Fall Hazards - PPE & Other Safety Requirements

Fall Protection Equipment

The three generally acceptable methods of protection for workers on a construction site who are exposed to vertical drops of six feet or more are guardrails, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest systems:

• Guardrails are considered prevention systems, as they stop you from having a fall in the first place.
• Safety nets are designed to catch you and break your fall. They must be placed as close as practicable under your working surface, but never more than 30 feet below.
• A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a full-body harness, which work together to break your fall.
• The anchorage for a worker's PFAS equipment must be independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms. It must be able to support at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached to it.

It is better to prevent falls before they happen, but in the event of a fall, fall arrest systems can prevent falls from causing dire injury or death.

Guardrail and Safety Net Systems

Guardrail and safety net systems are two ways to protect workers from falls on the job. If you are more than six feet above a lower surface, some type of fall protection must be provided by your employer.

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