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If you’re wondering what are the most common hazards in your workplace, it’s safe to say that falls are the number one cause of serious work-related injuries. Luckily, there are ways to prevent them, which is why employers and their workers have to work together and ensure that every person is safe. Fall protection planning can help you eliminate hazards in your workplace and control the risks associated with working at heights.
In this article, we’re going to talk about the importance of safety equipment and explain why wearing a safety harness is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others while working at heights. Additionally, you’ll learn something about bad safety habits and how to correct them.
Why is fall protection so important?
To understand the importance of fall protection plan, let’s start with the basics. The chances of surviving a fall from more than 10-15 meters are low. Even if you manage to survive, you will have to go through an intense recovery and potentially never get a chance to work again.
Additionally, it’s possible that a person working at heights can hurt others, especially workers who happen to stand below them. To minimise the risk of these accidents, all employers whose workers are exposed to fall hazards must develop fall protection plans and ensure all employees use proper tools and equipment while working at heights.
How to motivate workers to wear safety equipment?
Many employers have to deal with workers who refuse to wear safety protection gear while working at heights. To avoid that, make sure to invest in safety training and teach your employees about the importance of safety equipment. Additionally, teach them how to take good care of their equipment and encourage them to report anyone who refuses to wear a safety harness while working at heights.
Why is good-quality equipment essential?
If you’ve been a part of the construction industry for more than a decade, you probably remember how dangerous body belts were. This type of equipment was designed to fit only around a worker’s waist, which was very dangerous since the belt can easily snap. Additionally, wearing a body belt can lead to suspension trauma, and in most cases, to avoid the worst outcome, this situation has to be treated as an emergency.
Luckily, body belts are banned and can’t be used as fall protection equipment on construction sites and places where the risks of falls are high. In today’s world, a fall safety harness is the most attractive replacement for body belts, so let’s see how wearing this equipment can save your life.
Can a fall protection harness prevent suspension trauma?
Fall protection harnesses are systems of restraints that protect the workers from falling from heights. Wearing these harnesses will ensure your spine is kept in a vertical position, which is vital for your health.
When used with a body harness, the personal fall arrest system must limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to roughly 800kg. The fall protection harness then distributes the force to the areas on your body that are best suited to absorb force and support your weight. An even distribution of force can prevent suspension trauma and keep your spine healthy.
Can a fall protection harness protect your head?
As mentioned before, the purpose of a fall protection harness is to distribute and absorb the force while you’re working at heights. However, it’s worth noting that it will keep your body upright during a fall. This feature will protect you from deadly head injuries, but it will also prevent the arresting force from being transferred to your back.
Although it’s possible that your workers may not be willing to wear additional protection while working at heights, it’s essential to provide durable and high-quality fall safety harnesses and urge your workers to put them on.
Does a fall safety harness have to fit the user?
The short answer to this question is yes- you have to find the best harnesses for your workers. Your workers will have to adjust the straps and buckles and make themselves comfortable while wearing the harness.
It’s worth noting that most harnesses are designed for male workers. If you intend to employ women, make sure to find adequate harnesses that provide support for the chest, hips and pelvic area. Luckily, various options on the market will protect your female workers, so make sure to find the right options before you allow them to work on heights without adequate safety equipment.
Conclusion
If you need to develop a better safety plan, make sure to talk to your workers and ask for feedback. More importantly, consider their concerns and provide whatever they need to feel safer. However, if they still believe that safety equipment is a waste of money, find another way to reach out to them or inspire them to wear safety harnesses by giving them bonuses.
