2. Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the
construction industry.
Most fatalities occur when employees fall from open-
sided floors and through floor openings.
Falls from as little as .5 meter can cause serious lost-
time accidents and sometimes death.
Falls in Construction
3. The Fall Protection Hierarchy shall be considered when
designing fall protection solutions for both existing and new
facilities.
Unprotected falls from elevation usually result in
serious debilitating injury or death. Falls can be
prevented through the use of proper prevention and
arrest systems. All work from elevated work surfaces
will be accomplished without any risk of falling to a
lower level. This goal is achieved by adhering to the
following fall protection hierarchy:
Fall Protection Hierarchy
4. Remove the hazard: avoid working at heights. Bring the
work down to the ground level whenever possible.
If work at heights is unavoidable, secure the elevated work
area with a passive fall prevention barrier system, such as
guardrails.
When a barrier system is not feasible because of the
physical characteristics of the work environment or the
infrequency of access, use an approved fall restraint system
or a MEWP (Motorized Elevated Work Platform)
If no other option is feasible, a properly engineered and
approved fall arrest system can be used in conjunction with
a rescue plan.
Fall Protection Hierarchy
6. Top rails between 100 cm and 115 cm tall
Mid-Rail located 30 – 40 cm below top rail
Toeboards at least 10 cm high
Guardrails
Top Rail
Mid- Rail
Toeboard
7. Rails must be able
to withstand a force
of 200 pounds/ 90
Kilograms
Handrail and
Top Rail Strength
8. Safety Nets
Place safety nets as close as possible below where employees
are working. Safety nets must be installed and inspected
by a competent person
9. Personal Fall Arrest Systems
You must be trained
how to properly use
PFAS.
PFAS = anchorage,
lifeline and body
harness.
10. Must be independent
of any platform
anchorage and
capable of
supporting at least
5,000 lbs/ 2,250 Kilo
per worker
Safety Line Anchorages
11. Lap Belt; not suitable for fall
protection
Full body harness with attachable lanyard; GOOD/
SAFE fall protection
Positioning Devices verses Full Body Harness
12. When Fall Protection is Needed
Walkways & ramps
Unprotected sides & edges
Wall openings
Holes
Scaffolds
Work platforms
False work
Concrete forms & rebar
Open excavations
MEWP (Motorized Elevated Work Platform)
Scissor lifts
Man riding baskets (crane lifted)
17. Sky Lights, Holes, and Other Openings
Holes must be protected. This opening could be
made safe by using a guardrail, or strong cover
18. Sky Lights, Holes, and Other Openings
This opening was made safe by using a
guardrail system
19. completely and securely cover or guardrail
all floor openings and indicate that there is
an opening or hole below
Floor Holes
Inadequate hole covering
20. completely and securely cover all floor
openings and indicate that there is an
opening or hole below
Floor Holes
Properly
Covered
22. Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP)
Employees must be trained before operating
100% tie off is required when working in a MEWP
MEWP must be lowered to before allowed to move
23. Scissor lifts
Employees must be
trained before operating
100% tie off is required
when operating a
scissor lift
Scissor lifts should only
be used on solid level
ground
Scissor lifts must be
lowered before allowed
to move
24. Mobile Equipment
Do not use equipment or shovels as personnel lifting equipment
Do not ride in the buckets
25. Crane lifted man baskets
Man baskets must be designed
for and only used to lift workers
Must be 3rd party certified to lift
workers and display safe
working load
100% tie off with fall harness and
lanyard when in man basket
26. Ladders are to be used for light duty
tasks for a duration not to exceed ½
hour
The maximum step ladder height is 2
meters
Job/ hand built ladders will not be
used
Only one person allowed per ladder
Do not climb or stand above
maximum safe working height
(normally on the top 2 steps)
Keep the area around the ladder clear
Ensure rungs are not deformed or
damaged
Do not tie or lash ladders together to
make them longer
Have someone secure hold/ secure
ladder if needed
General Ladder Requirements
27. Handrails
Stairways with three or
more risers, or higher
than 30 inches/ 75 cm,
must be equipped with
handrail.
The stairway to this platform has more than 4 risers
and is not guarded. The platform requires guarding.
28. Dangerous Conditions
Fix or clean slippery
conditions
Stairway parts must be
free of projections which
may cause injuries or
snag clothing
Clean all debris, trip
hazards, and material
storage from stairways
29. Securing Ladders
Secure ladders to
prevent accidental
movement due to
workplace activity
Only use ladders on
stable and level
surfaces, unless
secured
Do not use ladders on
slippery surfaces
unless secured or
provided with slip-
resistant feet
This ladder is not on a
stable surface
30. Ladder Angle
Non-self-supporting ladders:
(which lean against a wall or
other support)
Position at an angle where
the horizontal distance from
the top support to the foot
of the ladder is 1/4 the
working length of the ladder
31. When using a portable
ladder for access to an
upper landing surface,
the side rails must
extend above the upper
landing surface to allow
for employees safe
access to the
Ladder Rail Extension
32. Face the ladder when
going up or down
Use the 3 point rule
Do not carry any
objects, tools, or
loads that could
cause you to lose
balance
Climbing the Ladder
33. Near Energized Electrical
Equipment
If using ladders where the
employee or the ladder
could contact exposed
energized electrical
equipment, they must
have nonconductive
siderails or fiberglass.
This is an unsafe condition
34. Do not go above the
safe working area of a
step ladder; get a
longer ladder to safely
complete the task
Top Step
35. A competent person must
inspect ladders for visible
defects, like broken or
missing rungs
If a defective ladder is
found, immediately mark it
defective or tag it "Do Not
Use”
Remove defective ladders
from service
Damaged or Defective Ladders
Missing rung
53. Summary
If you can fall you must be protected
Use fall protection systems on:
– Walkways & ramps
– Unprotected sides & edges
– Wall openings
– Holes
– Scaffolds
– Work platforms
– False work
– Concrete forms & rebar
– Open excavations
– MEWP (Motorized Elevated Work Platform)
– Scissor lifts
– Man riding baskets (crane lifted)
Protective measures include guardrails, covers, safety nets, and
Personal Fall Arrest Systems