Fall Protection Forum

Today, companies normally task a facility or safety manager with keeping workers safe at height. Part of his or her job description is to compile a fall protection plan. Unfortunately, many companies take on this task after an employee is injured or they have been cited for a specific safety…

Today, fall protection encompasses many different applications across various industries. Many people think of industrial applications when they hear the term “fall protection,” but other forms of fall protection exist. There are many recreational activities that require fall protection: rock climbing, high-lining, and even hunting, to name just a few….

Post-fall rescue is an essential part of developing an effective fall protection program. Implementing a thorough fall protection program helps to establish guidelines protecting all employees who are exposed to potential fall hazards. Overall, a fall-protection plan includes several factors, including the installation of appropriate fall protection systems, storage and…

This blog was originally posted April 24, 2015. On November 19, 2018, new regulations went into effect regarding fixed ladder cages. Under the new regulations, cages are no longer considered appropriate fall safety equipment. New fixed ladders cannot be installed with cages as a form of fall protection, and cages…

Leading and sharp edges are a huge threat in the fall protection industry. Not only do leading and sharp edges present unique risks, but they also require special products. Using standard personal fall arrest products can have catastrophic results for employees working on leading and sharp edges. OSHA defines a…

Although fall protection, fall restraint, and fall prevention are similar in concept,…

There have been a lot of news stories in New England about people falling through residential and commercial buildings while attempting to clear their roofs of heavy snow. Recently, several men and women have died or suffered serious injuries after climbing to the roof to assess their snow removal needs…

In the fall protection industry, the process of deflection is characterized by any piece of equipment that is displaced or misshapen under the load of arresting a fall or supporting a worker’s bodyweight after a fall has been arrested. Deflection most commonly occurs with a rope or wire cable style…

If you have a project coming up or work in a profession that takes you to great physical heights, for example as a window washer, roofer, or tree care professional, you probably know a lot about how to keep yourself safe so high up. However it is always good to…

The holidays are a notoriously busy time for families and businesses alike. Whether a family has ordered gifts online or a business needs a new piece of safety equipment, people in the trucking industry are extremely busy receiving and delivering shipments at the end of the year. Along with a…

For people who have had a fall arrested while working at height, suspension trauma can be avoided in one of two ways: prompt rescue (i.e. within 15 minutes) or properly using trauma relief straps. Suspension trauma is caused by a worker’s blood getting caught in their legs and becoming toxic…

This blog was originally posted on 10/22/2014 and reviewed 3/9/2021. Disclaimer: The staff of Rigid Lifelines are not medical experts. If a worker is experiencing suspension trauma, seek medical assistance immediately. Historically, rescue planning is the part of a fall protection program that most workplaces forget. This forgotten planning usually…