In an article titled “Six Steps to Developing a Fall Protection Plan” Jim Hutter aims to elucidate on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z359.2 standard titled “Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program”.  The ANSI standard Z359.2 mandates a written fall protection program whenever one or more people are routinely exposed to fall hazards and need to be safeguarded with a fall protection system.  Although compliance with the ANSI standard is voluntary, it is a well respected source of information for safety officials or anyone involved in safety preparation.  Jim Hutter simplifies the ANSI Z359.2 standard by breaking it down into six simple steps.

Step 1: Develop a Policy and Program Scope

Managers should develop a safety plan that incorporates company safety policies and OSHA standards.  The plan should lay out who the policy applies to, areas the policy applies to, types of activities the policy applies to, duties and responsibilities of those involved.  Responsibilities include inspection, record keeping, maintenance, equipment replacement, incident reporting, enforcement, accident investigation, training and changes to the plan.

Step 2: Identify Hazards Via Analysis

A hazard analysis, or fall hazard survey, assists safety managers in identifying each hazard that exists in a facility.  The analysis should outline the location of each fall hazard, the type of hazard, a sketch of the hazard, how often workers are exposed to the hazard, duration of exposure, height of a potential fall, control method, fall protection and rescue equipment to be used at the site of the hazard (if applicable), and environmental conditions that could affect selection of appropriate fall protection equipment.

Step 3: Determine Appropriate Methods of Control

Step three elaborates on the preferred methods of controlling a fall hazard. This includes the design and engineering of a facility and changing work procedures so that workers are not exposed to a hazard.  If an area must be accessed, the best control is to install passive fall protection systems such as guardrails, handrails and covers for floor openings.

Step 4: Conduct Education and Training

This includes coursework that teaches trainees how to recognize fall hazards, how to eliminate or control fall hazards, applicable regulations including OSHA and ANSI and the worker’s responsibilities under those standards, and how to use written fall protection procedures.

Step 5: Perform Inspection and Maintenance of Fall Protection Equipment

Machines and equipment should be inspected before and after use. Equipment must pass a more rigorous inspection according to the timeline set by the manufacturer.  A supervisor or safety manager (program administrator, qualified or competent person) should inspect each piece of equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions and record the date of inspection and condition of each piece of equipment.

Step 6: Administer and Audit for Compliance and Continuous Improvement

When accidents occur safety managers should conduct a full investigation, recording time, dates and events.  This will help safety officials determine what improvements need to be made and any additional training that may need to be implemented.

Fall protection plans should be given to every employee and modified in a timely manner.  When an investigation results in a recommendation for improvement, a new fall hazard is identified or an existing hazard is modified new fall protection plans should be distributed to employees after modifications have been made.  Keeping employees well informed and safe is crucial to executing a fall protection plan.

Hutter, Jim. “Six Steps to Developing a Fall Protection Plan” Facility Safety Management. 13 Aug 2009.

Filed under: Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci