In Canada, while the overall rate of fatal incidents on construction sites has been decreasing since 2017, the rate of fatal incidents related to falls from height has been on the rise. Falls from height are responsible for 10% of all worksite fatalities, with approximately 4,000 incidents resulting in lost-time claims each year.
According to both National and Provincial regulations, any worksite where workers are exposed to heights of 3 meters or more requires a Fall Protection Plan (FPP). An effective Fall Protection Plan is customized to the job site’s specific hazards and outlines the appropriate hazard mitigation strategies and fall protection equipment to be used.
To ensure worker safety, a comprehensive Fall Protection Plan must include:
A competent person, such as a Level 3 Rope Access Technician, must implement the Fall Protection Plan. This person must be knowledgeable in National and Provincial Regulations, understand manufacturer recommendations for fall protection equipment, and have experience in executing rescue plans and procedures.
A Fall Protection Plan is a legal document that may be reviewed by Provincial Health and Safety authorities. It should be reviewed annually or whenever the worksite or hazards change.
There are three primary fall protection systems used in conjunction with a harness, each with its own specific standards and regulations. The appropriate system is determined by the Fall Protection Plan, based on the job site’s hazards and requirements.
A fall protection system is defined as ‘fall restraint’ when the worker is exposed to a fall from height, and the system prevents them from accessing the fall zone. When adequately used, this system is the safest and most user-friendly, as there is no potential for a free fall. A fall restraint system is composed of a full body or sit harness, a lanyard and a connector, anchor points and most of the time, a horizontal lifeline. The minimum anchor strength for a fall restraint system must be 3.5kN (800lbs) or four times the weight of the worker to be connected to the system.
A fall protection system is defined as ‘fall arrest’ when the worker is exposed to a fall from height and the mean of the system is to stop a free fall and absorb the energy created during that fall. According to Canadian National Regulations, the energy created during a fall, and then applied to the worker shouldn’t exceed 8kN. A fall arrest system is composed of a full body harness, a lanyard with an energy absorber, a connector, anchor points and most of the time, a horizontal or vertical lifeline. The minimum anchor strength for a fall arrest system must be 22kN (5000lbs) or two times the maximum arrest force.
A fall protection system is defined as ‘Rope Access’ when the worker relies completely on the system to position themselves to perform the work. This system enables the worker to access work locations that would be impossible to access by other means like ceilings or confined spaces. In that case, the system includes two independent ropes, which are defined as the working line and the backup line. This system will be used according to different Provincial Regulations.
At Alpine Solutions, we specialize in comprehensive Fall Protection Plans tailored to your specific needs, ensuring the highest safety standards are met. Our expert team, including Level 3 Rope Access Technicians, is fully equipped to implement and manage fall protection systems for a variety of worksites. Whether you require fall restraint, fall arrest, or specialized rope access services, we provide reliable and efficient solutions. Explore our full range of Rope Access Services here and let us help you safeguard your team and your project.
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