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When it comes to construction-site accidents,
falls are more common – and often more deadly – than you may think. In fact, according
to OSHA, of the 1,008 construction-related deaths in
2018, 338 were due to falls on the jobsite. Deaths from falls can often be
easily prevented if the proper work is done to ensure that you and your team are
prepared. OSHA offers basic tips to help you prevent falls on the jobsite:

Plan Ahead to Get the Job Done Safely

It is of the utmost importance to assign jobs
and locations so that the team knows where everyone on the site is at all
times. It is your project manager’s responsibility to make the plans so make
sure to pay attention in meetings. The information is just as important to you
as it is to them. Consider scheduling a one-on-one with your manager to discuss
the plan and just ask if there is an opportunity to help out in the early
stages of planning. When preparing, think about different hazards like holes and skylights.

Have the Right Equipment

Having the proper safety tools is crucial,
particularly when you are working on tall buildings and roofs. According to Simplified Safety,
there are three different types of fall protection. They are fall prevention,
fall restraint, and fall arrest. Fall prevention “creates a barrier between the
person and the fall hazard.” The proper equipment for fall
prevention would include guardrails, skylight protection, and safety barriers.
Fall restraint “prevents people from reaching a fall hazard through a tie-off
system.” A safety harness and lanyard “tied off at a set length from a weighted
tie-off point” would be used for this type of prevention to help you stay
secure and give you extra support. Fall arrest “stops a fall that is in
progress through a tie-off system.” The equipment used for this would be a
harness and a “retractable tied off to an anchor point.”  Before using one of these techniques, talk to
your supervisor to determine which would work best for your jobsite.

Get Trained to Use the Equipment Safely

Before you use any equipment, you need to be
properly trained to do so. Using a piece of equipment you are unfamiliar with
can be dangerous to both you and your coworkers. If your supervisor assigns you
to a tool and you are unsure how to use it, ask about proper techniques. If you
want to prepare for a job early, OSHA
provides a number of different resources with directions to help you better
understand how to use the equipment. You will also be taught about equipment
safety during your site-safety training so be sure to refer to your course materials.

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