Every workplace has its hazards. When it comes to tanker truck, rail car, aviation and marine environments the hazards have a tendency to be more life threatening than the average office. In order to keep workers safe, OSHA has done a lot of the work for you by setting standards that should be employed in every workplace.
Fall prevention is the ideal scenario on any job that requires heights. Fall protection is the second best option.
• Evaluate all hazards associated with routine and non-routine tasks.
• Whenever possible reschedule, isolate or change a task to make it safer.
• Take a look at walking surfaces and surroundings then make improvements by adding non-slip surfaces where needed, ensuring there are no holes in the floor, unprotected sides, wall openings and other fall hazards.
• A written fall prevention plan needs to be in place for all employees and they need to read and follow it.
• Schedule regular (and mandatory) fall prevention training for employees.
• If you must use fall protection equipment make sure it’s appropriate for the task, inspected often (another reason to focus on prevention) and used properly.
• Remember that falling objects can be unsafe, too and add them to your prevention list.
• Workers should be trained on how to identify fall hazards and the personal protection equipment (PPE) that’s appropriate for each situation.
• Find out best practices for other employers in your industry and share your company’s proven fall prevention tactics.
When in doubt, reference OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov and ANSI’s website at www.ansi.org to ensure compliance. Then give Carbis a call because we specialize in OSHA compliant fall prevention and fall protection. Our engineers can help you determine exactly what you need for a safer workplace.
