An Introduction to Workplace Fall Protection
June 19, 2024
An Introduction to Workplace Fall Protection
By implementing appropriate safety protocols, you empower your employees to create a safer, more productive workplace. And while this principle applies to all safety situations, it’s particularly true in relation to fall protection.
Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases its list of the top ten most common safety violations. Fall incidents are consistently at the top, injuring thousands of employees each year. This is why it’s vital for every industrial manufacturing workplace to invest in fall protection systems to manage safety risks—and prevent accidents from happening in the first place.
Fall Protection Programs
Reducing the frequency of fall-related accidents and injuries within your organization can be a major challenge. To start, you need to ensure your team is following OSHA fall protection standards and rules. For the best results, consider designing and implementing an in-depth fall protection program. These programs train employees in the various aspects of fall protection, including how to react if an accident is about to happen—and how to mitigate potential fall risks. Investing in this initiative can play a major role in reducing the impact and frequency of falls throughout your workplace.
If you’re unsure of where to start when building your fall protection program, Stronghold Safety Engineering is here to help. Starting with a fall hazard assessment, we will come to your workplace to identify areas of risk and find potential hazards as defined by OSHA and ANSI standards. Once we’ve completed an assessment, we’ll collaborate with your team to design a safety plan to reduce the likelihood of fall accidents. We will work with your budget, specific applications, and time constraints to build a customized plan that makes your workplace safer and more efficient.
Fall Protection Products
Although introducing a fall protection plan is a great start, it isn’t enough to completely protect your employees. You will also want to invest in the right fall protection products to support your plan. Safety solutions like fall arrest harnesses, guardrails, and even safety net systems can offer invaluable protection for your employees. To help you find the ideal fall protection products for your team and workplace, here’s a quick overview of top-quality solutions from Stronghold:
GuardDog Self-Closing Gate
Safety gates can be a major asset to fall protection—and this GuardDog Self-Closing Gate is no exception. Safety gates can help provide better protection for elevated walking areas, rooftop safety, and added fall protection. This tough, durable, easy-to-install gate features a unique self-closing design with two stainless steel torsion springs, allowing it to open in any direction.
Garlock RailGuard 200 System
Guardrails are an easy way to add fall protection for employees, as well as contractor or servicemen who might not be familiar with your safety requirements. A passive guardrail system is a great way to keep your workers guarded from potential falls. The Garlock RailGuard 200 system has a simple, non-penetrating design that doesn’t require drilling or tools to install. It’s weighted base helps maintain rooftop integrity, too.
The versatility of this system makes it even more practical. The Garlock RailGuard 200 can be used to safeguard rooftops, loading docks, mezzanines, or even certain machinery. Pair it with the GuardDog self-closing gate and you’ve got the perfect safety setup to protect your people from accidental falls.
Don’t Skimp on Training
If you’ve got a fall protection plan in place paired with high-quality fall protection products, you’re off to an excellent start! But it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile when it comes to employee safety. In-depth worker training is critical for improving workplace safety. That’s why it’s vital to take the time to train employees on the importance of using proper fall protection equipment, along with following your protection plan in case of an accident.
Fall Protection from Stronghold Safety Engineering
Unfortunately, falls continue to be a top risk for many industrial and manufacturing workers. At Stronghold Safety Engineering, we’re passionate about helping you build a safer and more productive workplace for your employees. Together, we can create a tailored fall protection plan to protect the most important part of your business: your people. If you’re ready to make employee safety a top priority in your workplace, contact us today!