Preventing Falls in Construction

It is officially the start of the fall season! As the leaves start to change, pumpkin flavors start dominating the industry, along with haunted houses and other fun activities. However, just because the fall season is enjoyable, does not mean that construction falls are enjoyable. Read on to learn how you can start preventing falls in construction environments!

Construction Fall Statistics

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of death in construction? In fact, in 2020, 351 out of the 1,008 construction deaths were from falls. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has put forth a couple of steps to help reduce these preventable deaths: Plan, Provide, and Train.

Plan

The first step is to plan. This consists of ensuring the job is done safely. A plan is put in place to decide how the job will be done, what tasks will be done, and what safety measures to put in place for each task. Don’t forget about the cost of safety equipment too! Part of proper planning includes making room in the project’s budget for safety equipment.

Provide

In the last step, we mentioned the cost of safety equipment. Make sure you are providing the right equipment for the job. This includes the correct ladders, scaffolding, and even personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). Regular inspection of these elements is also necessary for peace of mind.

Train

Finally, train everyone to use their equipment safely. If it is being used, it should be taught. This includes set-up, usage, maintenance and what to do if things go wrong. Learning how to recognize on-site hazards can also help your crew stay safe on the job.

Fall Prevention Expert?

OSHA has a dedicated campaign to help prevent falls in construction and you can click here to learn more about it. Since we provide materials to many large projects, this information is important for us to share and can even be applied in home renovations as well. Do your part and start preventing falls in construction!

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