Fall Arrest Protection: Stay Safe when Working at Height

Working at height is a routine, everyday aspect of a job in the construction industry but it is also the most dangerous. Just here in the UK, it is estimated that more than 60,000 construction workers are injured or even killed every year after falling from a height: what makes this figure even more shocking is that a significant proportion of these injuries and fatalities could have been prevented if the proper fall arrest protection devices had been in place.

Many factors contribute to falls in the workplace, either alone or in conjunction. These factors include:

• Environmental. Rain can lead to surfaces being slippery while high winds can cause workers to be unstable. If the work area is not kept clean and tidy, dust and debris can also pose a fall risk.
• Exposed Openings and/or Edges. Any opening or edge that is unprotected by appropriate barriers, guardrails or safety nets is a prime place for a fall to occur. 
• Lack of Supervision and/or Training. Sadly, some employers do not provide adequate training and/or supervision on work sites, leading to fall risks. All employers should provide these crucial elements, including things like offsite courses in working at height and onsite training in the use of equipment such as ladders and harnesses. 
• Damaged or Defective Equipment. The risk of falling is dramatically increased if damage has caused vital equipment like scaffolding, ladders and fall arrest protection to be compromised.

Depending on things like how high a fall is from, how the person falls and the surface they land on, the types of injuries that can be sustained and how severe they are can vary widely. Common injuries include:

• Head injuries. From a loss of consciousness and consequent concussion to skull fractures and even death, head injuries are always serious. The effects can last for a long time after the initial injury, causing cognitive issues, memory loss, disabilities and paralysis.
• Spine Injuries. Also extremely severe, spinal injuries can cause long-term or even permanent disability.
• Fractured or Broken Bones. While relatively less serious than injuries to the head or spine, broken or fractured limbs are extremely painful and can result in extended periods of time away from work while they heal. 
• Internal Injuries. The impact on the body caused by falling from a height can injure the vital organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys or liver. Broken bones can also cause such injuries.     

By far the best way to prevent such injuries occurring is to ensure that reliable, high-quality fall arrest protection devices are used. Here at Tiger Safety, we proudly supply a range of such devices that have been designed, developed and manufactured by leading brand Delta Plus. 

Please browse our website to discover the complete collection.