#ToolboxTuesday - Fall Protection Awareness

Working at heights includes any work where a worker is exposed to a potential fall of three meters or more. Falls from heights are the leading causes of fatalities and critical injuries in the construction industry. To mitigate the risk of falling when working at heights, employers must establish a fall protection plan based on an assessment of the risks in their workplace.

 Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code requires employers to prepare a fall protection plan when work-at-height situations meet both of the following requirements: (1) a worker may fall 3 metres or more, and (2) the worker is not protected by guardrails.

What Is the Purpose Of A Fall Protection Plan?

The purpose of the fall protection plan is to: Ensure that employers and workers do enough planning before beginning work at height to eliminate or control workers' risk of falling. This includes choosing the most appropriate fall protection system and equipment for the specific worksite conditions.

Did You Know?

You can use a single fall protection plan for multiple work sites. According to Alberta OHS, "A unique fall protection plan isn't required for each work site. If an employer faces the same hazards at multiple work sites, and the fall protection equipment and rescue procedures are identical at each work site, then a single plan applicable to all the work sites is acceptable."

 Fun Fact

It wasn't until the 1970s and 1980s that workers using safety body belts became the industry standard for any worker working at great heights.

Alberta Fall Protection Plan Template