Richard D.
Candelaria
Accredited OSH Practitioner
DOLE – BWC – 1033 – 161215-N- 0399
Falls in Construction
Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the
construction industry.
Most fatalities occur when employees fall
from open-sided floors and through floor
openings.
Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause
serious lost-time accidents and sometimes
death.
Open-sided floors and platforms 6 feet or
more in height must be guarded.
Fall Protection
This presentation will discuss:
• The working conditions that prompt
use of fall protection
• Options that are available to protect
workers from falls
Objective
At the end of this topic, you will be able to:
• List at least four methods of fall
protection available for protecting
workers
• State the main criteria that prompts use
of fall protection for construction
workers
Fall Protection Types and Options
Guardrails
Personal Fall Safety Net
Arrest System
(PFAS)
Fall Protection Planning
Lanyards
and PFAS
in use
Fall protection systems and work practices
must be in place before you start work.
Personal Fall Arrest Systems
• Limits free fall to within 2
vertical metres of the
initiation point which
reduces force by
decreasing fall distance
• PFAS include Anchorage,
Lifeline, Full body
harness and Attachment
Strap
• You must be trained how
to properly use PFAS
Safety Line Anchorages
Must be independent of
any platform anchorage
and capable of
supporting at least 5,000
lbs. per worker
Guardrails
Top Rail
Mid- Rail
Toeboard
Top rails between 38 and 45 inches tall
Toeboards at least 3 1/2 inches high
Safety Nets
Place as close as possible, but no more than 30
feet below where employees work
Walkways & ramps Roofs
Open sides & edges Wall openings
Holes Bricklaying
Concrete forms & Residential
rebar Construction
Excavations
Walkways and Ramps
Guard ramps,
runways, and
other walkways
Unprotected Sides & Edges
Unprotected
edge
Unprotected sides and edges must have
guardrails or equivalent
Sides & Edges - Improper Guarding
This 1/4" nylon rope alone is not a proper
way to guard this open floor
Sky Lights and Other Openings
• Holes more
than 6 feet
high must be
protected
• This opening
could be
made safe by
using a
guardrail, or
strong cover
Floor Holes
• Cover completely
and securely
• If no cover, can
guard with a
guardrail
Improperly
Covered
Concrete Forms and Rebar
• Use PFAS when
working on
formwork or
rebar
• Cover or cap
protruding rebar
Excavations
Guard excavations
more than 6 feet
deep when they are
not readily seen
because of plant
growth or other
visual barriers
In addition to needing
guarding, this excavation
is not properly shored
Roofs
If you work on roofs and can fall
more than 6 feet, you must be protected
Wall Openings
If you work near
wall openings 6
feet or more
above lower
levels you must
be protected
from falling
Wall opening
Residential Construction
In residential
construction, you
must be
protected if you
can fall more
than 6 feet or 2
meters
Perform work at ground level if possible
Example: Building prefab roofs on the ground
and lifting into place with a crane
Tetheror restrain workers so they can't reach
the edge
Designate and use safety monitors
(This is less desirable of all the systems)
Use conventional fall protection
Training
Employers must provide fall protection training
The training is to teach you:
How to recognize hazards
How to minimize hazards
The training must cover:
Fall hazards
Fall protection systems
Use of fall protection devices
If you can fall more than 6 feet, you must
be protected
Use fall protection on:
walkways & ramps, open sides & edges,
holes, concrete forms & rebar, excavations,
roofs, wall openings, bricklaying,
residential construction
Protective measures include guardrails,
covers, safety nets, and Personal Fall
Arrest Systems