Fall Protection Training: Your Guide to Safety and Compliance

On OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited standards list, fall protection is represented twice. General fall protection safety (29 CFR 1926.501) is a regular leader in this ranking, but OSHA’s suite of fall protection training requirements (29 CFR 1926.503) also holds its own, year after year, on this list.Inadequate Fall Protection Training, Avoidable Risk

The prevalence of not one but two OSHA fall protection standards as frequent violators underscores the importance not only of fall protection safety, but also of training on fall safety procedures. It also speaks to the failures of many traditional safety and operational training programs.

It has been demonstrated that inadequate training leads to avoidable risk: The Center for Protection of Workers’ Rights (CPWR) found that the chances of a fatal fall were 76% lower for those who were adequately self-rescue trained compared to those who were not trained.

To avoid steep fines and protect your workforce, it is crucial to analyze your OSHA fall protection training program and ensure you have the necessary elements in place; beyond the obvious concern for human well-being on worksites, penalties for violating OSHA standards can reach $16,550 per infraction, per day.

Fall Protection Training: The Regulations

What is fall protection training? At a minimum, employers must provide a fall protection training program for each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards, including falls from above and falls from a higher level to a lower one. OSHA fall protection training should cover:

• The nature of workplace fall hazards and how to recognize them
• How to avoid fall safety hazards
• Procedures to minimize hazards
• Equipment inspections
• Limitations of fall protection
• Use, set-up, and maintenance of fall protection equipment
• The role of each employee in a fall protection plan

A fall protection training certification record is necessary for each employee who has been trained, listing their name, training dates, and trainer signature. Retraining should occur whenever:

• Skill lapses are discovered
• Workplace or facility changes dictate
• Fall protection equipment is changed or updated

Fall Protection Training Classes

An effective training program will cover numerous fall protection training classes of varying topics:

Competent Person Training

OSHA competent person training courses teach employees how to identify, evaluate, and correct workplace hazards. This can include noticing and correcting fall risks.

Slips, Trips, and Falls Training

There are no formal OSHA requirements for slips, trips, and falls training, but these courses can help employees identify slip, trip, and fall risks like wet floors, clutter, holes, oily surfaces, and more.

Harness Training

Harness training is a crucial part of a comprehensive fall protection training program, wherein team members learn to use harnesses properly. Training should cover:

• Proper harness fit
• Rescue procedures
• Harness inspection
• Use of fall arrest systems
• And more

Arrest Training

Arrest training is another crucial fall protection training program element. When employees are exposed to fall hazards, arrest training teaches them how to use personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) including inspection, use, fit, and procedures.

Prevent Employee Falls: Fall Protection Certification

Having fall protection training policies in place is a step in the right direction, but employees will not stay safe—and you will not be compliant—unless your training program is efficient and memorable to offer full fall protection certification. A study in the American Journal of Public Health found that the more engaging a training session, the fewer accidents and injuries were observed.

The key to compliance and safety at your facility is memorable training. To achieve this, consider:

• An on-demand fall protection training strategy that is customizable and delivered online. This allows learners to take trainings at their own pace, with lessons relevant to their daily fall-risky situations.
• Fall protection training designed with best practices for adult learning and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in mind. A self-directed, experience-based, and problem-focused training, with a variety of media, interactive elements, and knowledge checks, will ensure that each learner is getting exactly what they need for successful learning.
• A learning management system (LMS) that can track and centralize your training data, so you are prepared to meet compliance requirements and can demonstrate the effectiveness of your training when OSHA knocks on your door.

Partnering for Fall Safety Training Success

The benefits of fall protection and EHS training are limitless, particularly when it comes to fall prevention and safety. It is in a manager’s best interest to prioritize fall safety training and regular review of fall safety training policies—compliance, operational costs, and employee safety depend on it. Memorable training with Triumvirate Environmental’s expert instructional team allow you to protect your employees and stay compliant with 29 CFR 1926.503.

Fall Protection Training FAQ