Fall protection

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Fall protection is the use of controls designed to protect personnel from falling or in the event they do fall, to stop them without causing severe injury. Typically, fall protection is implemented when working at height, but may be relevant when working near any edge, such as near a pit or hole, or performing work on a steep surface. Many of these incidents are preventable when proper precautions are taken, making fall protection training not only critical, but also required for all construction workers. Fall Protection for Construction identifies common hazards and explains important safety practices to help ensure every team member is prepared to recognize fall hazards on the job and understand how to keep themselves and others safe.

There are four generally accepted categories of fall protection: fall elimination, fall prevention, fall arrest and administrative controls.^[1] According to the US Department of Labor, falls account for 8% of all work-related trauma injuries leading to death.^[2] The American Society of Safety Professionals stated that falls account for 80.1% of the slips, trips, and falls fatalities category.^[3] According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of death and unintentional injuries worldwide.^[4] statutes, standards and regulations in the United States pertaining to the requirements for employers to provide fall protection are administered by OSHA.^[5]