Fall Protection Forum

Manufacturing and machine maintaining are tasks that require a lot of space. This is simply the nature of the beast. When a company makes a big machine or they fix big machines, they’re going to need a workspace that can handle the equipment. Working with large equipment usually means that…

The SRL and EAL debate is probably one of the hottest topics among fall protection engineers. It’s usually a lively debate because both devices have their benefits for a majority of fall protection situations. The two primary fields that require fall protection systems are industrial and construction settings. Each setting…

ANSI/ASSE officially defines an Authorized Rescuer as, “A person assigned by the employer to perform fall protection rescue.” An Authorized Rescuer requires slightly less training than a Competent Rescuer, however, both titles require basic training in order to understand basic fall protection safety and rescue techniques. The core of an…

The Initial Evaluation There are many different things that a qualified person needs to consider when they are developing fall rescue plans. During the initial evaluation of the potential rescue team, a qualified person needs to establish that a local rescue service can meet the needs of that specific worksite….

When OSHA writes a law, they usually need to use the verbose and flowery terminology of governmental law. However, there are many times when I will experience a law or some other political statement that I feel can be easily summarized in far fewer words. Even though OSHA 1926.502 (d)(20)…

It’s time for another thrilling blog post about OSHA standards and requirements! This week, we will be discussing the definition and importance of safety factors when implementing a fall protection system in an industrial setting. According to OSHA 1910.140(c)(13), anchorages “must be: capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2…

The hit 90s television show America’s Funniest Home Videos has always been a testament to several things about American culture: Americans are clumsy creatures Americans enjoy filming their clumsiest moments for national television Americans know many different ways to fall Even though there is unabashed clumsiness displayed on television, there…

As former President Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” Naturally,…

Legal documents frequently offer the best examples of the power of words. Since OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for the safety of many types of work environments, they have devised a series of rules that are location and industry specific. However, the “General Duty Clause,” is what…

i One of the most fascinating uses of gravity is the sport…

We’ve all heard Occam’s razor: all other factors being equal, the simplest solution is most often the best. When it comes to fall protection, many workplace fall hazards can be eliminated or minimized using a rather obvious solution—the guardrail. Although hardly glamorous and rarely high-tech, guardrails are often the difference…

The heyday of American skyscraper construction saw the birth of structures that had until that point existed only as engineer’s drawings or in the pages of science fiction novels. With the rapid increase in high-rise construction, however, came a substantial increase in the risk for fall-related injuries and deaths. The…