Falls are one of the greatest risks that workers face in many different occupations. Technically, a worker in an office building could suffer serious injuries in a slip-and-fall accident or a fall down the stairs. But it is also important for those who work in high-risk industries, such as construction or roofing, to understand the specific dangers they face because they work at heights.
Ideally, employers will use certain types of fall protection systems to try to stop these accidents and injuries from happening. Below are three types to keep in mind.
Fall arrest
First of all, a fall arrest system does not stop a worker from falling, but it can catch them if they do, perhaps limiting their injuries. An example of this could be a worker who is connected to a tether. They can still fall off of the edge of a roof or off of a ladder, but the tether will catch them before they hit the ground.
Travel restraint
Similarly, a tether could be used as a travel restraint system, limiting the motion of the worker. For instance, a worker on a roof may have a tether at a center point on that roof, and it is set short enough that the worker cannot reach the edge of the roof. As long as they are connected to the system, it is impossible for them to fall.
Passive protection
Finally, some fall protection systems use a more passive approach, simply keeping workers away from hazards. An example of this could be the railings used at the edge of an elevated position on a construction site. As long as the worker does not do something intentionally dangerous, like climbing the railing, it keeps them out of danger.
Even with these systems in place, falls and injuries do happen, and that is why workers need to know about all their options to seek workers’ compensation benefits.