Readiness check

Is your fall-protection program compliant?

Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and a fall-protection citation is one of the most common OSHA writes. A real program is more than a harness in the truck. Answer for the way your crew actually works on a roof today. The score stays on your device; enter an email only if you want the fall-protection checklist sent over.

1. Is fall protection in place every time a worker is exposed at the trigger height (6 ft construction, 4 ft general industry, any height over a hole)?Yes, a system is up before anyone is exposed, every timeUsually, but short tasks sometimes get skippedOnly when it is convenient or an inspector is expected

2. When you use a personal fall arrest system, is every anchor rated (5,000 lb per worker) or designed by a qualified person?Yes, anchors are rated or engineered and we know the ratingWe tie off, but we are not sure what the anchor is rated forWe tie off to whatever is handy

3. Has someone checked the fall clearance so a falling worker cannot hit a lower level or swing into something?Yes, clearance and swing-fall are figured for each tie-off pointWe assume the lanyard handles itWe have not thought about clearance

4. Are skylights, roof holes, and openings guarded, covered, or protected against a fall-through?Yes, every hole and skylight is covered or guarded and markedSome are, but a few are open or relying on the skylight domeNo, open holes and bare skylights are on the roof

5. Is there a competent person who inspects the harnesses, lanyards, and SRLs before use and pulls damaged gear?Yes, a competent person inspects and documents the gearWorkers glance at their own gear, nothing formalNo one inspects the equipment

6. Do you have a rescue plan for a suspended worker that does not just say 'call 911'?Yes, a prompt self/assisted rescue plan the crew has practicedWe would figure it out or wait for the fire departmentNo rescue plan

7. Has every exposed worker been trained on the fall hazards and the systems they use, with the training documented?Yes, training is done and the records are on fileTraining happened but is not documentedNo formal fall-protection training

8. Is the program written down (hazard assessment, systems, anchors, inspections, training) so you can show it on demand?Yes, the program and records are organized and produciblePieces exist across people and trucksNo, nothing is written or organized