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Safety is paramount when working at heights, especially in the construction and manufacturing industries. These workers risk a lot to fulfill their duties, and companies should invest more in their safety protocols.
Work-related injuries or accidents are not uncommon. In an International Labor Organization research, over 340 million work-related injuries happen every year. It only takes one minor error for a worker to suffer severe injury or even fatality.
Tips for Working at Heights
While it is common to have work-related accidents, there are ways to minimize and prevent these incidents. Let us discuss the measures and best practices a company can implement when working at heights.
Provide protective equipment
When buying protective equipment like personal fall arrest systems, prioritize getting the right one for your business. There will be lower-priced protective equipment but still possesses the capabilities that costlier equipment offers. One prime factor to consider is body harnesses meeting the safety standard of your industry.
However, investing in more expensive equipment has advantages, too, like D-rings, fireproof material, or arc design. These extra perks will provide both safety and comfort.
Buying your protective equipment is the first step, but the next thing to consider is inspecting your equipment thoroughly. Checking the equipment before use is essential to determine if it is still functional.
Take the initiative to ensure every piece of equipment and item works properly. For example, active equipment like lanyards and harnesses need inspection annually by a certified inspector. These are small tasks that can save a life.
Invest in fall protection systems
Fall protection is safety equipment utilized to make working at heights safer. This concept refers to any planned systems, devices, and measures to prevent or minimize falls from heights. These systems include barricades, railings, and personal fall arrest systems that combine lanyards, anchorage, full-body harnesses, and deceleration devices.
There are two categories of fall protection systems:
- Passive protection systems. These include protective measures that are fixed or unmoving. They require no human interaction or personal protective gear after installation. Barricades, railings, and netting fall under this category.
- Active protection systems. These entail worker participation, portable equipment, or unique gear. Body harnesses, lanyards, anchors, lifelines, and connectors like snap hooks, are prime examples of such.
Build fall prevention
Build fall prevention systems to enhance workers’ safety and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Non-penetrating, parapet mounted, and metal roof railings are not only required but crucial. No training or extra equipment is necessary since these fall prevention devices surround the parameter of the working site.
Conduct proper training
Having a good training session is essential for safety. All the expensive equipment cannot resolve a company’s safety risks without the adequate knowledge and training to handle these.
Routinely reinforcing safety practices enables workers to best protect themselves while at work and helps you retain manufacturing talent. Simply showing a worker how to properly use a fixed industrial ladder will go a long way in ensuring their safety.
Make Safety A Priority
Working at heights is dangerous and requires training, focus, and extensive safety protocols. Accountability and awareness are essential for an employer to keep their workers safe. If a workplace-related accident does occur, company reputation will be the least of your worries since costly legal issues and moral issues will arise after the fact.
Prioritizing worker safety will not only prevent these unfortunate incidents, but it will also afford you loyal, hard-working employees who will be beneficial in the efficiency and overall health of your business.
Strongly consider these steps when setting up your process of investing in proper workplace safety, and keep in mind that prevention is better than cure.
