.
As you prepare for any last-minute toolbox talks you may
have scheduled for Friday, June 6, take a moment to consider these three common
fall protection mistakes highlighted by Simplified Safety:
1) Failure to properly guard skylights. When working on roofs,
skylights are often overlooked as a fall hazard. Their glass and plastic often
cannot withstand the force of a falling person, and even protective caging
around skylights may not be sufficiently strong. Workers can be protected
from such hazards by using skylight protection screens or temporary railings.
2) Failure to guard an open roof hatch. Open roof hatches must
be inspected for proper configuration. If the gate opens up to the edge of the
roof, either the hatch must be turned around or a rail must be installed at the
roof’s edge. Open roof hatches must also be protected using hatch rails that
surround the entire assembly.
3) Failure to inspect gear every time. Harnesses must be
checked prior to every use to ensure that stitching is intact, that no wear
points are found in the nylon passing through the buckles and that no signs of
damage are present around frequently used grommets. Self-retracting lifelines
must also be checked to ensure the ability for full deployment and that the
cable or nylon show no signs of wear. All equipment must be checked for grease,
burns, cuts and fraying.
Read more here.