It won’t be wrong to say that the workplace is where many of us come together to contribute our talents to the economy. We work 8 to 9 hours a day to provide for our families, to fulfill our whims and wishes, and also to feel productive. We studied hard and upgraded our knowledge, so we can get a good job and a good pay. Those who settle into a premium workplace feel like they have nothing to worry about anymore. However, every time they go their place of work, they risk their safety in one way or the other. Consequently, it is the responsibility of their employers to provide them with safety fall protection systems.
Is your workplace is not too safe or dangerous? There are multiple ways to evaluate that. Sudden falls are the biggest threat to workers. Statistics show that over 14% of the accidents in workplaces occurred due to negligence in providing ample protection to employees. When people come to an office, factory, or an outdoor site to work, they tend to focus more on getting things done. That is how you recognize your dedicated workers. It is your duty to provide them with safety fall protection systems so that they don’t risk their lives while doing their respective work.
Danger Factors
There are several factors that can lead to falls and slips in the workplace in the absence of safety fall protection systems. Usually, the following factors are responsible for that.
- Unsuitable coverings on the floor which makes them slippery
- Uneven surfaces that can cause someone to trip
- Wet floors, again a compromise to safety
- Bad lighting, that disables clear vision
- Inefficient maintenance, that fails to identify danger zones
- Loose cables, which can cause a lot of problems
- Level changes, a major area where falls can occur
There are many places to work where workers are exposed to these safety risks. Not just in construction but also window cleaners, solar panel installers, painters, firefighters, and other such jobs where the work is at elevated places. Employers need to assess the risks and ensure the safety of their employees. The law binds them to do so.
Protection Systems
An employer who cares about the well-being of employees would invest in safety fall protection systems as early as possible. What kind of precautionary steps make up these systems?
- Guardrails: These are strong railings for the edges of high places, and suitable for roofs. Employers should install these to protect workers working at a high level, such as in construction sites where they run the risk of falling off the edge.
- Harness Arrest: These systems are common for workers who have to work on the face of a building. Window cleaners, painters, and similar occupations require that the worker hangs from the top in a full-body safety harness. This protects them losing control and falling down.
- Safety Nets: A big net that encompasses the whole area prone to falls can protect the lives of workers who fall down. This can also catch falling objects that could harm the people below. Industrial construction sites employ this system extensively.
- Restraint Devices: Employees can learn where the danger zones are with these restraint devices and avoid traveling there. This is a right approach to avoid any sort of accident while working at workplace.
- Warning Lines: If workers have to work in these danger zones, warning lines can let them know when they are close to the edge.
Safety fall protection systems save many lives in the workplace. Apart from the systems mentioned above that focuses on falling off roof edges, employers can also get better flooring in slippery areas.
These systems reduce the risk of falls by a large margin. Keeping them in a good shape should be the employer’s priority. Safety fall protection systems make sure that workers can continue their job, even the risky ones, with a clear mind.