Don’t Compromise on Fall Arrest Training and Systems for Your Work-at-Height Employees
Employers that require employees to work at height should be fully aware of the importance of buying the RIGHT fall arrest training and systems, yet all too often we hear of tragic accidents occurring in the workplace that simply should not happen. Fall Arrest equipment and training is a vital component for any employee that works at height in various environments and applications, including construction workers, fire rescue, search & rescue, cellular tower, power utility, aerial lift, and any other work at height profession. It is up to the management of employers to provide and maintain PPE that meets all code requirements, is always available and in good working order. Employers must also provide the training to go along with the equipment so that all employees always know exactly how to respond in any emergency. Providing equipment without training is only providing half of the safety measures to employees, and one is no good without the other. Employers must never compromise on total safety measures, especially fall protection and fall arrest training to work at height employees.
Deadly Falls are Increasing
On December 19, 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2016- National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Reports a 25% Increase in Fatal Falls in 2016! According to this latest News Release from the Department of Labor, a total of 5,190 fatal work injuries were reported during 2016 in the United States, which represents a 7% increase over the 4,836 fatal work injuries occurring in 2015.
- The latest numbers are the first time that fatal workplace injuries topped 5,000 since 2008.
- Most alarming, fatal injuries occurring from falling, slipping or tripping continued the upward with a 25% increase since 2011, and specifically fatalities from falling increased by 25% in 2016 for carpenters, roofers, heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers, tree trimmers and pruners.
With these alarming and simply inexcusable statistics, it should be evident that employers need to take notice, and responsibility, for the safety of their employees. Investing in proper fall arrest training and systems is something you cannot compromise on. This includes having a written plan for an emergency response.
Employer Responsibility for Fall Arrest Training and Systems under OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the Department of Labor (DOL), enforces employer responsibility at the federal level, although states maintain their own OSHA programs if they meet the requirements set forth at the federal level.
1910.28
This is the standard which relays the duty to have fall protection and falling object protection. This OSHA standard requires that employers provide protection for every employee that is exposed to falling and hazards from falling objects. 1910.28 requires that employers provide personal fall protection systems that meet the criteria in 1910.29 or 1910.140.
1910.29
Standard 1910.29 of OSHA ensures that employers provide fall protection systems that meet the requirements set forth in this section, which includes Guardrail systems, Midrails, Screens and Mesh.
Experienced Safety Equipment and Training Helps Employers Stay Compliant
All these codes and requirements can be quite confusing to the safety managers of various organizations that need to comply with work at height for commercial and even governmental agencies. It is difficult to know exactly what requirements to meet, and training procedures to implement. Working with an experienced safety equipment and training company provides several benefits to employers, including:
- Equipment is always UL approved and meets OSHA and NFPA code requirements
- Training meets all required certifications including SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians)
- Provides peace of mind to employers knowing approved equipment and training are protecting their employees
- Save employers money by avoiding OSHA fines with compliant programs
- Employers also save with the best available insurance rates
- Most important, employers save lives by providing total work at height safety
Employers value their number one asset, the people who work for them. Show your employees that their safety is your #1 concern by partnering with an experienced rope access safety equipment and training company.
AHS Rescue Provides Fall Arrest Equipment and Training to Save Employee Lives
Let AHSRescue.com provide your certified fall arrest training and systems to protect your largest asset, your people. Don’t wait until a tragedy forces you to know your responsibilities, not understanding your requirements can be a deadly, as well as expensive, mistake. Providing the equipment is not enough if you do not provide the proper training to go with it.
AHS Rescue is often called upon to provide fall arrest workshops and training sessions all over the country. For experienced safety consulting with certified training, fall arrest and rope access rescue equipment that lives depend on, contact AHS Rescue today for all your work at height training needs.
