714 Fall Protection Program

Glossary

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A

• Acceleration. The rate of change in velocity during a fall, critical in determining the forces exerted during impact.
• Access. The means of reaching a work area, which must be designed to minimize fall hazards.
• Active Fall Protection. A system requiring worker interaction, such as personal fall arrest systems, to protect against falls.
• Administrative Controls. Policies and procedures designed to minimize fall risks, including training and scheduling.
• Anchorage. A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices, capable of supporting specific loads as per OSHA or ANSI requirements.
• Anchorage Connector. A device used to securely attach fall protection systems to the anchorage.
• ANSI. The American National Standards Institute, which develops voluntary safety standards including those for fall protection.
• ANSI/ASSP Z10. A standard providing guidance on implementing occupational health and safety management systems.
• ANSI/ASSP Z359.2. A standard outlining requirements for managing fall protection programs.
• Attachment Point. The specific location on a body harness where the lanyard or lifeline is connected.

B

• Barricade. A barrier erected to restrict access to a hazardous area, including areas with fall hazards.
• Blended Learning. A training method that combines online learning with hands-on or in-person sessions to enhance fall protection knowledge and skills.
• Body Belt. A component of a fall restraint or positioning system, designed to prevent a worker from falling from a work position.

C

• Canopy. A temporary overhead protective structure used to shield workers or pedestrians from falling objects.
• Carabiner. A secure, often locking connector used in fall protection systems.
• Catch Platform. A platform designed to catch falling workers or objects, used as part of a passive fall protection system.
• Competent Person. An individual authorized and capable of identifying fall hazards and implementing corrective actions.
• D-ring. A metal ring used on harnesses for attaching lanyards or lifelines.

D

• Deceleration Device. A device such as a rope grab or self-retracting lifeline that reduces fall impact forces.
• Deceleration Distance. The distance a worker falls before the fall arrest system arrests the fall.

E

• Elimination. The highest priority in the hierarchy of controls, removing fall hazards entirely.
• Engineering Controls. Physical modifications to the workplace or equipment to minimize fall risks.
• Equipment Inspection. The routine examination of fall protection equipment, such as harnesses, lanyards, and lifelines, to ensure they are in good working condition and free from defects.
• Exposure. The degree to which a worker is subjected to fall hazards, determined by factors such as frequency, duration, and proximity to the hazard.

F

• Fall Accident. Any unplanned event where a worker loses balance and falls, resulting in injury, property damage, or near misses.
• Fall Arrest. A method or system used to stop a worker's fall in progress, typically involving a harness, anchorage, and lanyard or lifeline.
• Fall Hazard. Any condition in the workplace that could result in a fall, such as unprotected edges, unstable surfaces, or poor lighting.
• Fall Hazard Analysis. The process of identifying and evaluating potential fall hazards in a workplace.
• Fall Hazard Identification. The recognition of existing or potential fall hazards during workplace inspections or task evaluations.
• Fall Protection Program Elements. The comprehensive components of a fall protection plan, including policies, equipment, training, and rescue procedures.
• Fall Protection Training. Education provided to workers to understand and implement fall protection measures effectively.
• Fall Restraint. A system designed to prevent a worker from reaching a fall hazard, such as a harness and tether system.
• Fixed Ladder. A ladder that is permanently attached to a structure, such as a building or tank.
• Four-Foot Rule. An OSHA regulation stating that fall protection is required for general industry employees working at elevations of four feet or higher.
• Free Fall Distance. The vertical distance a worker falls before the fall arrest system activates.

G

• Guardrail System. A passive fall protection measure involving barriers to prevent falls from elevated surfaces.

H

• Hazardous Task. A job or activity with inherent risks, including those involving working at heights.
• Hierarchy of Controls. A system for managing workplace hazards, prioritizing elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.
• Hole Cover. A secured covering used to prevent falls through floor openings or skylights.
• Horizontal Lifeline. A flexible rope or wire system anchored at both ends, allowing workers to remain attached while moving horizontally.

