Fall Protection
Fall protection encompasses the range of equipment and procedures that are put in place to ensure that the risk of a fall from height is ideally eliminated or at least minimised as much as possible from occurring.
Passive and active fall protection
Fall protection systems are divided into two groups; passive and active.
Passive fall protection is a device that is fixed and does not move, adapt or change when in or out of use. Guardrail is a perfect example of passive fall protection. These types of systems do not require personnel to use PPE such as harnesses or need any human interaction to enable them to function properly.
Active fall protection systems are the complete opposite in that the operator has to perform certain tasks and practices in order for them to work safely and correctly. This will involve such things as attaching rope lines, wearing harnesses, undertaking training and carrying out various procedures. Some systems classified as active fall protection would be anchors, rigid rails and davits.
Active fall protection systems are further classified in two types: fall restraint and fall arrest systems. Fall restraint systems restrict the movement of an operator by limiting their access to the fall edge, effectively acting like a leash.
Fall arrest devices on the other hand do not prevent the worker from falling but arrest and stop the fall once it has occurred. This makes fall arrest systems the least favourable method of protection. However it it still useful if other means are not possible or practicable.
Choosing a fall protection system
When choosing a fall protection system for your building, there are four main factors to consider:
What tasks will need to be carried out?
How frequently will the tasks need to be carried out?
How competent are the personnel performing the tasks?
What are the risks associated with the tasks?
Once these factors have been determined, use the tables below to help evaluate your requirements.
Maintenance Category | Item | Maintenance Frequency | Example System |
---|---|---|---|
A Priority | Mechanical plant and equipment, hot water units, A/C units, refrigeration units, mechanical exhausts, ect. | Frequent | Passive fall protection (permanent) ie. permanent guardrail, skylight protectors |
B Priority | Gutters, windows and garden planters, eave gutters, box gutters, clerestory windows, roof lights, garden planters etc. | Periodic | Active fall protection (permanent) ie. fall arrest anchor point, static line, rigid rail |
C Priority | General roof access, parapets, flashings, roof sheeting, concrete membrane etc. | Infrequent | Temporary fall protection ie. temporary guardrail, temporary anchor point, elevated work platform |
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