OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 1

Fall Prevention Training Guide

A Lesson Plan for Employers

OSHA 3666-04 2014

A Guide for Employers to Give

Fall Prevention Training to Workers

Occupational Safety

and Health Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

Safety Pays. Falls Cost.

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 2

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 3

Table of Contents

Introduction..............................................................................................................................1

Why is it important to prevent falls?.......................................................................................2

Carrying out the training.........................................................................................................2

How to use Toolbox Talks .......................................................................................................2

How Toolbox Talks are formatted...........................................................................................3

Preparing to teach the training sessions..................................................................................3

Advice for trainers...................................................................................................................3

First Talk: Ladder Safety.........................................................................................................5

Second Talk: Scaffolding Safety..............................................................................................7

Third Talk: Roofing Work Safety............................................................................................9

OSHA Educational Materials and Resources........................................................................13

Prevention Videos (v-Tools).............................................................................................14

Fall Prevention Fact Sheet – English...............................................................................15

Una hoja informativa—Prevención contra caídas – Español..........................................15

Fall Prevention Wallet Card – English.............................................................................16

Tarjeta sobre la prevención contra caídas – Español.......................................................16

Cartão de prevenção contra quedas – Portuguese...........................................................16

Fall Prevention Poster – English......................................................................................17

Prevención de caídas—Cartel – Español.........................................................................17

Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely Booklet/Las caídas desde

escaleras pueden ser mortales: Úselas de forma segura – English/Español...................18

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 4

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 5

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

Introduction

Falls cause more deaths in construction than any other hazard. In 2011, falls accounted

for over a third of the 721 total construction deaths. Workers performing tasks 6 feet or

more above lower levels are at risk of fatal falls or serious injuries.

This training guide will help you plan how to prevent injuries and fatalities from falls

among your crew, and provide training to your workers. It includes the following tools:

Instructions for using the Toolbox Talks to train workers in fall prevention

(pages 2–3).

A series of Toolbox Talks about various fall prevention topics

(pages 5–12)

Additional resources:

A Fact Sheet, in English and Spanish, with some key information about preventing

falls

(page 15).

A Wallet Card, in English and Spanish, which provides the web address for OSHA’s

Fall Prevention Campaign website and OSHA’s contact information

(page 16)

Easy-to-read OSHA posters, in English and Spanish, for the worksite and the

community that you can copy and distribute to workers

(page 17)

A bilingual booklet on ladder safety,

Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely

which can be read on any mobile device

(page 18)

The training is designed to be:

Short

— Each Toolbox Talk should last approximately 5-10 minutes. Although some

talks contain more material than others, Toolbox Talks can be given at meetings

before the work shift or during breaks.

Participatory

— Workers attending the talk should be able to ask questions and

discuss the topic. This increases the likelihood they will remember the information.

Easy to follow

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 6

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Why is it important to prevent falls?

Preventing falls can mean the difference between life and death. Hundreds of workers

die from falls each year. You can prevent such deaths by

planning

to get the job done

safely,

providing

the right fall protection equipment, and

training

all workers to use

the equipment safely.

Many construction workers perform tasks at a height that requires protection from

fall hazards.

Having a serious injury or death occur at work affects everyone at a worksite.

A fall can occur in a split second without any time for the worker to react.

Carrying out the training

Short and direct Toolbox Talks can be a very efficient way to reach workers with

health and safety information. Like all training, delivering the information effectively

takes preparation and a desire to involve the workers in health and safety at the

workplace. Employers may train workers to lead the training or have supervisors provide

the training. Studies have shown peer-to-peer training is effective, participatory and

well-retained.

In this guide, you will find advice for trainers that will encourage discussion and enable

workers to actively participate in keeping the job site safe.

Follow these three steps to prepare and present a Toolbox Talk:

Read and become familiar with the next section, “How to use Toolbox Talks.”

Give one of the Toolbox Talks.

Get feedback from the other workers. Did they understand the material? Was it well

presented? How could the training be more relevant to their work?

How to use Toolbox Talks

The training guide is written so that you can easily follow it. The training is divided into

three Toolbox Talks, each addressing a fall prevention topic. These include:

First Talk:

Ladder Safety

Second Talk:

Scaffolding Safety

Third Talk:

Roofing Work Safety

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 7

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

To provide this training, you will be leading a discussion in which you give an example

of a fatality related to the topic, discuss how it could have been prevented, ask questions,

and encourage participation.

How Toolbox Talks are formatted

Each Toolbox Talk begins with an example of the types of incidents that are possible

if workers do not follow the fall prevention guidelines outlined in the training.

