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Every day there are employees faced with the risk of falling objects on the job site. Material and equipment that is not secured and falls from heights can pose a serious threat of injury or death to those below. Each site should have proactive measures to prevent these incidents from occurring.
Tips for Preventing Falling Objects:
- Work from a safe platform and install a toeboard system to prevent items from falling over the edge.
- Keep tools attached with a harness system when working at heights.
- Safety netting can be installed to catch anything that may fall over a working ledge.
- Any objects being lifted by a forklift or aerial lift should be well-secured to prevent the load from falling off during movement.
- Have a rule on the job site to keep all tools and equipment at least 3 feet from a leading edge that is not directly in use.
- Remove any loose items such as tools, pencils, phones, etc from pockets and pouches.
- Only travel with necessary and secured tools and equipment.
- Take extra precautions on high wind or severe weather days that may catch material and send it over the edge.
- Work performed with tools or objects held should be kept inside the guardrails.
- Use chutes to drop debris into a specified area such as a dumpster onsite.
Preventing Injuries on the Ground and Lower Levels:
- Identify potential danger zones for falling objects with warning tape.
- Areas that may have dislodged material.
- Areas that are being torn out and reconstructed.
- All employees working on lower or ground levels will wear hard hats to prevent injury.
Assess the worksite each day for potential areas of concern that require special attention. Make a plan to prevent these injuries before work begins.