28 OCTOBER 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Focus on Fall Protection Adapted from Information by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Employers have various strategies at their disposal to safeguard employees from falls. In certain circumstances, OSHA allows the use of warning lines, designated areas, and control areas, which can help reduce the number of workers at risk. By assessing hazards and creating a fall protection plan prior to commencing work, employers can effectively manage fall risks and prioritize preventive measures. To ensure the safety of employees and prevent fall-related injuries, employers must take the following measures: j Secure every floor opening where a worker could inadvertently walk by installing a railing and toeboard, or by using a floor hole cover. j Install guardrails and toeboards around all elevated platforms, floors, or runways that are open on the sides. j Provide guardrails and toeboards for any hazardous machinery or equipment where a worker can fall, like a vat of acid or a conveyor belt, regardless of the height involved. j Depending on the specific job requirements, additional fall protection measures may include the use of safety harnesses and lines, safety nets, stair railings, and handrails. OSHA mandates employers must: j Ensure the workplace is free from recognized hazards. j Maintain clean and, to the greatest extent possible, dry floors in work areas. j Select and supply necessary personal protective equipment at no expense to employees. j Educate workers about job-related hazards in a language they can easily comprehend. Employers are responsible for arranging the workplace to ensure employees are protected from falling from overhead platforms, elevated workstations, or into openings in floors and walls. OSHA also requires fall protection whenever workers are operating over hazardous equipment and machinery, regardless of the height of the fall. An OSHA representative and a safety company provided demonstrations and information to workers on how to correctly use fall protection equipment. CONST
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