FALL

PROTECTION
SAFETY
Objectives
 a. What are the different level of fall hazard?
 b. To know the appropriate methods of fall protection?
 c. What are the different types of attachment used to guide
a fall arrest device?

2
WARNING

This document is a compilation of related

reference books, journals, technical papers,
etc, and is intended for illustration purposes
only thus, the speaker does not claim any
originality in content and form.

3
 STATISTICS
Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the
construction industry.
• Falls 33%
• Struck By 18%
• Caught In 18%
• Electrical 17%
150 – 200 workers are killed each year and more
than 100,000 injured as a result of falls.
Data from US BLS
 STATISTICS
• 40% of fall fatalities were from heights over 40 ft.

• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of 20-30 ft.

• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of 11-20 ft.

Most falls occur on scaffolds or roofs.

Data from US BLS

 FALL HAZARDS
A fall hazard is any condition in the construction
workplace which exposes an employee to an
unprotected fall that may result in injury or
death.
1. Falls from elevation
2. Falls on the same level
3. Being struck by falling objects
Elevated locations which require increased fall
hazard awareness
1. Falls from elevation
 Scaffolds
 Ladders
 Roof Falls from any of these
 Excavations locations may occur
 Bridges
while accessing,
climbing, traveling, or
 Form works
working.
 Floor openings
Appropriate Methods
of Protection
Elimination
Prevention
Use of Control Equipment
 Duty to Have Fall Protection

• Fall protection is required when one or

more employees have exposure to falls of
six feet or greater to the lower level.
 Eliminating the fall hazard
(from elevated work-area)

Fall hazards can be eliminated through engineering

controls and/or alternative work methods.
Engineering Control
Performing as much work on the ground as
possible to eliminate the hazard of
climbing/working at elevation.
Examples:
1. Assembling guardrail systems at ground
level rather than at elevation.
2. Maximize pre-assembly of structural
components on the ground.
Alternative Work Methods

Example:
Use of radio communication for signaling
instead of employees hanging over the edge
giving signals
 Preventing employee exposure
Fall prevention methods include:
 Use of elevated work-equipment
 Use appropriate aerial lifts
 Providing proper access to elevated work area using
standard ladders and stairs with handrails
 Protecting openings with covers or guardrails and
leading edges with guardrails
 Use of fall restraint system
 Practicing good housekeeping
Guardrail
A vertical barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to
lower levels
Work locations requiring guardrail protection:
 Elevated work platforms (such as form work)
 Scaffolds
 Openings/holes in bridge decks, floors or other
unprotected surfaces
 Unprotected sides of ramps/stairways/platforms
Guard Rail Systems
Prevention of Falls from Floor
Openings
Fall Restraint Systems
Travel Restraint System – is an assembly
composed of body belt and proper
accessories that prevent a worker from
traveling to an edge where the occurrence
of a fall may happen.
Use of Body Belts
Effective January 1, 1998, body belts were
prohibited as a fall arrest device. (OSHA)
Body belts can still be used as a travel restraining
device.
Fall Restraint Systems
Use to prevent the user from reaching an area
where free-fall could occur (e.g. leading edge roof
work)
Controlling the fall
Least desirable method of protection because it
minimizes the consequences of a fall rather than
preventing its occurrence
Should only be considered after determining that the
fall hazard cannot be eliminated or the possibility of
falling prevented
Requires the use of personal fall protection
equipment or a safety net to prevent a complete fall
Fall Arrest System
Purpose:
 Stop the fall
 Distribute the impact energy
experienced during the fall arrest
Components of the personal fall arrest
system

Rope/Lanyard
 Body harnesses are designed to
Body harness minimize stress forces on an
employee's body in the event of a
fall, while providing sufficient
freedom of movement to allow
work to be performed.
It consists of straps passed over
the shoulders, across the chest,
and around the legs. In a fall, a
full body harness protects you
more than a safety belt, because
it distributes the force of impact
over a greater area of your
body.
Front view Rear view
Anchor
A secure point of attachment capable of
withstanding the anticipated forces applied
during a fall
Shall be located above the worker
 Anchoring Points Non-Anchor Points
 Structural Members  Guardrails
 Imbedded  Railings
 Eyebolts  Ladders
 Turnbuckles  Scaffoldings
 Shackles  Ductworks/Pipe Vents
 Conduit/Plumbing
 C-Clamps
 Roof stacks, vents,
fans
Lifeline

- is an independent length of synthetic fiber

or steel wire rope attached to a point of
anchorage at one or both ends. It is used to
guide a fall arrest device.
Horizontal Lifeline
• Consists of a fixed rail or
synthetic fiber rope or wire
rope rigged between two
substantial anchor points

• Allows a worker to move

horizontally
Vertical Lifeline

An independent length of
synthetic fiber or steel
wire rope attached to a
point of anchorage. It is
used to guide a fall arrest
device.
It allows a worker to move
vertically on an aerial lift
device.
Lanyard
Flexible line of webbing or a synthetic rope used
to secure a safety belt or full body harness to a
lifeline or anchor

Inspect the lanyard

before each use
Shock absorber
A shock absorber slows and
cushions the fall, reducing the
force of stopping the fall.
Warning: The shock absorber
may increase the length of the
lanyard by as much as 1.2 m
(4 ft) during a fall. Allow for
this extra fall distance when
you include a a shock
absorber in your personal fall
protection system.
Swing fall hazard
Be careful not to tie
off to an anchor in
such a way that if
you fall, you’ll swing
into an obstruction
A swing fall can be
as harmful as falling
to the ground
After A Fall
 Immediately remove from service all equipment used to
arrest the fall. You cannot use the equipment again until
it’s been inspected and approved by the manufacturer or
other approved agent, or by a professional engineer.
Fall Containment System
 “Ang ILOG na TAHIMIK ay
MALALIM, ang ILOG na
MAINGAY……may NAGLALABA”