Fall Protection Guide

The dangers of working at height are apparent to all concerned and yet despite this, falls from height remain the biggest single cause of fatalities and serious injuries within construction and a constant threat to all trades required to in or on buildings. Indeed, a fall from any height, however small, can produce alarming results. It is incumbent upon all concerned parties to acknowledge that more can be done. As with all identifiable hazards, a systematic management approach will ensure that ownership is created thus ultimately leading to a reduction in risk. Before attempting to design a fall protection system there are simple questions that need to be answered.

Can the hazard be removed? Clearly the presence of a height differential between the work area and its surroundings normally prevents this.

Can the hazard be guarded or can it be isolated from the work area? There are key criteria to be satisfied when considering barriers, e.g. substrate strength, Building Regulations etc. Contact HCL who has the relevant expertise to guide you through to the right solution.

If the answers to both of the above are "No!" then it becomes necessary to consider the option to guard the individual through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). However, in order to determine whether this option is appropriate there are a number of specification considerations and this is where HCL's specialist knowledge has been used to produce the only Specifiers Guide to Fall Protection.

 

The Process

There are three key areas that you will need to consider:
1. Intensity of Access
2. Competency of Use
3. Fall Clearance
On each page detailed definitions of the key criteria will be provided from which you make your choice to move to the next stage. Within all projects there is a risk involved, the program will automatically identify the level of risk you are creating with your choice, and in some instances it may be 'unacceptable', at which point the guide will allow you to retrace your steps and find an acceptable solution.