Falls has been the number one cause of injury & death in construction for as long as the records are kept. But statistics mean very little to people personally, until they hit close to home. In the beginning of April 2019, a worker from our friendly competition, who some of you know, was getting ready to go home… He has completed the installation, got out of the lift and took off the fall harness, but then realized that a cover was still missing on one of the fixtures. So, he decided to hop on a lift “real quick”, and install it. It was a windy day, and while reaching for the fixture, he over-extended himself, and fell out of the lift. The resulting injuries have put him in a wheel chair.
The quiet whispers around the watercooler have quickly brought up some some memories from a few years ago, when a worker at our long time business partner has fallen to his death from a bucket truck, in what appeared to be a quite similar situation.
No matter how quick the task, it is important to remember that working at height without fall protection is dangerous, and may result in serious injury or death.
Please refer to the guide below to ensure you are working safely!
- Scissor Lift:
If the work is directly above the lift, and all the lift door is kept closed (or chain connected), the fall protection harness is not required, however it is still recommended.
If your work is on the side of the lift, a harness is required. If your lift does not have a door / missing a chain, then the fall protection harness is absolutely required. Any time you extend your arms beyond the railing of the lift, fall protection harness is required.
A positioning harness is always preferred to a fall harness.
- Boom Lift
Fall protection harness is always required when operating a boom lift. As soon as you enter the basket, you must attach to an anchor point before touching any of the controls! Anyone caught near a boom lift without a harness will receive a warning, and anyone caught operating one without a harness may be terminated on the spot!
- Bucket Truck
Fall protection harness is required anytime you are inside the bucket. Anyone caught in the basket without a fall harness may be terminated on the spot.
Take your safety seriously, there is no task that is worth completing “real quick” at the cost of your health or life.
