Manufacturing facilities are prime locations for employee injuries. And workplace falls are some of the most common and dangerous injuries reported to OSHA annually. This is especially true in manufacturing facilities, which can include tall, elevated structures, such as loading docks, mezzanines, and lifting machinery. It’s the duty of business owners and their facilities’ safety managers to implement site-wide safety strategies to keep their employees safe and their facility OSHA compliant.
For new safety managers, though, it can seem like there are a massive amount of safety regulations to keep track of and implement. But the more effort put into honing your understanding of fall safety from the beginning, the more you’ll achieve competence in what’s often considered the most important manufacturing safety measures.
By first understanding the basics of fall protection and implementing a safety-first culture, you and your team can work more effectively without taking unnecessary risks. A thorough safety culture will also ensure:
- Higher employee confidence and satisfaction
- Greater workplace efficiency
- No OSHA violations (heavy fines)
- Good career advancement
Industrial Fall Protection – A Primer
OSHA regulations for working at height cover many work conditions and circumstances. From the outset, we encourage new safety managers to check with their local OSHA (or CCOHS) regulations and sign up with various update services to notify users of the latest regulation changes.
Here, we’ll describe the most common working-at-height precautions that usually apply in any OSHA jurisdiction.
Defining “at Height” and Other Specifications
It’s first important for safety managers to understand when it is necessary to implement fall-prevention equipment. For “general industry operations,” OSHA states “fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet” or higher.
And in addition to this general four feet requirement for manufacturing safety, OSHA also notes that “fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.”
While there can be many areas within a manufacturing facility that fit these criteria, here are some of the most common fall risks in a working facility:
- Fixed ladders
- Stairways
- Mezzanines
- Loading docks
- Over or near heavy machinery
Working-at-Height Safety Equipment
Familiarizing yourself with the tools of the trade is just as important as memorizing your local regulations. Generally, OSHA regulations define when fall protection is necessary, yet give safety managers discretion in deciding which exact type of equipment to use in those scenarios.
Remember, OSHA doesn’t approve equipment, but they do determine if the equipment is compliant. Depending on your facility’s needs, any of the following equipment might come into play:
- Ladder and stairway safety systems, including safety gates and guardrails
- Mezzanine gates
- Loading dock safety gates
- Modular guard rails, toe boards, and OSHA swing gates
Going Beyond the Requirements
Even if you’re certain you have every finable OSHA restriction accounted for, consider taking extra steps to improve facility safety by following OSHA’s non-mandatory fall protection guidelines. Even when rigid barriers aren’t required, installing an OSHA swing gate or mezzanine gates will give your staff the added assurance needed to know their company fully invests in their safety.
Aside from equipment considerations, safety managers are also advised to:
- Keep work areas free of grease, oil, acids, dirt, and moisture
- Check any safety equipment for proper operation under very hot and cold conditions
- Minimize any free-fall distances whenever possible
Securing the Most Effective Safety Equipment
Even though OSHA doesn’t directly recommend products, it’s in your staff’s best interest to use the highest-quality equipment possible.
Leading edge falls from any height can be prevented with the installation of an OSHA swing gate. They’re extremely versatile and easily installed onto handrails and guardrail systems using nothing but a wrench and socket set. Safety gates are perfect for protecting employees around stairways, ladders and around exposed elevated edges.
And for your teams working on mezzanines and loading docks, specialized safety gates provide unique fall protection solutions. loading dock gates and mezzanine gates are designed to fit into these larger areas and offer near continuous fall protection through the loading and unloading of parcels and equipment.
Fabenco – At the Edge of Innovation
For a thorough guide on fall protection and manufacturing safety, download our fall safety audit guide. It’s designed to help safety managers view their facility with the same scrutiny that a regulator will. With both user-friendliness and technical depth, it can help even the newest safety manager eliminate site-wide fall hazards.
Fabenco, a Tractel company, specializes in versatile, industrial-strength OSHA swing gates and loading dock and mezzanine gates to help heavy industries fulfill their mission without compromising on safety or efficiency. If you have questions or would like to request a quote, contact us, and speak with one of our knowledgeable service technicians today.
