As a construction worker, it may not be a surprise that according to the Occupational Health Safety Administration, the leading cause of injury and death in construction work is from falls. Whether you’ve fallen from a ladder, roof, window, or scaffolding, the injuries you sustain can be very serious.
Fall prevention
While falls on construction sites are very common, many times they can be prevented. OSHA’s regulations state that employers must supply appropriate safety gear and on a construction site, fall protection must be provided at 6 feet.
Other safe practices include the contractor surveying the construction site and checking for safety issues:
- Guarding holes that workers can step into and fall
- Keep floors clean & dry
- Guardrails & toe-boards have to be installed properly around elevated floors, hazardous machines, open-sided platforms, and runways
- All employees properly trained on job safety
- Provide personal protection equipment to workers
- Use of fall arrest system