When working in an elevated work pace, fall protection is essential. Even short falls can seriously injure a person, depending on what they fall on. Without protection, workers could end up in the hospital or, even worse, they could sustain fatal injuries.
One way to reduce a fall hazard is to use temporary fall protection barriers. When these are in place, workplace falls are kept to an absolute minimum.
Temporary fall protection barriers are safety handrails and barriers used for work on roofs. If you’re cleaning a gutter, you need to make sure you don’t fall. This heavy-duty fall protection can be moved quickly and easily from job to job, ensuring you and your workers stay safe whatever the height.
If you want to learn more, here is the importance of using temporary fall protection barriers.
Falls are unfortunately common in some industries. There were 20,000 fall-related injuries in the United States alone in 2018, and between 2022 and 2021, there were 35 fall-related deaths in Great Britain. These numbers should tell you how important fall protection is.
The more fall protection barriers are used, the lower these numbers become. That’s why guardrail systems and fall protection barriers are so important.
If you introduce your construction team to a new area to work on, they will feel far safer if there is a toe board and a fall arrest in place. In the same way, if working on a site containing infectious materials, workers would feel safer wearing safety glasses, surgical masks, and any other type of PPE.
You need your team to fully trust you and their place of work. By providing a temporary fall protection barrier, they are far more likely to feel safe and do a good job. They can focus on the work task rather than worrying about whether their next step might lead to a broken ankle or a sprained wrist.
The worst part about fall hazards is that they cause injury. That’s not the only risk, though – as a company, you might be liable. If someone falls on the job and files a personal injury claim, the company might have to pay a lot of money. Avoid financial risk by ensuring proper barriers are in place.
When you’re on any industry job, it’s important to remember the correct gear. Whether you need personal protective equipment like eye protection or a fall barrier, you must use them every time. It’s also a good idea to invest in your worker’s health care and provide ample safety training. When it comes to construction work, safety is the priority.
Just like you wouldn’t forget about respiratory protection or face shields when the job calls for it, you shouldn’t forget about fall protection. Whenever you find yourself working on a roof, make sure you stay safe by fit testing the fall protection barriers and using them every time. With the frequency of falls in the industry, it is essential.
