Understanding Fall Safety
In 2025, fall protection was Osha's most-cited violation, while inadequate fall training was the 7th most-cited violation.
This article focuses on fall protection for general industry, and covers definitions, training, methods of hazard control, and fall safety inspection.
Hazards
Many factors can contribute to a fall hazard. It is helpful to categorize these hazards into two main categories: environmental and personal.
Environmental hazards are features of your workplace that may cause or contribute to a fall. These include:
Greasy, oily, wet, or otherwise slippery surfaces
Moving equipment
Electrical hazards
Strong winds or otherwise dangerous weather
Poor lighting
Irregular or damaged work surfaces
Personal factors may also cause or contribute to a fall. Examples of personal hazards include:
Improper use of equipment
Poor concentration
Lack of training
Use of medication
Identifying Hazards
Before undertaking work, an inspection must be conducted to identify all fall hazards. During the inspection, all holes and openings must be identified and controlled.
OSHA defines a hole as “a gap or open space in a floor, roof, horizontal walking-working surface, or similar surface that is at least 2 inches in its least dimension.” The definition includes gaps of 2 inches or more, which may seem quite small, because even small holes can pose dangerous tripping hazards. Employers must cover all holes with an approved cover. A cover must be able to support twice the maximum load that could be placed on it at any given time.
An opening is defined as “a gap or open space at least 30 inches high and 18 inches wide in a wall, partition, vertical walking-working surface, or similar surface through which a worker can fall to a lower level.” Unprotected windows and missing railings are two common examples of unsafe openings.
Protection Methods
The best way to prevent falling accidents is to eliminate the hazard entirely. For instance, it is better to use an extension tool to reach a high place than to work on a higher level and expose oneself to a fall hazard. However, many workplaces will have unavoidable fall hazards. In these instances, fall protection systems must be in place to prevent accidents.
OSHA defines fall protection as any equipment, device, or system that prevents a worker from falling from an elevation or mitigates the effect of such a fall.
Fall protection includes guardrails, safety nets, travel restraint systems, and personal fall arrest systems.
In general, fall protection systems can be divided into two main categories: passive and active. Passive protection is stationary and does not require active participation from workers once installed. Active fall protection requires rigorous training and the active participation of the employees using them.
Passive Systems
Passive protection is stationary and does not require active participation from workers once installed.
Active Systems
Active fall protection requires rigorous training and the active participation of the employees using them.
Inspecting Fall Protection Systems
The condition of fall protection equipment is essential to its safety performance. A competent person must inspect fall protection equipment before each use. A competent person is someone who can identify existing and predictable hazards and is authorized to eliminate them. If equipment is found to be unsatisfactory, it must be tagged and removed. If a qualified technician cannot repair the equipment, it must be destroyed.
An inspection must occur any time a fall protection system has been subjected to impact loading during a fall. The system must be removed from use and inspected to ensure all parts of the system are functional. Scaffolding and guardrails must also be inspected. Any damage, slippery surfaces, loose or missing parts, or sharp edges must be corrected before work begins.
Environmental factors may impact the effectiveness of otherwise functional equipment. Slippery or greasy surfaces, moving machinery, electrical wires, and extreme weather or temperatures may impact or degrade your equipment. An environmental inspection before each use of personal fall arrest systems must be part of your fall protection program.
It is sometimes necessary to clean fall protection equipment to keep it free from debris or other potentially degrading substances. To wash fall protection equipment, use warm water and a mild detergent, and rinse in warm water. Equipment should be dried at warm temperature, and stored in clean, dry, temperature-controlled areas.
Finally, good housekeeping, or the process of generally keeping a workplace free of clutter or spills, is an important aspect of a functioning safety program. Good housekeeping is the responsibility of every employee. All spills and debris should be cleaned up immediately.
Conclusion
Fall protection is an integral part of workplace safety. All holes and openings must be identified and controlled. Elevated working surfaces must have either passive or active fall protection systems installed, depending on the hazards posed by a given situation. If personal fall arrest systems are necessary, workers must be thoroughly trained in their use. Finally, qualified individuals must inspect the work environment and all safety equipment to make sure all safety requirements are met. For more information about fall protection, visit: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/.
