Posts by developer
How Can Fall Protection Cause Injury?
Falls are among the most common causes of workplace injuries and deaths. Fall protection systems are installed to avoid those potential outcomes. However, improper use, honest mistakes, and accidents can make fall protection systems risk factors in the workplace. The best way to avoid fall protection injuries is to ensure everyone in the workplace understands how these systems work, their dangers, and how to reduce those risks. Common Fall Protection…
Read MoreCan an Overhead Crane Hook Be Used as an Anchor Point?
One question we hear occasionally is whether workers can tie off to a crane hook for personal fall protection when no other anchorage is available. The answer is somewhat more complicated than a simple yes or no. In some instances, OSHA permits workers to use a crane hook as an anchor point, but there are stringent requirements, and it should…
Read MoreHow to Inspect Your Rope Grab Assembly
Rope grabs provide personal fall arrest or restraint in rugged work environments, such as construction, oil production, and window washing. When combined with a lanyard and body harness, rope grabs should move freely up and down vertical lifelines. Checking that rope grabs function properly is essential for keeping workers who use them safer from being…
Read MoreHow Serious Can Fall Injuries Be?
Common sense tells us that even a simple slip and fall can lead to injury. But how serious can these injuries be, and how does a fall to a lower level increase the risk of serious injury, or even death? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,486 fatal work injuries in…
Read MoreCan Fall Protection Increase Productivity?
The pros and cons of using fall protection in the workplace sparks a surprising amount of debate among people who work at height. At first, it can seem like there are a lot of rules and regulations that need to be followed. And the process of obeying those rules and regulations can feel like it…
Read MoreBeyond Compliance: Creating a Culture of Safety
There are many safety regulations concerning fall prevention, including standards for fall protection systems, safety for workers at height, and more. OSHA 1910, OSHA 1926, and ANSI Z359 cover broad topics of fall prevention, and there are many specific standards within those regulations. These regulations define actions and steps employers must take to protect their…
Read MoreInspecting Your Full Body Harness
Inspecting Your Full Body Harness When a person is using a fall protection system, every component of the system makes an important contribution to the safety of the user. Even though each part of a fall arrest system is important, the device that is most often complained about is the full body harness. Any fall…
Read MoreSelf-Retracting Lifeline OSHA and ANSI
Safety protocols reduce the risk of accidental falls when working at heights. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and American National Standards Institute have established guidelines regarding self-retracting lifelines. These fall protection systems reduce workplace hazards, and adhering to OSHA and ANSI standards mitigates injuries and fatalities while preventing costly lawsuits and fines for…
Read MoreA Brief History of Fall Protection
Before the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) of 1970, fall protection in the workplace was not regulated in the United States, and employers bore little responsibility for fall hazards. Let’s walk through the history of U.S. fall protection standards, starting with early workplace safety. Early Workplace Safety In the early days of industrialization, workplace…
Read MoreAdministrative Controls: What Can You Do?
It is a serious decision to place a worker in a situation where they need to access dangerous heights to do their job. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Fall Hazard Hierarchy involves different levels of protection for workers from the hazards of heights. Under ANSI Z359.2, the ANSI Fall Hazard Hierarchy goes as follows:…
Read MoreAerial Work Platforms vs. Scaffolding in the Facility Management Industry
In the facility management industry, aerial work platforms and scaffolding are commonly used for tasks requiring height work, such as maintenance, repairs, and inspections. Each has its own advantages. Rigid Lifelines® engineers, designs, and tests various permanent fall protection systems for workers at various heights. Scaffolding The facility management industry uses scaffolding in various applications.…
Read MoreAir Resistance in Fall Protection
Air resistance, also known as drag, is the force that opposes an object’s motion through the air. Rigid Lifelines® explains how this relates to fall protection. What Is Air Resistance in Fall Protection? Fall protection and physics are closely linked to the laws of motion. Fall protection is mostly concerned with the process of preventing…
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