Fall Protection Hierarchy
It's important to use a systematic "Hierarchy of Controls" for fall protection.
What is the Hierarchy of Controls for Personal Fall Protection?
In descending order of preference, the hierarchy of controls for fall protection is as follows:
- Elimination or substitution. Examples: Eliminate a hazard by lowering the work surface to ground level. Substitute a hazard by moving a process, sequence, or procedure to a different location so that workers no longer approach a fall hazard.
- Passive fall protection. Isolate or separate the hazard or work practice from workers through the use of guardrails or covers over exposed floor openings.
- Fall restraint. Secure the worker to an anchor using a lanyard short enough to prevent the worker's center of mass from reaching the fall hazard.
- Fall arrest. This includes systems designed to stop a worker's fall after a fall has begun.
- Administrative controls. These work practices or procedures signal or warn a worker to avoid approaching a fall hazard. For example a person may be appointed to monitor work around fall hazards.
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1-4. When possible, what is the most effective hazard control during construction?
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