If you’ve decided to start your own small business within the construction or trade industry, you’ll soon be taking on extra staff for the job. While this will be great for boosting productivity and allowing your business to maximise its full efficiency and effectiveness, it’s crucial to consider your and your crew’s wellbeing and safety. This is especially the case if your industry requires fall protection.
Continue reading for some fall protection tips to consider.
Make a checklist
Before anything, make a well-thought-out and detailed checklist consisting of everything to do with fall protection. Include potential hazards with fall protection, the equipment you’ll need, how you’ll access said equipment. Most importantly, you should maintain an annual inspection of your fall protection equipment.
This isn’t just for your peace of mind, but it is the law. Equipment can often wear with constant use, and depending on how tough the working conditions are, the equipment should even be checked more than once a year. If you’re not sure where to begin, this fall protection equipment checklist will provide you with all the essentials that need to be considered.
Know your requirements
An annual inspection of your team’s equipment isn’t the only requirement for you as an employer regarding health and safety. Fall protection is extremely important as falls are one of the most common workplace injuries that result in serious injury and death. Your employees deserve to come to work each shift and feel safe to begin the workday ahead.
OSHA requires that employers provide sensible and safe working conditions without potential danger. All potential dangers should be known and dealt with immediately. Floors should be kept clean and dry, and if work will be conducted outside, suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be provided to all staff free of charge. Each employee should receive training to the highest standard at a level and in a language they can understand.
Check PPE
As well as providing free PPE for all staff, OSHA suggests that employers must ensure that they purchase and maintain the quality of extra advanced protection. This can include guard rails, toe-boards, harnesses, safety nets and handrails. Moreover, it’s essential you let your team know that they must check their PPE before every shift. This is to safeguard their working day and lives. Store all PPE safely and consider extra safety measurements for fall protection.
Create a rescue team
Just as important as any other item on your checklist, you must have a rescue team ready at all times. All businesses that may potentially require fall protection cannot rely on the emergency services. Staff on-site must make up this rescue team and should receive sufficient training in any potential hazards at each site so they know what may be required of them.
Choose confident individuals who perform under pressure for the team. Conduct drills of a fall rescue mission and allow all staff to observe and ask questions. Taking time to do this out your working day is better than having a serious work-related injury. You should also allocate time to do a fall protection equipment inspection.
Make sure you meet all the recommended guidelines and keep you and your team safe on the job.
