Page 91 - Occupational Health & Safety, June 2019

FALL PROTECTION
Fall Prevention: Compliance is Not a Control
The key ingredient when working at heights is to not start work
until it is safe to do so and to create a workplace where your employees feel free to speak up if they feel the right controls are not in place.
BY JOSE MORENO
www.ohsonline.com
JUNE 2019 | Occupational Health & Safety 87
As a safety professional, how often have you observed someone working at heights who is not properly protected from a fall? Before approaching the individual, it is important to think about the conversation you are about to have to alert them of the hazard. This conversation is criti- cal to achieve a successful outcome. More important- ly, the safety culture that exists in your organization will have a huge impact on the outcome of that con- versation and whether it will be received in positive or negative manner. Does your company have a culture that is receptive to both giving and receiving coaching in a respectful manner?
The statistics are a stark reminder that there is a need for change in how the industry views fall pro- tection. Researchers from the NIOSH Fatality As- sessment and Control Evaluation Program1 found that between 1982 and 2015, 42 percent of fatalities were related to fall incidents in the construction in- dustry. Of those fatalities, 54 percent had no access to fall protection equipment and 23 percent had access but chose not to use it. Twenty percent of the worker deaths that occurred in that span were in their first two months on the job.
Change can only begin when you manage the safety culture existing in your organization. While it is understood that there are regulations that govern workplace safety, it is important to recognize that compliance is not a control to create safe work. The best way to create safe work is to manage controls, which is accomplished by changing to a culture that understands safety begins with you. The “safety cop” mentality is counterproductive in trying to instill a positive safety culture. Culture shifts begin when the workforce understands that safety is a personal choice rather than a condition of employment. Having this mindset is a critical component to employees protect- ing themselves from falls and other incidents.
Changing the way workers view fall prevention starts by having a focus on safe work practices. When working at heights, begin by having employees per- form a thorough Job Safety Assessment (JSA) and identify hazards associated with the job they will be doing. This includes understanding what fall protec- tion equipment is needed and having the training on how to use it properly. Without the necessary equip- ment and hazard recognition training, workers are at an immediate disadvantage and are more likely to
perform unsafe work.
In the unfortunate circumstance that a fall incident
occurs, rather than point blame at the worker, focus efforts on what may have failed him or her. Sometimes employers decide to discipline the worker, and in some cases, the employee is terminated because he failed to follow safe working procedures. Certain instances do require this course of action when safety rules are in- tentionally not followed, but an opportunity to gather critical information is missed when the individual who was involved in the safety infraction is not included in the incident investigation. Remember, the ultimate goal is to prevent a similar incident from occurring again. Allowing the involved individual to take owner- ship of the incident investigation often provides useful data that can lead to safer work practices.
Focus on ‘What,’ Not ‘Who’
Focusing on “what” failed a worker during a fall safety incident is important in order to create a culture in which employees feel safe reporting incidences or near hits, leading to safer work. Often, incident inves- tigations only focus on the “who,” pointing blame on why someone didn’t follow safety protocols. However, the most important thing an organization needs to focus on are the precursors existing in the workplace that may be causing workers to be unsafe.
Time pressure, lack of safety training, complacen- cy, and fatigue are often some of the key factors that can lead to accidents. Having a continuous improve- ment mindset on how to mitigate these common fac- tors is vital in creating a safe work environment.
The key ingredient when working at heights is to not start work until it is safe to do so and to create a workplace where your employees feel free to speak up if they feel the right controls are not in place. Have employees take the time to assess the job and ask themselves these questions:
■ “Do I have a good understanding of the task at hand?”
■ “Do I have the right safety training to perform the work?”
■ “Am I the best person to do the job?”
■ “Am I empowered to stop the job if something doesn’t feel right or look right?”
■ “Do I have the right safety equipment and a good understanding of the hazards associated with the work before I start?”