I

• Impact Force. The force exerted on a worker and the fall arrest system during a fall, influenced by fall distance and deceleration devices.
• Inspection. The systematic examination of fall protection systems, equipment, and work environments to ensure safety and compliance.

J

• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). A process that focuses on job tasks to identify hazards before they occur. It involves examining the relationship between the worker, the task, the tools, and the work environment.

N

• Non-compliance. Failure to adhere to safety regulations, policies, or procedures. Non-compliance can result in citations, penalties, and increased risk of accidents.

L

• Lanyard. A flexible line, often incorporating shock-absorbing elements, used to connect a harness to an anchorage or lifeline.

M

• Management. The process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling resources, including personnel, finances, and materials, to achieve organizational goals and ensure workplace safety and health. In the context of OSHA, management involves implementing safety programs, ensuring compliance with regulations, and fostering a culture of safety within the organization.
• Management Leadership. The ability of managers to guide and influence their teams towards achieving organizational goals, often by setting a clear vision and fostering a positive work environment.
• Manager. An individual responsible for overseeing and directing the work of others to ensure that organizational goals, including those related to occupational safety and health, are met. Managers play a critical role in enforcing safety policies, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring that employees receive adequate training and resources to perform their jobs safely.
• Manage. To control or direct the operations or activities of an organization, department, or team. In the context of OSHA, to manage involves taking responsibility for identifying workplace hazards, implementing safety measures, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and maintaining a safe working environment for all employees.
• Mitigation. Measures taken to reduce or eliminate fall hazards through engineering, administrative, or protective solutions.

N

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). An international nonprofit organization that develops and publishes consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the risk and effects of fire by establishing criteria for building, processing, design, service, and installation.
• NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). A U.S. federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.

O

• OSHA Act. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, which governs workplace safety regulations, including fall protection requirements.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A federal agency in the United States that ensures safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.
• Output/Outcome. The results or consequences of workplace activities or processes, particularly in terms of safety performance. Outputs and outcomes are used to measure the effectiveness of safety programs.

P

• Passive Fall Protection. A system that does not require active participation from the worker, such as guardrails or netting.
• Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). A system designed to safely stop a worker in the event of a fall, including a body harness, anchorage, and connectors.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Equipment worn by workers to reduce exposure to fall hazards, including harnesses, helmets, and gloves.
• Positioning Device System. A system that supports a worker in a work position and prevents falls from occurring.
• Probability. The likelihood of a fall occurring, often assessed during hazard evaluations.
• Prompt (OSHA Definition). The immediate initiation of rescue procedures to minimize risks following a fall.

Q

• Qualified Person. An individual with a recognized degree, certificate, or extensive knowledge, training, and experience in fall protection systems. This person is capable of designing, analyzing, evaluating, and specifying the systems to manage fall hazards effectively.

R

• Recommended Practices. Guidelines or best practices suggested to improve safety, efficiency, and compliance in the workplace.
• Reprimand. A formal expression of disapproval for non-compliance with safety rules or procedures. Reprimands can be verbal or written and are intended to correct unsafe behavior.
• Rescue at Height. Procedures to retrieve workers who are suspended following a fall, including self-rescue and assisted rescue methods.
• Rip-Stitch Lanyard. A lanyard designed with stitching that tears under fall arrest forces to reduce impact on the worker.
• Risk. The combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event or exposure and the severity of injury or ill health that can be caused by the event or exposure.
• Risk Assessment. The process of identifying hazards and evaluating the associated risks within a workplace, followed by the implementation of measures to control those risks. This involves analyzing the probability and consequences of an event occurring.
• Root Cause Analysis. A method used to determine the underlying reasons for an incident or accident. Identifying root causes helps in developing effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Rule. A mandatory regulation that must be followed to maintain safety and health in the workplace. Rules are established to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with safety standards.

