Fall Protection Forum

The requirements for a self-rescue descent device are outlined in ANSI Z359.4-2007, section 3.2.7. This section covers all of the information about how to make sure that your descent device is compliant with ANSI requirements. Section 3.2.7 covers five different topics about fall protection that include: descent energy and capacity,…

Energy is something that can be neither created, nor destroyed. Since the energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only move from one form to another form. Kinetic energy is one of the nine different forms of energy. It is the energy that is created from movement. Another form…

Writing a fall rescue plan can be a scary task for some employers. But fear not! These plans are easy to make thanks to this blog and the ASSE Fall Protection Code. For reference purposes, the fall hazard survey report requirements can be found in section 4.2 in ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007…

It seems to be part of the human condition that people will simply avoid dealing with a problem until they are forced (typically by external factors) to deal with it. When it comes to dealing with the safety of an employee in a potentially hazardous working environment, it is concerning…

Manufacturing and machine maintaining are tasks that require a lot of space. This is simply the nature of the beast. When a company makes a big machine or they fix big machines, they’re going to need a workspace that can handle the equipment. Working with large equipment usually means that…

The SRL and EAL debate is probably one of the hottest topics among fall protection engineers. It’s usually a lively debate because both devices have their benefits for a majority of fall protection situations. The two primary fields that require fall protection systems are industrial and construction settings. Each setting…

ANSI/ASSE officially defines an Authorized Rescuer as, “A person assigned by the employer to perform fall protection rescue.” An Authorized Rescuer requires slightly less training than a Competent Rescuer, however, both titles require basic training in order to understand basic fall protection safety and rescue techniques. The core of an…

The Initial Evaluation There are many different things that a qualified person needs to consider when they are developing fall rescue plans. During the initial evaluation of the potential rescue team, a qualified person needs to establish that a local rescue service can meet the needs of that specific worksite….

When OSHA writes a law, they usually need to use the verbose and flowery terminology of governmental law. However, there are many times when I will experience a law or some other political statement that I feel can be easily summarized in far fewer words. Even though OSHA 1926.502 (d)(20)…

It’s time for another thrilling blog post about OSHA standards and requirements! This week, we will be discussing the definition and importance of safety factors when implementing a fall protection system in an industrial setting. According to OSHA 1910.140(c)(13), anchorages “must be: capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2…

The hit 90s television show America’s Funniest Home Videos has always been a testament to several things about American culture: Americans are clumsy creatures Americans enjoy filming their clumsiest moments for national television Americans know many different ways to fall Even though there is unabashed clumsiness displayed on television, there…

As former President Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” Naturally,…