Following the job site example, the Toolbox Talk lists guidelines for preventing falls

Suggested Questions for your

Toolbox Talks

How could Willie’s death been prevented?

How are scaffolds used on this job site and

how will you use them safely?

How often should a scaffold be inspected?

What should you do if you find defects on

a scaffold?

When are guard rails required on the

scaffolds used on this job site?

When can you use the cross-bracing or end

frames to climb up or down a scaffold?

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 13

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

Toolbox

Talks

Third Talk: Roofing Work Safety

Job site example

On June 6, 2011, John, a roofing professional,

was working near an unguarded skylight

installed on the roof of a one-story commercial

building, currently under construction. While

installing roofing materials, he came in contact

with an unprotected skylight and fell 18 feet

to the floor below, fracturing only his right

shoulder and rib.

John was extremely lucky!

Many construction workers die from work

activities performed near existing skylights,

skylight openings, and other types of roof and/or

roof opening hazards. As a result, roofing falls are

the leading cause of death(s) on construction work

sites. These fatal falls are attributed to: (1) failure

to appropriately guard skylights and other existing

roof openings, and (2) failure to provide effective

fall protection training to workers in

hazard

recognition

of serious fall hazards at the job site.

Fall prevention must be provided when working

on steep roofs, open-sided floors, landings,

or scaffold platforms, etc., whether the work

activity is conducted by a general contractor,

self-employed contractor, subcontractor or an

individual worker.

What are fall hazards?

Unprotected leading edge work

Unprotected wall and floor openings

Hoist areas

Uncovered holes

Roof and elevator openings

Poor working surface integrity

Unprotected ramps and runways

Dangerous equipment

Form work and reinforcing steel

Excavations, wells and pits

What are the results of a fall hazard?

A fall hazard may result in death (fatality) or

serious injuries such as permanent paralysis,

blunt trauma to the head, broken bones,

fractures, or other internal damage.

How to protect workers from

fall hazards:

The

most effective

way to protect workers from

falls is to eliminate the fall hazard. If this is not

feasible, the employer is required to use at least

one of the following:

ELIMINATION

GUARDRAILS

FALL RESTRAINT

FALL ARREST

OTHER ACCEPTABLE SYSTEMS

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 14

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

(PFASs)

, or fall

restraints consist of:

Anchorage

— A fixed and secured point

of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or

deceleration devices capable of supporting

5,000 lbs. Sound anchorages include:

structural members, but not standpipes,

vents, other piping systems and electrical

conduit.

Body Harness

— Straps which may

be secured to the body in a manner

which will distribute fall arrest forces

over the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and

shoulders, with a means to attach to other

components of a PFAS.

Connectors

— Devices used to couple/

connect parts of the PFAS and positioning

system devices together, e.g. a carabiner

or an integral part of the system such as

a dee-ring or buckle (sewn into a body

harness) or a locking snap-hook.

Deceleration Device

— Any mechanism,

such as a rope grab, rip-stitch lanyard,

specially-woven lanyard, tearing or

deforming lanyards, automatic self-

retracting lifelines/lanyards, which serves

to dissipate a substantial amount of

energy during a fall arrest, or otherwise

limit the energy imposed on an employee

during fall arrest.

INSPECTIONS

Daily inspections are required prior to use

of PFASs for wear damage, deterioration

or other component defect and if observed,

the PFAS must be immediately removed

from service.

Other forms of fall protection

systems include:

Guardrail Systems – 1926.502(b),

Safety Net Systems – 1926.502(c),

Warning Line Systems – 1926.502(f),

Controlled Access Zones – 1926.502(g),

Safety Monitor Systems – 1926.502(h), and

Hole Covers – 1926.502(i).

Fall prevention practices

Who has seen or heard of a worker who sat on

a skylight for a break, a drink or a smoke, and

then, the skylight breaks, and the worker falls

onto the concrete floor below?

Yet we don’t even need a skylight, or a floor

opening to fall through a roof! We can overload

a roof with materials and equipment until the

structure fails, or we may begin to work on an

older roof without first inspecting the underside

for signs of damage and/or decay.

What steps do we take to keep us

working safely on roofs?

Use PFASs or other fall protection systems,

as per the OSHA Fall Protection standard.

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 15

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

Train workers in hazard recognition and the

OSHA Fall Protection standard to properly

identify and understand the severity of fall

hazards and certify through a written record.

Guard or secure covers over holes with

materials of sufficient strength, and write

“Hole” over the cover upon observing the

fall hazard.

Provide and use safety monitor systems,

warning line systems, or controlled access

zones, in accord with the OSHA Fall

Protection standard.

