Fall protection Training: What should be included in fall protection training?

To support workplace safety, this guide addresses how often protection training fall is required and what topics should be included, helping employers and workers understand their responsibilities. Employers should provide initial fall protection training before work at heights begins. Refresher training should occur whenever there are changes in the workplace or equipment, or when existing training is outdated or ineffective. Employers should regularly review the need for retraining to maintain compliance and safety.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires competent fall protection training. Employees working in construction, manufacturing, and related industries are at risk of falls. Therefore, these employees must receive fall protection training to protect themselves in hazardous work environments. Various equipment, such as portable ladders, roofs, and other elevated surfaces, can lead to falls. As a result, employers must understand and implement proper safety protocols to prioritize worker safety.

What should be covered in fall protection training?

Organizations must provide comprehensive fall protection training to ensure employees receive the necessary information for working safely at heights. Fall protection training should address key areas, including OSHA safety and compliance standards, dangers associated with working at heights, types of falls and fall restraint systems, anchor points, lifelines, proper techniques, emergency and rescue protocols, and more. Workers must also receive additional training for the safe use of equipment commonly found in construction.

Some fall hazards that the fall protection training should include:

Portable ladders

Employees who must work on ladders exceeding 24 feet must receive fall protection training. They need to understand ladder safety protocols, which include:

·       Don’t walk under ladders

·       Prevent over-reaching

·       A worker should maintain three points of contact

·       Ensure the ladder is positioned securely on the ground before use.

Roofs

Workers must understand the specific fall hazards present on roofs. They should be familiar with the appropriate equipment and techniques to work safely.

·       Make sure the harness fits well and works appropriately.

·       Workers must understand connections and consistently maintain them during tasks.

·       Before starting work, it is essential to confirm the safety of all the anchor points.

·       Exercise caution at all times around roof openings.

Scaffolds

To prevent swaying, secure suspension scaffolds carefully. If the scaffold is at a height greater than 10 feet, ensure a fall arrest system and guardrail are in place. Additionally, employees must be trained on correct scaffold setup and usage.

To address these various hazards effectively, different levels of training are necessary for other roles.

Multiple levels of training!

·       Awareness level training

This on-site course enables participants to identify fall hazards and operate equipment safely.

·       Authorized user training

This training covers specific tasks and fall hazards relevant to each employee’s job responsibilities.

·       Competent person training

This training allows workers to recognize and address existing or potential fall hazards so they can work safely.

Another available training level is the qualified person training.