FALL PREVENTION AND PROTECTION


Produced by:
Construction, Health and Safety Program,
Ontario Ministry of Labour
Alert #C8/0895
ISSN 1195-5228

HAZARD SUMMARY:

Field inspections by Ministry of Labour officials and 
consultations with construction labour and management 
representatives have revealed that some fall prevention and 
protection measures currently used on construction sites are 
inadequate and do not comply with section 26 of the Regulations 
for Construction Projects.

The basic problem is a lack of planning before the job begins.  
Advance planning is essential to identify locations where fall 
prevention and/or protection measures will be required and to 
determine what procedures and arrangements will be most suitable 
for those locations.

IMPROPER ARRANGEMENTS OF FALL ARREST SYSTEMS CAN LEAD TO CRITICAL 
AND EVEN FATAL INJURIES.  IF THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT PROPERLY 
ARRANGED, FALLING WORKERS MAY HIT OBJECTS OR BOTTOM OUT (HIT THE 
LEVEL BELOW THEIR WORKSTATION OR THE GROUND) BEFORE THEIR FALL IS 
ARRESTED.  An example of an improperly arranged fall arrest 
system is the use of full body harness, lanyard and shock 
absorber for a worker stationed three metres above the ground.

LOCATIONS AND SECTORS:

Construction, including erecting and dismantling of scaffolds, 
formwork, falsework and re-shoring; structural steel erection; 
roofing installation; window cleaning; masonry work; and 
maintenance work on building facades.

REQUIRED ACTION:

The Regulations for Construction Projects (O.Reg 213/91, s.26(1)) 
require that:

   "unless a safety net or travel restraint system is being used, 
   a worker shall wear a fall arrest system if the worker may 
   fall
      a) a distance of more than three metres;
      b) into operating machinery;
      c) into water or another liquid; or
      d) into or onto a hazardous substance or object."

On construction sites, compliance with these requirements can be 
accomplished by using one or more of the following methods:

   -  installing guardrails in accordance with sections 85 and 86 
      of the Regulations for Construction Projects
   -  installing safety nets
   -  providing workers with travel restraint systems
   -  providing workers with fall arrest systems

Figure 1** shows how to calculate whether a fall arrest system is 
arranged so as to allow for adequate fall clearance, i.e. whether 
the system as arranged will protect the worker from hitting the 
level below the workstation or the ground.

Figure 1** - Calculating Total Fall Distance and Minimum Fall 
Clearance.

** NOTE:  Please see original copy for Figure 1.

For additional information, please contact your nearest Ministry 
of Labour office.