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The Way Forward: An Update on Falls at the same Level, Stair Falls and Elevated Falls.

This is practical and research information on what is new for building owners, specifiers, safety managers, architects, risk managers for Hotels, Manufacturing, Food, Transport, Leisure, Health Clubs etc.

From the event website:
Slips, trips and falls are the biggest cause of unintentional injury in the world today. This 2 day international conference will share the latest research and ideas to help develop solutions to reduce the incidence and impact of this ongoing problem. Slips, trips and falls on the level, stair falls and falls from height will all be addressed and updated with the latest thinking. The Conference Co-Chairs are Steve Thorpe, Chair, United Kingdom Slip Resistance Group and Richard Bowman, Chair, Slips, Trips and Falls Technical Committee, International Ergonomics Association.

Date: 4 and 5 October 2016:
London UK
Organized by the UK Slip Resistance Group
Click here for more information and Speaker List

The safety requirements for employees working on scaffolds as defined by OSHA are often overlooked by many. This could essentially be the difference between life and death falls.

Without a doubt, scaffolds should be able to hold it’s own weight and four times the maximum intended load applied.  In addition to this, OSHA states that “each employee more than 10 feet above a lower level shall be protected from falls by guardrails or a fall arrest system.” However, those who are on a single-point or two-point adjustable scaffold are required to be protected by a personal fall arrest system as well. Making sure construction companies understand when each requirement is needed is essential to the safety and protection of their workers.

In addition, employers are required to train scaffold employees on the hazards and dangers. As well as, how to minimize the risk of injury as well as, proper procedures to follow. Without the proper training of employees who use scaffolds, companies are not taking full advantage of the safety equipment required.

Overall, following scaffolding regulations are essential to protection of employees. The training on these systems are absolutely imperative and should never be overlooked.

For more information on fall protection, fall safety training, and procedures, please visit FallSafety.com where safety is #1.

Click here for the OSHA Stand Down 2016 PDF

The third annual National Safety Stand-down will take place from May 2-6, 2016.   It is to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. is this year’s theme.

Anyone who wants to prevent falls in the workplace can participate in the Stand-Down. In past years, participants included commercial construction companies of all sizes, residential construction contractors, sub- and independent contractors, highway construction companies, general industry employers, the U.S. Military, other government participants, unions, employer’s trade associations, institutes, worker interest organizations, and safety equipment manufacturers.

Find out more from OSHA about the stand down and what your company can do to participate. https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/index.html

Ultimately, the owner (as principal) is responsible for limiting or excluding fall hazards from his or her property. Both reputation and pocketbook are at stake.  While the knowledgeable owner may employ architects and engineering consultants to advise about the construction of a building or structure, the owner must clearly require state-of-the-art, designed, safety features such as parapets, guardrails, and permanent anchorages whenever possible, both for contractor employees and for his or her own workers, and foreseeable access accommodation following construction.  See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 74.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!