Slips, Trips, and Falls
Introduction
Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry.
A number of factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse of or failure to use fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.
Threshold Height
Where workers on a construction site are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more, OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection in one of three ways before work begins:
- guardrail systems,
- safety net systems, or
- personal fall arrest systems.
Again, employers must protect employees from fall hazards whenever an employee is working 6 feet or more above a lower level. However, if an employee is working on a scaffold, the height requirement for fall protection is 10 feet. Don't let these different threshold heights confuse you.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-1. If an employee is working on a scaffold, what is the height requirement for fall protection?
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