Fall Protection Program

Fall Protection

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that after transportation-related deaths, falls are the number one cause of death on the job. Falling on the job may also result in disabilities.

Liberty Mutual estimates more than $61 billion per year is spent on disability claims in the United States, with 25.1% resulting from falls. 

Committed to worker health and safety, EHS strictly follows OSHA and ANSI standards to minimize/eliminate fall related injuries and incidents. Our objectives include:

• Identifying fall hazards and appropriate remediation actions of all elevated work activities
• Develop and update procedures to ensure compliance
• Provide guidance for selection, care, and inspection of fall protection safety equipment/systems
• Provide training for work at elevated locations

When presented with a potential fall hazard, personnel must consult with EHS and their Supervisor and/or Competent Person to determine the most feasible approach to safely perform their work.

Fall Hazards

A fall hazard is any condition on a walking-working surface that exposes an employee to a risk of harm from a fall on the same level or to a lower level.

Types of Fall Hazards on Campus

Fall hazards identified at PSU include the following: 

• Portable (non-fixed) ladders
• Fixed ladders
• Baker scaffolds (mobile ladder/stands/platforms)
• Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP)
  • Boom lifts
  • Scissor lifts
  • Personnel lifts
• Rooftops
• Skylights
• Air handling unit maintenance
• Cooling tower maintenance
• Access hatches
• Elevated walkways in mechanical spaces and tunnel systems
• Loading docks 

Training

EHS provides training to individuals who work or access unprotected heights that are greater than four feet for general maintenance or six feet for construction activities.  This also includes individuals that are required to perform work in a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP), such as a Boom Lift.

For more information on Fall Protection training, please see the EHS Safety Training webpage.

Competent Person

A select number of individuals also receive Fall Protection Competent Person training. This training allows them to supervise, implement, and monitor the fall protection program. They are able to identify, evaluate, and address existing and potential fall hazards and in the application and use of personal fall arrest and rescue systems. 

Competent persons have the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control the hazards of falling, including removing from service any equipment found defective.