Slip and fall accidents are among the most common workplace accidents today. However, with the use of fall protection systems like full-body safety harnesses, such accidents can be prevented.
Jason Wible Frenchcreek mentions that full-body harnesses basically distribute fall arrest forces across the shoulders, chest, upper thighs, and pelvis. They usually feature a dorsal D-ring for attaching to the connector like a lanyard and can have other D-rings for use in travel restraint, retrieval, ladder climbing, or worker positioning. These fall protection harnesses are among the most effective forms of body support for fall arrest and must be chosen on the basis of the work environment and job task.
Jason Wible Frenchcreek discusses the use of fall protection harnesses
There are a number of fall protection harnesses available in the market today. These safety harnesses can additionally be used in varied ways, depending on the type of attachments used by a person and the environment they are working in. The key function of a safety harness is to prevent the wearer from falling down from a dangerous height. These harnesses comprise of a system of straps and restraints, and by wearing them the risk of injury caused by a potential fall is majorly reduced.
Jobs that require people to work at great heights would have a high degree of fall risk associated with it. Fall arrest and restraint lanyards are among the best equipment to use when working at these heights, so as to reduce the fall risks. Such fall protection harnesses work by either catching the wearer as they fall or reducing the risk of falling altogether by preventing the wearer from moving into areas of risk.
When people are not working at a great height, often the risk of falling from a smaller drop seems almost insignificant. Hence, they often do not put in the effort of setting up the harness and anchoring systems in such situations. But this usually ends up being a major mistake. Even the smallest fall can be potentially life-threatening. Falling from a seemingly low height and awkward landing may result in pulled muscles, nerve damage, broken bones, or even worse. Hence, it is better to wear a fall protection harness whenever there is a risk of fall, no matter how low it is.
There are a number of regulations and laws associated with safety in the workplace, particularly when it comes to working at a great height. There are a variety of factors that have to be taken into account for determining potential fall hazards at a worksite. While no two worksites are exactly the same, it is generally accepted that fall protection must be provided if there is an unprotected edge with a potential fall of 6ft or higher. These rules can vary quite a bit for different scenarios like scaffold workers or steelworkers.
As mentioned by Jason Wible Frenchcreek people need to be educated on the legal requirements for working safely, as well as have a good understanding of the precautions to take for fall risks. Jason Wible is the President of FrenchCreek, a company that offers a full line of fall protection equipment including full-body harnesses, safety lanyards, and more.
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