September is known for many national days, however in the construction industry it is commonly known as Fall Prevention Awareness Month. Did you know that falls are the most typical cause of death in this particular sector than any other hazard? According to HSM, falling from height is still the number one cause of fatal and non-fatal incidents.
Aside from the construction industry, falls and accidents can happen in any workplace, so it’s important that fall prevention and workplace safety is covered.
HOW CAN FALLS BE PREVENTED WITHIN THE WORKPLACE?
Preventing falls can mean the difference between whether an employee lives or dies, so it is vital for a business to have everything in place prior to employment, or a new project starts. Not only will injuries affect the employee, it will also have a detrimental effect on surrounding workers. So what can a business do to prevent falls in the workplace?
Providing the correct PPE for workers
Any employees working at height will require appropriate protective clothing and equipment for the job at hand. It is important to note that fall prevention equipment is not the same for every single job or sector. For example, someone working in a job that carries out welding or electrical work will require a harness that is made from special materials that offer fire resistance.
Typically, employees will need to have a harness that meets specific health and safety requirements. The following expectations should be carried out every single time before it is used:
Label
All harnesses will have a label that will include a serial number, as well as valid inspection and manufacturing dates.
Webbing
If working at a height outside, UV damage is common. This will affect the longevity of the equipment, as it can leave the harness brittle and hardened. Webbing must not have any cracks, cuts, and fraying material. It is also vital that even loose stitching is checked and repaired if required.
Straps
The straps on a harness will be inspected to check for loose stitching, fraying and any broken materials.
Buckles
Anyone using a harness should connect up the buckles to ensure they aren’t bent, broken or disfigured. The harness should hang correctly, if not this could be an indication that the equipment is unsafe to use.
Loops
Checks are completed to ensure they aren’t damaged, cracked or even broken.
Correct fall prevention training
Additionally, employees working in jobs that require them to work at a height should receive training before carrying out any tasks. There are plenty of health and safety courses that any industry is available to complete.
First Aid Training in Medway
It is the law that select individuals are first aid trained, especially on construction sites. Here at the Diggerland Plant Training School we can carry out first aid training over one or three days, and a refresher course for anyone that is already first aid trained. For the full course details, visit our website and contact us today to get a quote.
Working at Height training course
Our working at height course is perfect for anyone working above the ground level in any industry. The course will cover:
- Understanding what is meant by the term ‘competent person’
- Identifying the different types of equipment that could be used
- Demonstrating an understanding of the safe practices that should be followed when working at height
This particular course is also great in aiding fall prevention. If you have any employees looking to complete this type of training, get in touch with our team today.
Harness and Fall Arrest training
The harness and fall arrest training course goes hand in hand with the above course. It is the practical side of learning, that will provide employees with up to date information regarding their safety.
Individuals will learn how to:
- Select suitable type of harness / fall arrest relative to the work being undertaken
- Identify and maintain PPE, and demonstrate correct use
- Correctly fit and remove the safety harness / fall arrest
- Carry out end of work inspections
If you may need to use a harness in your everyday job then it could be life saving having this type of knowledge.
Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds if the correct protocol isn’t followed, so fall prevention is incredibly important in all workplaces.
CONTACT US TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE!
Our main training site is based in Strood, Kent, which is perfect for anyone in the South East and surrounding areas. We can also arrange for our instructors to carry out training in Devon, Durham and Yorkshire as well. If you’re not local to any of these areas our instructors are available to conduct training on an external site of your choice, at a time and date to suit you.
If you’re looking to book onto any of our upcoming Health and Safety course dates, we have instructors on hand to assist.
Get in touch with a member of the team today by emailing us today if you have any questions, or want to reserve your space on a course. Alternatively, you can give us a call on: 01634 295355 to discuss our excavator courses in detail.
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