What Causes Fall Accidents To Occur?
Most falls on the job site happen because the employer or workers failed to follow appropriate safety protocols. Some of the most common falls from height occur due to:
- Lack of access to a personal fall arrest system
- Inadequate fall protection
- Inexperience or lack of training
- Unstable ladders
- Improperly built or broken scaffolding
- Unsafe personnel hoists
- Unsafe aerial lifts
- Tripping and slipping hazards
Inadequate Fall Protection
By far, a lack of access to a personal fall arrest system, often called fall protection, is the biggest cause of falls from heights. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program, of all the workers killed in falls from heights, more than 50% had inadequate fall protection.
Fall protection should include things like harnesses, guardrails, and safety nets. Harnesses fall into the category of a personal fall arrest system. Guardrails have things like scaffolding, scissor lifts, and enclosed work platforms. Safety nets are mesh or wire nets positioned under people who work at great heights.
OSHA Safety Requirements to Avoid Fall Risks
These safety measures must meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. For example, OSHA regulation 1910.140 mandates that personal fall protection systems should be inspected before initial use and during each work shift. Harnesses should be free from mildew, wear, damage, deterioration, and defects. If they are not, they must immediately be removed from service.
OSHA regulation 1910.29 sets for requirements for fall protection systems, such as guardrail systems. Guardrails should be 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) above the walking surface.
Mid-rails should be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail and the walking surface. Screens or mesh should extend along the entire opening between top rail supports.
Common OSHA violations include:
- Guardrails that are missing or loose
- Lack of harnesses
- Fall protection that does not meet weight-bearing requirements
- Failure to inspect fall safety measures
- Failure to employ safety inspectors
- Improperly built scaffolding
- Ladders that don’t meet guidelines
In fact, according to OSHA, four of the top 10 serious violations found on construction sites involved fall hazards.
Common Fall from Height Injuries
Falls from heights in New York City can often result in devastating injuries that can affect you for the rest of your life. When a fall happens, the body strikes the ground with significant force. This impact is like a high-speed car crash or other serious accident.
Some common injuries that occur due to falls include:
- Broken bones or fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Concussion
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder and neck injuries
- Head injuries
- Concussion
- Paralysis
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