The Tech Box

The Tech Box – December 2021


Standing Together to Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls

One-fifth of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most frequently cited standards have to do with falls and fall protection training. It's no surprise that OSHA takes falls so seriously since


more than 17,000 people die


because of those injuries each year. There are many things that employers can do to make a difference in the training and safety of their workforce.

Managers should know the requirements in


29 CFR 1926


. The following are the most frequently cited Fall Protection standards for 2021:

  • Fall Protection, general requirements (29 CFR 1926.501)
  • Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
  • Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
  • Fall Protection - Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503)

The following are tips for training and preventing high and same-level falls:

  • Have stand-downs throughout the year and change the format while still providing essential topics.
  • Give your employees opportunities to be heard and identify any issues they see.
  • Bring in a guest speaker or talk about a recent fall tragedy when providing fall prevention training.
  • Provide hands-on training using identical scenarios to ones your employees will run into eventually.
  • Offer a first aid and rescue training program to help your employees understand what to do if a fall occurs.

Preventative measures go a long way in protecting team members from taking a tumble. Missing railings or edge protectors account for the more severe injuries that can be fatal.  Be sure to have the proper treading and risers for stairs and keep your floors clean and free of hazards. Slips account for many injuries each year, so be sure to clean greasy, dusty, or wet areas regularly.

Making improvements to your employees' awareness of their surroundings is another part of safety training that teaches employees to react to specific hazards in certain areas. If your team members can spot risks and respond accordingly, you can help reduce their risk exposure.

Creating a safety culture at work can eliminate risks like horseplay by changing personal safety and accountability views.

More than 1 million people are injured due to falls in the US alone each year, accounting for 15% of workplace injuries. By understanding OSHA safety requirements and providing on-the-job safety training, employers can dramatically lower the number of injuries from falls on the job.

For more information on how to address fall protection in a typical box plant, FBA members can refer to an FAQ on the FBA website


here


.

Thanks,

Chase


# # #


Chase Kammerer is the Manager of Technical Services at Fibre Box Association (FBA). If you have technical questions about the corrugated industry, you can reach him direct at


ckammerer@fibrebox.org


.