Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common safety issues in industrial settings. That’s why OSHA regulations are in place – to keep workers safe! You know that you have a duty to provide fall protection to protect employees, and within the majority of industrial facilities that means protecting against falls from an elevation of 4 feet or more. It’s your obligation to provide adequate, OSHA-compliant fall protection devices to keep workers from falling from elevated work surfaces and walkways or into holes in the floor and walls. But which general industry fall protection devices are the best for 2021 and beyond?
Top Fall Protection Systems for Indoor Use
Fall hazards are everywhere in your facility, and it’s up to you to make sure that every hazard is addressed and minimized. Although OSHA general industry fall protection rules specify that you have to provide fall protection devices, it’s up to you to choose the right device for the job. Some of your options include:
Guardrails
Safety railings are the top types of fall protection inside industrial facilities for 2021 due to their versatility. OSHA requires the top rail of guardrail systems be smooth, so they don’t snag workers’ clothing or skin. They also need to be 42″ (+ or – 3″) above the walking/working surface. The top rail has to be able to withstand a force of 200 lbs in a downward or outward motion without failing. Furthermore, when this amount of force is applied, the railing cannot deflect to a height of less than 39″ above the walking surface.
When you’re considering a new safety railing system, replacement, or retrofit for your facility, keep in mind that you have several options to choose from. Guardrail materials include steel, aluminum, and PVC. The material you choose will depend upon the application. For example, in facilities with a high risk of electrocution, PVC may be the best option. If your facility produces food, medicines, or other products, steel may be your best bet.
Guardrails are ideal for protecting indoor areas such as:
- Mezzanines and elevated work surfaces.
- Elevated walkways.
- Around floor holes and access points.
- Around and above machinery and equipment.
- Uneven work surfaces.
- Loading docks
- To control pedestrian traffic.
- Wherever you need access control.
Indoor Safety Gates
Installing a guardrail system is all well and good, but you can’t close off areas entirely from employees. In order to provide adequate access, you’ll also want to have an indoor safety gate in place. Whether you choose a manually operated safety gate, a swing gate, or a self-closing safety gate, it has to be OSHA compliant. That means it must meet the same standards for height, strength, and smoothness as guardrails. Consider indoor safety gates for the following areas in your facility:
- Mezzanine and other platform entrances.
- Ladderway entrances.
- Stairway entry points.
- At entry points for restricted areas.
- On loading dock entrances.
Indoor safety gates come in a variety of materials including aluminum, carbon steel, cast iron, and stainless steel. Again, the material you’ll choose depends upon the application and your specific needs.
Personal Fall Protection Systems
In addition to the passive fall protection noted above, you may also want to provide workers with active fall protection systems. These types of systems demand the user take some action in order for the device to work properly. Active fall protection includes safety harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, anchorage points, and connectors. This type of device is often used:
- If guardrails or safety railings are not feasible.
- Whenever employees work at heights over 4′.
- To protect workers from falls from fixed ladders.
- To keep employees from entering fall hazard areas.
- When workers perform duties above equipment or machinery.
In order to be truly OSHA compliant, personal fall protection systems need to be well-fitted, strong, and durable. For these reasons, each device must be inspected before each use. Any sign of damage, whether that’s a worn spot, a frayed edge, a tear, or cut, is an indication that the device is unsafe, and it should not be used.
Additional Fall Protection Steps
Along with the passive and active fall protection systems noted here, there are a few other things that you can do to maintain a safe working environment inside your facility. Perhaps the easiest is to keep your facility clean. Make sure that floors, stairways, elevated work surfaces, and loading docks are free of dirt and debris. Spills and other damp areas should be immediately cleaned to eliminate the fall hazard. In addition to good housekeeping, some other ways to minimize fall hazards in your facility include:
- Properly training new employees and providing ongoing training for workers to recognize and avoid fall hazards.
- Ongoing safety training for workers including the proper use of active fall protection.
- Installing flashing lights, signs, and other warnings in contrasting colors for high visibility.
- Providing adequate lighting throughout the facility, especially dark halls and stairways.
- Creating specific areas for pedestrians free from traffic of forklifts and other equipment.
- Ensuring every swing gate in the facility is able to open and close freely.
How to Choose the Right General Industry Fall Protection
Before you make the critical decision of which fall protection systems you should use, you’ll want to perform a thorough inspection of your facility. Although you’ll probably be able to note some potential fall hazards, you may not see them all, so it’s advisable to have an expert on hand to help. A qualified safety specialist can help you determine whether you need passive fall protection like a safety rail and swing gate, active fall protection like a body harness and lanyard, or a combination of the two.
When it comes to general industry fall protection, you can’t leave anything to chance. You’re legally obligated to meet the OSHA guidelines to provide a safe working environment. We understand that this is a big responsibility, and you want to make sure you’ve got it right. After all, the consequences of getting it wrong are severe. From liability for injuries to lost production and OSHA fines, you may suffer financial blows. In addition, workplace falls due to lack of fall protection can lead to a poor reputation for your company, lost revenue, and other issues. It’s simply not worth it. Contact Fabenco today to schedule a consultation with one of our experts to determine which of our top-quality OSHA compliant products is right for you.
