Prevent Construction Deaths by Following OSHA’s Fall Safety Standards

Do you know what the number one cause of deaths in the construction industry is? It probably won’t come as a surprise that it’s falling. According to OSHA, in 2012 – the time of the last census taken – there were 806 on-the-job deaths in construction, 35% of which were the result of falls. Most falls directly violated OSHA’s fall protection standards. The good news is, prevention is often as simple as learning these standards and adhering to them diligently, using the proper equipment and best practices. Here are just a few to get you started:

1. Duty to Have Fall Protection – This rule stipulates that anyone working on an unprotected edge needs to take the proper precautions by using a fall protection system like safety nets or a personal fall arrest system. Guardrails can also be used.


2. Use the Proper Fall Equipment for Its Stipulated Height – If a worker is at six feet or higher, they must have a fall arrest system. It may not sound like much, but workers who are six feet or more above lower levels are at risk for serious injury or death should they fall. Having the proper equipment doesn’t just mean fall arrest systems; it also includes the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear for various heights.


3. Fall Protection Systems Must Comply With OSHA Standards – OSHA has a specific set of standards related to the efficacy of fall protection systems. These standards range from guardrail height to the amount of weight that screen or mesh should be able to sustain. There’s also a rigorous set of standards related to dee-rings and snaphooks, wires and cables, and horizontal lifelines. All of HarnessLands’s fall arrest systems and fall protection kits comply with OSHA standards.


4. Every Employee Must Undergo a Safety Training Program – Safety training programs are a must for getting employees up to speed on safety hazards, precautions to take, and the proper use of equipment. Any change in a fall protection system will require a new training to update employees on how to use the new equipment. A good training will also include the proper use of rescue systems and first aid kits.


5. Prior to Beginning Work, Test Fall Protection Systems and Retractable Lifelines – Before doing anything, it is important to test the gear that you’ll be working with. Testing methods generally involve using weights of the same size and girth of a person, but many people also choose to test much heavier loads. Everything from hooks to self-retracting lifelines must be tested. It may all seem a bit daunting, but complying with OSHA safety standards is an absolute must for anyone in the construction industry. And Harnessland can make it even easier by supplying you with all the right equipment, which complies 100% with OSHA. Don’t take safety for granted!

A Review of the Guardian Cyclone Construction Harness

When a construction worker tackles a job around large wind turbines, the level of fall safety needs to be taken up a notch. As they climb the precarious heights to maintain and repair these turbines, construction crews can stay safe and get the protection they need by wearing the Guardian Cyclone construction harness while they work.

The Cyclone features an innovative design that is conducive to the work these specialists carry out each day. Its shoulder adjustment capabilities let workers wear it comfortably without experiencing physical distress, and it features a rope access application failsafe should a rescue be needed.

Keeping the harness untangled also proves to be important while these workers get the job done. With its tangle-free design, the Guardian Cyclone allows workers to ascend ladders in the turbine and focus on their work without fearing that their harness components will get tangled together. Its unique X-back offers perfectly allocated pressure across the shoulders to prevent strain and drive home that tangle-free design.

The Guardian Cyclone provides quick fall-arresting capabilities with its adjustable textile chest attachment loops and dorsal D-ring. In fact, the harness also includes two lateral D-rings, adjustable straps in the chest, leg, and shoulder areas. Workers can keep their tools handy with the tool loops on the back. They can also sit while they work with the harness’ sit-strap extender.

Workers obviously don’t come in one size. The harness is available in sizes small through large to cater to anyone in your crew. Working a job in low visibility? The Cyclone’s bright yellow color will keep you and your crew spotted throughout the job.

Grab the Guardian Cyclone construction harness for you and the rest of your crew at Harness Land. Our competitive sales pricing and free shipping make this one a steal for any construction team.

Calculating Your Fall Distance

When it comes to fall protection at a construction site, having the proper distance measured out can not only limit the impact of a fall but also limit the possibility of injury during that fall. Let’s review the proper calculations you’ll need to take when using both shock absorbing lanyards as well as retractable lifelines. We’ll use average numbers as an example.

Fall Distance Calculation with Shock Absorbing Lanyard & D-Ring Connector
One of the most commonly used shock absorbing lanyards is the six foot variety. Let’s give that a whirl in this example. The lanyard is 6 ft. long, and the max elongation of the absorber during deceleration would be 3.5 ft. An average construction worker is about 6 ft. tall. Let’s add all of those together.

To properly calculate our fall distance, we should add human or product error into the equation. Let’s assume the worker is taller than 6 ft., the harness wasn’t properly fitted, or you miscalculated your distance somewhere else in the equation. Add 3 ft. as a precaution. That leaves us with our suggested safe fall clearance distance of 18.5 ft.

    6 + 3.5 + 6 + 3 = 18.5 ft.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to add the length of any anchorage connectors or D-rings you happen to use to this equation to get a better calculation of your clearance distance.

Fall Distance Calculation with Retractable Lifeline
What would a suggested fall clearance distance be for a retractable lifeline? A few different factors come into play with this one. Again, let’s consider the worker is of average height for this example.

You’ll need to combine the maximum free fall distance of your lifeline with the max deceleration distance. Most models will have those distances measured out to be 2 ft. and 3.5 ft., respectively. We’ll stick with that for this scenario.

Like last time, let’s toss in a buffer zone to account for human error or a too-tall worker. Tack on 3 ft. to your calculation. That leaves us with a suggested safe fall clearance distance of 14.5 ft.

    2 + 3.5 + 6 + 3 = 14.5 ft.

Just like in the first example, you’ll need to take the length of any added anchorage connectors or D-rings to get a proper calculation for your fall clearance distance.

Don’t cut corners when it comes to protecting yourself and your workers! Plan accordingly, make sure there is clearance space for a potential fall, and calculate fall distances appropriately. Need a short hand version of this? Check out the graphic on our site.