S

• Safety Analysis Methods. Techniques used to identify, evaluate, and control hazards in the workplace. These methods include Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP).
• Safety Audit. A systematic review of workplace safety practices, policies, and conditions, often conducted by the safety committee to assess compliance and identify areas for improvement.
• Safety Culture. The attitude, beliefs, perceptions, and values that employees share in relation to safety in the workplace. A strong safety culture leads to improved safety performance and fewer accidents.
• Safety Monitoring System. A system in which a competent person actively monitors and warns workers of fall hazards in real time.
• Sag Angle. The angle of deflection in a horizontal lifeline caused by worker movement or weight, which affects the system's performance.
• Self-Retracting Lifeline (SRL). A fall arrest device that automatically retracts and locks in case of a fall, reducing free-fall distance.
• Shock-Absorbing Lanyard. A lanyard that reduces the force of a fall arrest by dissipating energy through an integrated system.
• Shock Trauma Strap. A device integrated into or attached to a full-body harness that helps alleviate pressure on the legs and prevent suspension trauma after a fall. The strap allows the suspended worker to stand in a supported position, improving circulation until rescue occurs. It is a critical component of fall protection equipment for prolonged suspension scenarios.
• Six-Foot Rule. OSHA's fall protection requirement for construction workers exposed to fall hazards six feet or higher.
• Slips, Trips, and Falls. A category of workplace incidents that includes slips due to wet surfaces, trips over obstacles, and falls from heights or same-level surfaces.
• Stairways. A series of steps allowing people to move between different levels of a building or structure.
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations safely and efficiently. SOPs ensure consistency and compliance with industry regulations.
• State Plan. OSHA-approved occupational safety and health programs operated by individual states, which must be at least as effective as the federal OSHA program.
• Subcontractors. Secondary contractors hired by the primary contractor to perform specific tasks as part of a larger project.
• Supervisor's Role. The responsibility of supervisors to oversee and manage workers' adherence to safety procedures and protocols. Supervisors play a key role in promoting a safe work environment through leadership, training, and enforcement of safety rules.
• Supported Scaffold. A scaffold supported by rigid structures like poles or frames, used to prevent falls.
• Surface Causes. The immediate, obvious reasons for an incident, such as a slippery floor causing a fall. Surface causes are often symptoms of deeper, root causes.
• Suspended Scaffold. A scaffold suspended by ropes or cables, often used in high-rise construction.
• Swing Fall. A pendulum-like motion caused when a worker falls while attached to a lifeline that is not directly above the anchorage point.

T

• Toeboard. A low barrier at the edge of an elevated platform that prevents tools, materials, and workers from falling.
• Training. The process of providing employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their jobs safely and effectively. Training programs often include instruction on hazard recognition, emergency procedures, and the proper use of PPE.
• Travel Restraint System. A system that prevents workers from reaching the edge of a fall hazard.

U

• Unsafe Condition. A physical state or environment that increases the likelihood of an accident or injury. Unsafe conditions must be identified and mitigated to ensure a safe workplace.
• Unsafe Behavior. Actions or activities by workers that increase the risk of accidents or injuries. Addressing unsafe behavior is a key aspect of behavior-based safety programs.

V

• Vertical Lifeline. A lifeline attached to a fixed anchorage that provides fall protection along a vertical path.

W

• Walking-Working Surfaces. Any surface on which workers perform tasks, including floors, ladders, and platforms, requiring fall protection at specified heights.
• Warning Line System. A physical barrier that alerts workers to an unprotected edge, often used on roofs.
• Workplace Inspection. A formal assessment of the worksite to identify fall hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Workplace Mitigation. The process of applying controls to minimize the risk of falls at a worksite.
• Workplace Rescue Plan. A detailed plan for responding to and rescuing workers following a fall incident.

X

• X-Brace. A structural component often used in scaffolding systems to enhance stability and prevent collapses, indirectly aiding fall protection by maintaining a safe work platform.

Y

• Y-Lanyard. A dual-leg lanyard allowing workers to remain tied off at all times when transitioning between anchorage points, also known as a 100% tie-off lanyard.

Z

• Zone of Danger. The area surrounding a fall hazard where a worker is at risk of falling, often used in planning fall protection measures.