Why this matters
Falls from height remain a leading cause of death in construction. A fall can happen in a second, and what protects you has to be in place before it does.
What to cover
- Look for edges, openings, skylights, and leading edges before you start.
- Guardrails and covers come first. A harness only protects the person wearing it.
- Check your harness and lanyard before each use. Remove anything cut, burned, frayed, or that has taken a fall.
- Tie off to an anchor that has been approved for the load, and keep the slack short.
- Know the rescue plan. A person hanging in a harness can be in trouble within minutes.
- Stop work in high wind, ice, or lightning.
Ask the crew
- Where on this site could someone fall today?
- What is our rescue plan, and who would carry it out?
- Who hasn't been trained on the harnesses we use?
One thing to do today
Confirm that every opening on the site is covered or guarded before work starts.
