Types Of Fall Protection And Their Use In Construction Industry

Employing fall protection safety measures during work when employees need to function at heights not only ensures the safety of the workers, but also maintains the reputation of an organization in turning out accident-free projects. Latest fall protection systems require the organizations to administer fall arrest training to their workers, and to follow certain safety measures. There is also the mandate that a company should possess the basic fall protection arrangements that are in accordance with the kind of work being done at project sites.

The popularity and preference of tall buildings has made it imperative to be extra careful about the workers that are at work on the higher storeys. Even the materials involved in construction can become somewhat hazardous if handled incorrectly. Keeping this in mind, some important innovations were done in the safety industry and fall arrest mechanisms were devised. In the succeeding paragraphs, this article discusses major mechanisms used for this purpose.

First would be the fall arrest anchor. This mechanism comprises of a roof anchor placed firmly at the apex of a building to which all the workers secure their harnesses. It prevents them from falling should they lose their balance. The good thing about these anchors is that they can be fixed or moving. If the roof span requires impractical harness length for the worker to traverse, a moving anchor may be the right choice. It does require separate steel structure, though. There are many companies that provide this equipment at par with top quality standards with performance guarantees.

Second would be the guardrail systems. This protection system is counted as an extended safety measure. It is a kind of permanent fall protection. Guardrails secure the entire roof and eliminate the requirement of using personal fall safety mechanism. They don’t even need to be anchored – this keeps your roof intact, because the requirement of anchorage is not necessary so drilling into your roof for anchorage points is also unnecessary.

Third is the retractable lifeline. These are a kind of fall arrest device that allow free travel around the site, but the moment fall begins, the mechanism snaps into a lock and prevents the worker from falling. They work like the seatbelt of your car – there is no slack in the line even when it is secured, but the moment there is a jerk, it locks up. Something similar but functionally different to a retractable lifeline is the horizontal lifeline. It is also a type of fall protection which allows the worker to traverse horizontally along the line between two points of a structure at a height. It is totally safe because the worker is secured to the line with harnesses hence the danger of fall is absent.

Even though there are many safety mechanisms available in the market for employee safety at worksite, it is always better to inspect the site beforehand for any potential fall-hazards. Eliminating the chances of fall right from the beginning assists in creating safer environments for the site workers.

You can visit Caisafety.com for more information on fall arrest systems as well as for buying the best equipment for use on your project site.

About The Author

Brent Owens is a safety expert who works hand in hand with many construction companies across the country to ensure that employees are always protected while at work. He recommends CAISafety.com as the best name to trust for high quality fall protection systems.