While the demands of an employer are many, one of your most important responsibilities is to ensure that your team is working in a safe environment. You may have the most thorough safety training program around, but if you’re not up-to-date on OSHA standards and changes, you could not only impede the work environment, but also put yourself in the path of legal implications.
That’s why it’s essential to know your responsibilities as an employer when it comes to fall protection. And, that’s why, for this month’s safety tip, I’d like to offer some advice for making fall protection a top priority.
Navigating OSHA Requirements
We all know that falls are among the highest causes of death and serious workplace injuries. That’s why OSHA requirements are stringent, and for good reason. As an employer, you are required to:
- Provide safe working environments that are free of dangers that are known
- Maintain clean and dry floors in all work areas
- Ensure that all personnel are equipped with personal protective equipment, free of charge, when working at 6 feet in construction, 5 feet in maritime and 4 feet in general industry
- Offer training sessions to address job hazards
- Complete hazard assessments
While these are just a few of the OSHA requirements for employers, there is so much more employers need to do to minimize the risk of falls.
How to Make Fall Protection a Top Priority
In addition to following OSHA requirements for fall protection, it’s essential that employers do the following:
- Provide guardrails and toe-boards when working at heights or where there is a risk that a fall could occur on equipment or dangerous machines
- Utilize floor hole covers and railings where workers are walking
- Ensure that every elevated open sided platform, runway or floor is equipped with a toe-board and guard rail
- Utilize additional fall protection equipment such as safety harnesses, stair railings, hand rails and safety nets.
- Adopt safe work practices and follow through with continuous training
- Limit the numbers of workers exposed to risk by creating designated areas, control zones and warning lines
Don’t forget about the importance of planning ahead. Malta Dynamics offers a resource center where you can download inspection forms, fall protection plans and hazard assessments. In addition, we also offer safety training courses and free training webinars to assist you with making fall protection a top priority.
At Malta Dynamics, we believe that the equipment is only one aspect of fall protection. Know your responsibilities as an employer when it comes to fall protection and reach out if you have any questions.