In this module
Objectives covered: LO 3.3.1. By the end you will be able to:
- Identify slip, trip and fall hazards on floors, stairs and ladders.
- State when fall protection is required in general industry.
- Describe guardrails, covers, ladders and personal fall protection systems.
3.1 Same-level slips and trips
Slips, trips and falls are among the most common causes of injury. Keep floors clean and dry, mop spills at once, use drainage and anti-slip mats in wet areas, keep aisles clear and marked, and repair damaged flooring. Good lighting matters.
3.2 When fall protection is required
In general industry, OSHA 1910.28 requires fall protection where a worker is on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level. (Construction uses 6 feet.) Holes, including skylights, must be covered or guarded.
3.3 Guardrails, covers and ladders
- Guardrails: top rail 42 inches (107 cm) ± 3 inches; mid-rail about halfway; top rail must withstand 200 lb (890 N); toeboards where objects can fall.
- Hole covers: strong enough for twice the expected load, secured, and marked "HOLE" or "COVER".
- Portable ladders: inspect before use; set at a 4-to-1 angle (1 ft out for every 4 ft up); extend 3 ft (0.9 m) above the landing; face the ladder; keep 3 points of contact; never use metal ladders near electrical work.
- Fixed ladders over 24 ft: a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system is required (cages are being phased out by 2036).
3.4 Personal fall arrest
A personal fall arrest system has an anchorage (5,000 lb / 22.2 kN per worker, or designed by a qualified person with a safety factor of 2), a full-body harness and a connector (shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline). It must limit free fall to 6 ft and arrest force to 1,800 lb. Plan rescue before work starts: suspension trauma can harm a worker hanging in a harness within minutes.
- 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D (1910.21 to 1910.30): walking-working surfaces, ladders, stairs, scaffolds, training.
- 1910.140: personal fall protection systems.
- BNBC 2020 Part 7: safety during construction in Bangladesh.
Falls from height are the leading cause of death in Bangladesh construction. In a Dhaka garment factory, a maintenance worker fell through a fibreglass roof skylight while fixing a gutter. After the incident, the factory installed mesh guards under every skylight, a permanent walkway with guardrails on the roof, and a permit for all roof access.
Learning Check
Answer these two questions to check your understanding. You can try again as many times as you like.