Personal fall arrest systems

When conducting roofing work, there are

many ways to prevent fall hazards. If workers

use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS), the

employer must provide a full body harness,

lanyard and/or lifeline, for each worker, and

an anchorage point independent of supporting

any other platforms, but capable of supporting

5,000 lbs (22.2kN), per each attached worker.

Make sure the PFAS fits the worker, and

regularly inspect all fall protection equipment

to ensure that it’s still in good condition. If

workers do not routinely use their PFAS, they

may neglect routine daily inspection of their

equipment — and when required to use their

PFAS, a component part may fail!

Falls are the leading cause of death in the

construction industry, and even experienced

workers can be hurt and killed in falls. Regularly

wear your PFAS, stay connected and tie-off to a

proper anchorage point at the job site.

Safety monitor

Workers can use a safety monitor system in

conjunction with a warning line system with

a low slope roof (4:12 vertical to horizontal, or

less),

under 50 feet or less in width

. The safety

monitor must be a competent person and have

no other duties that could interfere with their

responsibility. They are required to work on the

same level as the work being performed, and

close enough to workers for direct monitoring

(visual) and for verbal communication.

Let’s discuss fall protection!

Have you received training in OSHA’s

Fall Protection standard?

Construction work at what level(s)

require fall protection?

What conditions may lead to falls

through a skylight, hole or over a

ramp?

Is there a need to use fall protection at

your job site?

What should the employer do to

ensure that your job sites are free of

unidentified fall hazards?

What OSHA standard applies?

Suggested Questions for your

Toolbox Talks

How could John’s fall been prevented?

What is the leading cause of death in the

construction industry?

What fall protection systems are we using on

this job site?

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 16

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

How often should your fall protection system

be inspected?

What should you do if you find defects with

the fall protection system?

What are some of the roofing fall hazards on

this job site?

How do we protect holes and skylights on

this job site?

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 17

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

OSHA Educational Materials and Resources

The following OSHA Fall Prevention publications are provided in this

Fall Prevention

Training Guide

Fall Prevention Fact Sheet, OSHA 3533 – English

Una hoja informativa—Prevención contra caídas, OSHA 3534 – Español

Fall Prevention Wallet Card, OSHA 3557 – English

Tarjeta sobre la prevención contra caídas, OSHA 3564 – Español

Cartão de prevenção contra quedas, OSHA 3664 – Portuguese

Fall Prevention Poster, OSHA 3531 – English

Prevención de caídas—Cartel, OSHA 3532 – Español

Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely Booklet/Las caídas desde escaleras

pueden ser mortales: Úselas de forma segura, OSHA 3625 – English/Español

Other OSHA publications:

Many OSHA publications are available in both English and Spanish, as well as

Portuguese, Russian and other languages. To order multiple copies of these resources,

call OSHA’s Office of Communications at (202) 693-1999 or visit OSHA’s Publications

page at

www.osha.gov/publications

Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files.

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 18

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Prevention Videos (v-Tools)

Videos are an effective educational tool.

We have several workplace training videos

based on true stories that are available

online at

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

. The

videos examine how falls lead to death

and how these fatal falls could have been

prevented.

These training tools (v-Tools) support

why using the right type of fall protection

equipment will enable workers to go home

the same way they came to work that day.

You can download the following videos,

view the transcripts or view them on

YouTube:

Falls in Construction

Floor Openings

Fixed Scaffolds

Bridge Decking

Reroofing

Leading Edge Work

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 19

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

Fall Prevention Fact Sheet – English

I worked construction for 10 years

before my fall. It shattered my body

and my livelihood.

Work safely. Use the right equipment.

DON’T

disconnect from

the lifeline

DON’T

use defective equipment

DON’T

work around unprotected

openings or skylights

FALL PREVENTION FACT SHEET

PLAN

ahead to get the job done safely.

PROVIDE

the right roof equipment.

TRAIN

everyone to use the equipment safely.

Wear a harness and always stay connected

Make sure your harness ﬁ ts

Use guardrails or lifelines

Inspect all fall protection equipment before use

Guard or cover all holes, openings, and skylights

DON’T

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) • TTY 1-877-889-5627

www.osha.gov

U.S. Department of Labor

PLAN

ahead to get the job done safely.

PROVIDE

the right equipment.

TRAIN

everyone to use the equipment safely.

Safety Pays. Falls Cost.

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

NIOSH 2012-142 / OSHA 3533-04 2012

FALLS FROM ROOFS CAN BE PREVENTED!

