Page 57 - Occupational Health & Safety, July 2018

ly tested to the very latest standards.
Test Methods
Fall protection equipment manufactur- ers have many things to consider when they evaluate their products, including es- tablishing standardized test methods and demonstrating repeatable outcomes.
Therefore, when you investigate fall protection equipment for purchase, you must confirm that a manufacturer tests its offerings. For example, perhaps you are re- searching MSA fall protection equipment for a roofing project. When you evaluate our products, you will find we address the following areas:
■ Intended purpose. We test our prod- ucts based on their intended purpose. This shapes the entire testing process.
■ Representative roof test. Our fall pro- tection products undergo extensive testing with complete and representative roofing systems. This takes into consideration the supporting structure (purlins, decks, spac- er system, insulation, and waterproofing cover) and enables us to achieve manufac- turer approvals.
■ Dynamic drop test. We conduct this test using a 660-pound mass dropped 5 feet from one post connected to the roof- ing system.
■ Multi-directional testing. We test horizontally (i.e., perpendicular and in line) and at 45 degrees to the seam, pro- file, or deck—thus addressing possible fall angles.
Simply put, before you specify fall pro- tection equipment of any kind, make sure that the manufacturer has conducted test- ing on the products you’re using to help protect your worker’s life and health in the event of a work-related fall.
Implementing ANSI Best Practices
By law, fall protection equipment must comply with the very latest OSHA stan- dards. It is essential that fall protection equipment is designed, tested, and manu- factured so that in the foreseeable condi- tions of use for which it is intended, the user is able to perform the risk-related ac- tivity while being protected at the highest possible level. Employers and workers at height should bear this in mind when se- lecting fall protection equipment.
Fortunately, there is a step you can take to reduce the hazards that lead to fall-relat-
ed accidents and fatalities, namely, taking ANSI standards seriously. Although vol- untary, they represent the consensus of in- dustry experts and frequently provide more detailed product performance guidelines. Fall protection equipment that meets strin- gent ANSI standards gives you additional peace of mind.
Steps to Prevent Falls
Once you’ve specified fall protection equip- ment for your employees, you can take steps to prevent them from falling in the first place.
■ First, remember what’s at stake. It’s your responsibility, as the employer, to pro- vide your workers with the safest possible work environment.
■ Challenge yourself with important questions regarding your safety-at-heights program:
- Do we have the right people in the organization properly trained at all levels?
- Do we have a policy in place that addresses how we deal with fall hazards?
- Have we identified the fall hazards that exist at our facility?
- Are we systematically reducing those hazards in a prioritized way?
■ Once you’ve answered these ques- tions, make a thorough assessment of all fall hazards, including sides and edges, hoist areas, and skylights.
■ Create a list of those hazards and schedule (at the very least) an annual review.
■ Document and implement appro-
priate protective measures, including pro- cedures, protocols, and equipment.
■ Involve the employees working at heights. Be sure they know how to recog- nize and respond to fall hazards. If you in- volve them in identifying potential dangers and determining solutions, they should accept changes to their equipment and/or routine more willingly.
You should always be on the lookout for ways to improve your fall protection program.
An Industry-Wide Responsibility
It’s crucial for worker safety that both manufacturers and employers recognize the risks of not carrying out the right tests, not adhering to the latest standards, and not following industry best practices. These risks are especially pertinent in an age when we’re seeing increased numbers of people working at heights—from roofs to electricity towers to cranes and more.
Ultimately, we must all work together to assist in protecting people from injury and death by providing them with the best fall protection systems possible.
Anne Osbourn is an Industrial Marketing Manager at MSA with product experience in both respiratory and fall protection applica- tions. At MSA, we want to get the message out: The entire health and safety industry should be demanding products that are tested to, and, if possible, exceed the latest standards. We believe this is the most effec- tive way to put the safety of the end user first.
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JULY 2018 | Occupational Health & Safety 51
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