Basics of Fall Protection
Basics of Fall Protection
Pre-Requisites: None
Over the years in Canada, falls have accounted for a large number of serious injuries and fatalities. Most of these deaths and injuries occurred because fall protection was either missing or not used.
Falls from ladders, roofs, floors and scaffolding are a common cause of injury in industry. Providing fall protection for all circumstances can be difficult but employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that their workers are protected.
Wherever fall protection is in place, and used correctly, it works. The more you know about fall protection use, the safer you’ll be. Your life depends on it.
In Yukon, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require:
- That employers provide the information, training, and personal protective equipment where it is not possible to eliminate or control the hazards;
- That appropriate personal protective equipment and training must be readily available to workers; and
- Personal protective equipment must be used in accordance with the instruction and training provided to workers.
Fall Protection Program
The Yukon’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require a site-specific fall protection plan where workers are working at a location where they can fall 7.5 meters (25 ft.) and they are not protected by permanent guardrails.
Fall protection plans must describe:
- Falling hazards expected
- Fall protection system or systems to be used
- The procedure to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble the fall protection system or systems
- Methods to rescue a fallen worker or one who is suspended by a personal fall protection system or safety net and is unable to affect self rescue.
Learn the four phases of fall protection: before the fall, at fall arrest, suspension and post-fall rescue. Each phase presents unique safety challenges. Suspension trauma can be influenced by all aspects of the fall, so they are all important.