Our industry is most commonly associated with window washing systems and suspended maintenance systems. Because of this, fall protection—particularly on low-rise buildings—is often overlooked.
Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint
“Fall protection” is a term that encompasses both fall arrest and fall restraint.
Fall arrest prevents a person from reaching the ground after a fall. An example of fall arrest is a worker tripping at the edge of a building and being suspended midair by a lanyard connected to a cable system.
Fall restraint prevents a worker from reaching a fall hazard altogether. An example of fall restraint is a worker being physically prevented from reaching the edge of a building by a guardrail.
Preventing Falls
Data shows that falls are the most common accidents in the construction industry, and approximately 75% of falls occur at elevations of less than three storeys.
A fall protection system may include:
- Cable systems
- Fixed ladders
- Guardrails
- Localized anchors
When designing a fall protection system, several key factors must be considered.
Function
What type of work is being completed while the system is in use?
This may include:
- Washing windows from a ladder
- Repairing or replacing antennas
- Servicing cooling towers
- Maintaining drains
- Accessing façade-mounted equipment
- Replacing lights
- Servicing mechanical units
- Working on pipes
- Roofing work
- Servicing satellites
- Maintaining surveillance cameras
Frequency
How often will this work occur?
If the work is routine and scheduled, the most user-friendly system should be implemented to encourage consistent use.
If the work is unexpected or non-routine, the most basic and cost-effective system may be sufficient.
Users
Who will be using the system?
A trained and supervised worker may require less equipment than someone unfamiliar with fall protection systems.
Falls can be effectively prevented through proper training, adequate safety equipment, and a well-designed fall protection system.
Fall protection equipment is required:
- In Canada, when any section of the parapet wall is less than 36 inches, and a worker is exposed to a fall of 10 feet or more
- In the United States, when any section of the parapet wall is less than 42 inches and a worker is exposed to a fall of 4 feet or more