The Three Types Of Fall Protection Systems

By Author: John Michael
Total Articles: 27
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Many a times, employees working in certain industries have to work above the ground level. This usually happens at construction sites. Therefore, falling off an elevation is one of the safety hazards and is considered as the second leading cause of workplace deaths. OSHA, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has set down certain rules and regulations to minimize the risk faced by employees. Fall protection is one of these regulations and every employer has to abide by it to maintain a safe working environment.

Under the section 1926.501 of OSHA Regulations, fall protection systems have to be provided by all the employers. Those working more than six feet, that is approximately 1.8 meters, above a lower level. There are three different types of fall protection systems as accepted by OSHA: guardrails, harnesses and safety nets. However, certain situations do arise that demand the use of other systems.

* Guardrails: These should be placed within 3 inches or 8 cm. They should be around 42 inches high with an opening not wider than 19 inches. Guardrails should be strong enough to withstand force of ...
... about 200 pounds without falling. Another requirement for a guard rail is the material it is made from. It should not be made of something that may harm and injure the employees or tear their clothing. The mid rails as well as the top ones should not be made out of a material that is less than a quarter inch. If the material is thin, it may lacerate a falling employee.

* Harnesses: These are basically personal fall systems. A body harness, an anchor point and a lifeline are the primary equipments required. These systems prevent an employee from falling more than six feet. They have to be two times as strong as the impact energy that is generated by the employee at this distance. The harness should be tested beforehand to withstand a load of around 3,600 pounds. Also, it should be tested each time before it is put to use. The ropes and webbing have to be made from synthetic fibers because they are strong as compared to the other options.

* Safety Nets: The safety net is another type of equipment that is used to eliminate safety hazards. These nets should be placed close to the area where employees are working. This means they should be placed no more than 30 feet below. Also, the net should be wide enough to catch an employee falling from a building. Inspection of these nets should be carried out after every six months. For testing a net, a heavy bag of around 400 pounds should be dropped on it from the highest point where the workers will be working.

About the Author :
OSHA 10 Hour Trainings is dedicated to protect life and promote safety in work sites through high quality safety training. We provide OSHA 10 hour training program that is designed to help workers at the construction and general industries.For further information,visit: http://www.osha10hourtrainings.com