Una hoja informativa—Prevención contra caídas – Español

Trabajé en la construcción por 10 años

antes de mi caída. Destrozó mi cuerpo

y mi forma de ganarme la vida.

Trabaje con seguridad. Use el equipo correcto.

se desconecte de

la cuerda de

salvamento

trabaje cerca de

tragaluces u aberturas

que no estén protegidas

UNA HOJA INFORMATIVA—PREVENCIÓN CONTRA CAÍDAS

PLANIFIQUE

con anticipación para hacer el trabajo de forma segura.

PROPORCIONE

el equipo para techos correcto.

ADIESTRE

a todo el mundo a utilizar el equipo de forma segura.

Use un arnés y siempre quédese conectado

Asegúrese de que el arnés le quede a la medida

Use barandas o cuerdas de salvamento

Inspeccione el equipo de seguridad antes de usarlo

Proteja o cubra todos los huecos, aberturas y tragaluces

use equipo defectuoso

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) • TTY 1-877-889-5627

www.osha.gov

Departamento de Trabajo

de los EE. UU.

PLANIFIQUE

con anticipación para hacer el trabajo de forma segura.

PROPORCIONE

el equipo correcto.

ADIESTRE

a todo el mundo a utilizar el equipo de forma segura.

La seguridad paga,

las caídas cuestan.

www.osha.gov/stopfalls/spanish

NIOSH 2012-142SP / OSHA 3534-04 2012

¡LAS CAÍDAS DESDE TECHOS PUEDEN PREVENIRSE!

Administración de

Seguridad y Salud

Ocupacional

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 20

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Fall Prevention Wallet Card – English

PLAN.

PROVIDE.

TRAIN.

Falls from ladders,

scaffolds and roofs

can be prevented!

www.osha.gov/stopfalls 800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

PLAN

ahead to get the job done safely.

PROVIDE

the right equipment.

TRAIN

everyone to use the

equipment safely.

OSHA 3557-06 2012

Tarjeta sobre la prevención contra caídas – Español

PLANIFIQUE

PROPORCIONE

ADIESTRE

¡Las caídas desde

escaleras, andamios

y techos pueden ser

prevenidas!

www.osha.gov/stopfalls/spanish 800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

PLANIFIQUE

con anticipación para

hacer el trabajo de forma segura.

PROPORCIONE

el equipo correcto.

ADIESTRE

a todo el mundo a

utilizar el equipo

de forma segura.

OSHA 3564-05R 2013 - Spanish

Cartão de prevenção contra quedas – Portuguese

PLANEJE.

FORNEÇA.

TREINE.

As quedas de escadas,

andaimes e telhados

podem ser prevenidas!

A segurança paga

As quedas custam

www.osha.gov/stopfalls 800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

PLANEJE

antes para fazer o trabalho

com segurança.

FORNEÇA

o equipamento correto.

TREINE

todo mundo na utilização

segura do equipamento.

OSHA 3664-05 2013 - Portuguese

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 21

Fall Prevention Training Guide:

A Lesson Plan for Employers

Fall Prevention Poster – English

U.S. Department of Labor

PLAN

ahead to get the job done safely.

PROVIDE

the right equipment.

TRAIN

everyone to use the equipment safely.

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) • TTY 1-877-889-5627

I worked construction for 10 years

before my fall. It shattered my body

and my livelihood.

Work safely. Use the right equipment.

Safety Pays. Falls Cost.

FALLS FROM LADDERS, SCAFFOLDS AND ROOFS CAN BE PREVENTED!

www.osha.gov

NIOSH 2012-141 / OSHA 3531-04 2012

Prevención de caídas—Cartel – Español

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 22

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely Booklet/Las caídas desde escaleras

pueden ser mortales: Úselas de forma segura – English/Español

Falling Off

Ladders Can Kill:

Use Them Safely

Las caídas desde

escaleras pueden

ser mortales:

Úselas de forma

segura

Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented

Las caídas desde escaleras, andamios y techos pueden prevenirse

osha 3625-02r 2014

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

www.osha.gov/stopfalls/spanish

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 23

PLAN

ahead to get the job done safely.

PROVIDE

the right equipment.

TRAIN

everyone to use the equipment safely.

For more information, visit

www.osha.gov/stopfalls

www.osha.gov/stopfalls/spanish

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide — page 24

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PLAN.

PROVIDE.

TRAIN.

Three simple steps to preventing falls.

For more information:

www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

U.S. Department of Labor

OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide

Prompt to Clone This OSHA Fall Protection Training Guide

Apply this example's core structure, strategic pacing, and structural hierarchy directly to your own topic.

What are you generating today?