Slips and falls on the job cause injuries, death and huge costs for workers and employers every year. In 2010, over 10,000 workers were injured by falls while 255 workers died because of a fall.
This year OSHA (Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration) and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) have put together a new fall prevention awareness campaign designed to give employers and their workers information and educational materials about preventing falls.
Employers have a lawful duty to keep workers safe on the job, so these dangers need to be fully understood by employers and workers. It’s easy to think about the dangers of falling when you work several stories off the ground but what about when the height isn’t even as tall as you are? Think of it like this, if a six-foot tall person falls from a four-foot high platform that creates a fall of ten feet, which can cause some serious injuries. Situations like these are what establish the need for preventative measures on the job.
OSHA and NIOSH’s new campaign uses three simple steps, Plan, Provide and Train, to prevent falls and save lives.
PLAN
Before any job begins think about how it will be done, what tasks will be involved, and what safety equipment will be needed.
When estimating the cost of a job, make sure to include all the usual equipment, safety equipment, and the necessary tools for the job. If you use loading/offloading platforms, for instance, you’ll need loading arms, gangways, catwalks, non-slip walkways and more.
PROVIDE
Providing the proper equipment to do the job will also help keep workers safer. To protect workers who are loading/unloading tank trucks, rail cars or marine equipment, fall prevention should be the main focus. As an employer, you must provide fall prevention and the right equipment for every job. Be sure to regularly inspect all fall prevention equipment to ensure it’s in good condition and safe to use at all times.
TRAIN
Everyone using the equipment needs proper training. Make sure you provide easy to understand instructions even if that means having the instructions printed in another language. You prevent falls when all workers understand the correct set-up and safe use of equipment. Hazard recognition plus care and safe use of equipment helps keep everyone safer.
It’s almost impossible to talk about fall prevention too much. Plan for the proper equipment to perform the job, provide that equipment as well as the training necessary to understand how to correctly operate and inspect the equipment. This way the job gets done properly and everyone gets to go home at the end of the day.
Carbis specializes in fall prevention so we can talk to your company about safety, what type of fall prevention equipment you need and how to use it. Contact us today to ensure you are providing the proper equipment for your workers and your company.
