If you work in construction, you know the risks of the job all too well. As a construction worker, you must always be aware of your surroundings, especially when working on a job site. Dangerous tools, materials, and heights can easily make any wrong step or blind move a lot worse. An accident on the job can cause severe harm or, in worse case scenarios, death. When you have the right precautions in place, these situations are completely preventable and keep everyone on site safe out of harm’s way.
The United States Department of Labor has mandated safety measures that everyone needs to follow and obey when working on a dangerous job site, especially construction. The OSHA, also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, lays out the ground rules and regulations that every construction site across America must follow to ensure employees’ safe work environment.
Working at high heights is a typical task for construction workers. You may need to walk on beams or other material at least 6 feet off the ground. If this is the case, you must wear some type of body protection to safely secure the building in the event of a slip or fall. Today we will be discussing the one option of protection known as a fall arrest system and how it could save your life on the job.
What is a Fall Arrest System?
A fall arrest system is a full-body protection mechanism that helps construction workers stay safe while working at dangerous heights. Anyone exposed to a vertical drop of 6 feet or greater must wear these protection systems at all times. Not wearing this system or any type of protection when working at these heights can put you at risk for injury or death.
The fundamental inner workings of this system include a:
- Body harness
- Anchorage
- Connector
All individual parts must work seamlessly together to protect you in the event of an accident.
How Does a Fall Arrest System Work?
You may be asking yourself, how will a fall arrest system keep me safe? Well, let’s say, for example, you lose your balance on the beam you are walking on and fall off. The body harness works to support your entire body evenly while the anchorage secures the connections that keep you securely attached to the building. You are safely suspended in the air until someone can bring you into safety.
The OSHA has strict requirements to determine a fall arrest system to be safe. On the OSHA website under using fall arrest systems safely, it states:
- “Limit maximum arresting force to 1,800 pounds.”
- “Be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level.”
- “Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance to 3½ feet.”
- “Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a worker free falling a distance of 6 feet or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.”
At Megstar Industries, we understand the importance of having a well-crafted safety mechanism. We take pride in creating OSHA-Compliant fall arrest systems, which are design-built to building configuration requirements. All protection products have extra safety points designed with stainless-steel materials that stay protected from corrosion.
Conclusion
Construction accidents happen; so, you need to make safety your top priority to always prepare and protect yourself and others while working. Incorporating an OSHA required fall arrest system will ensure that you stay safe while working at high heights. Megstar Industries knows that protection is everything; if you’re interested in our fall arrest systems, contact us today or visit us online to learn more.