What is Fall Protection Training?

It would be ideal if job sites could eliminate fall hazards.

Unfortunately, this isn’t possible. There are instances where working at height is necessary to get the job done on nearly every job site.

In these cases, we turn to fall protection to help workers stay safe.

But what does proper fall protection actually entail? Do your workers know how to use fall protection equipment? Do they know how to identify potential fall hazards that might not seem apparent?

If not, fall protection training for your workers is the next step.

What is Fall Protection Training?

As the name suggests, fall protection training is a program designed to teach workers about the potential dangers of working at height, identify fall hazards, and safely work at height. Fall protection training is typically done by an experienced and certified instructor, whether on-site or through an online training program.

Why is Fall Protection Training Important?

Proper training is an essential part of running an efficient job site, especially regarding safety. Training programs help get every worker on the same page with different procedures, from proper tool usage to first aid requirements.

Fall protection is no different. Fall protection training ensures that workers can identify fall hazards and avoid them if possible, properly use fall protection systems, and understand their specific responsibilities, such as reporting incidents.

Adequate fall protection isn’t just a suggestion, either. It’s a requirement. As per OSHA Standard Number 1926.503, employers must provide a training program for every employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. This training must be done by a competent individual qualified in different aspects of fall protection, including:

• The nature of fall hazards on the job site
• Correct procedures for using fall protection systems (inspections, assembly, disassembling, maintenance)
• Employee roles and responsibilities in a fall protection plan and the usage of fall protection systems

If employers fail to provide fall protection training to their workers, OSHA can deliver harsh penalties, depending on the severity of the offense and how frequent the offenses are.

Accessing Fall Protection Programs

There are two main categories of fall protection training programs: In-person and online.

Here, we’ll give an example of both types of programs. There are also programs designed to train individuals on becoming instructors themselves.

3M Safety Training & Education

3M is well-known for its safety training and education programs. For fall protection training, they offer an on-site option where an experienced trainer will show up with the necessary equipment for providing adequate fall protection training to your team. You’ll need to fill out a form with details such as your company name, location, number of employees attending, and more.

Another interesting course offered by 3M is their Competent Person training, which allows an individual to become an OSHA and ANSI-compliant instructor for fall protection training.

OSHA Education Center 

What better way to adhere to OSHA regulations than to go directly to the source?

The OSHA Fall Protection Certificate Course is an online course providing workers with the tools to identify fall hazards and educate workers on proper procedures for fall protection. The course modules cover several aspects of fall protection, including:

• OSHA requirements regarding fall protection
• Fall protection with unprotected, leading sides and edges
• Avoiding falling objects and struck-by hazards
• Guardrail, personal fall arrest, warning line, and safety monitoring systems training

What’s convenient about this course is not only the fact that it’s completely online, but that you’ll have 180 days to complete the course and that you’ll be able to access the course 24/7.

This course costs $24.95 per person.

Fall Protection Training Is A Requirement For Any Employee Working at Height

The bottom line is this: If an employee might work at height, they need to have proper fall protection training. Unless you want OSHA to come down hard on your company, following this rule is mandatory.

Penalties aren’t the only consequence, either. One bad day at work involving an untrained employee can mean serious injuries or fatalities on the job site.

Fall protection training isn’t something to procrastinate. Get your workers properly trained immediately for a safer job site.

A Working at Heights Safety Program Can Help Highlight the Importance of Fall Protection Training

Job site safety plans are one of the best ways to highlight the importance of proper fall protection training. Fortunately, Tanner has a template to get you started. Download Tanner’s Working at Heights Safety Plan template here.