Falls From Heights

What is working from heights? 

Working at heights is any work where a person could fall a distance and be injured. This event might include, for example, falling from a step ladder, off of a roof, or through an unguarded hole in the ground or floor. Fall protection may also be required when working above an open top tank, bin, hopper, or vat.

 Other situations that may require fall protection include the use of: 

• forklift platforms, 
• elevated work platforms, 
• fixed suspended work platforms, 
• aerial devices • suspended equipment

 Occupational health and safety laws generally require action when a worker has the potential to fall about 3 metres (10 feet). Note that most jurisdictions require the use of specific fall protection measures before, or in addition to, personal protective equipment (PPE). These measures generally include the use of some of the following: 

• fixed barriers (e.g., handrails, guardrails) 
• surface opening protection (e.g., covers, guardrails, etc.) 
• warning barriers/control zones 
• fall or travel restraint systems (i.e., a system to prevent a worker from falling from a work position, or from travelling to an unguarded edge from which the worker could fall) 
• fall arrest systems (ex: a system that will stop a worker's fall before the worker hits the surface below)