Published on: July 1, 2013
If you run a business that requires your employees to work in elevated places, then your company will need a fall protection plan. In fact, the safety guidelines must be compliant with the ANSI Z359.2 standard. Businesses that require employees to work up high include window washing, billboard and roofing companies. Furthermore, your business’s building maintenance system will likely require regular inspections and scheduled maintenance.. Therefore, your maintenance personnel may need to complete occasional tasks at dangerous heights.
Fall Protection Plan Overview
When your company has one or more workers that complete tasks in a raised location on a regular basis, you are required to have a written fall protection program. Furthermore, you must ensure that your employees are secure with a fall protection system. By developing a well-written plan that your employees are required to follow, you will decrease their risk of falling and reduce accidental injuries and deaths. With a fall protection plan in place, you can decrease your expenses when an incident occurs. For instance, you are likely to have lower fines, insurance costs and liability expenses. When you create your plan, be sure to:
- Produce and outline a program
- Recognize your workplace’s fall risks
- Create methods to eliminate, regulate and prevent falls
- Provide fall arrest training seminars
- Inspect and maintain your fall protection equipment
- Complete regular assessments of your staff to ensure their compliance
- Make a plan for each work location that requires employees to work in an elevated location
Assigning a Program Administrator
Once you decide to create your company’s fall protection plan, be sure to place a responsible member of your team in charge of it. Your plan manager will help you develop and implement the program. Furthermore, they will monitor the success of your plan once it is in place. Make sure that your administrator understands the fall protection guidelines, systems and equipment. Keep in mind that your manager will need to oversee the equipment selection and installation. Also, they must make sure that your company has a certified anchor system and horizontal lifelines.
Plan Production
The first step in preparing your company’s fall protection program is to complete an overall hazard analysis. During the assessment, you will need to consider each work site’s fall hazards. Furthermore, review the risk that your employees face when they work in elevated locations, and select a method to prevent falls from occurring. Also, be sure to choose the proper rescue equipment to aid an employee after a fall.
Fall Protection Equipment
Fall protection equipment will include a support system and a connecting line along with an anchor. During the equipment installation process, make sure that the company that is connecting the gear is certified. Keep in mind that facade access equipment is available if your business needs it. Furthermore, verify that you are purchasing the right gear for your work environment. For instance, manufacturers make different anchors for steel beams, residential roofs and scaffolding.
While shopping for your company’s safety equipment, consider the length of time that your workers will need to wear a harness as you can purchase a device that has additional padding for greater comfort. Furthermore, if your employees work in elevated areas frequently, then buy equipment that is made from hardy materials to increase its lifespan.
You will need to provide equipment training for your staff members. In addition, make sure that you request a regularly scheduled fall protection system inspection.
Company Protection
By completing and implementing a fall protection plan, you will ensure the health and safety of your employees. Moreover, the plan is likely to result in a positive work environment for your company, which will increase morale and encourage people to work for you.