Fall Protection Checklist
This checklist is a reference to ensure fall protection measures are in place for any work performed from an elevated surface.
| Question | Response Type |
|---|---|
| 1. What type of surface will you be performing work from? ie. scissor lift, leading edge, scaffold, etc | Text Answer |
| 2. What type of personal fall arrest system will you be utilizing? ie. harness, yoyo, lanyard, lifeline, etc | Text Answer |
| 3. Is there an engineered tie-off point that is rated for a minimum of 5000lbs to attach to? | Yes No N/A |
| 4. If no, has the superintendent and safety manager been consulted to find an appropriate tie-off point? | Yes No N/A |
| 5. Does the working platform have toeboards to ensure the safety of personnel below? | Yes No N/A |
| 6. If no, has a restricted access zone been identified on the ground below to ensure the safety of other workers? | Yes No N/A |
| 7. Do all tools for this task have lanyards to ensure they don't hit the ground? | Yes No N/A |
| 8. Have you and your team been trained on emergency rescue procedures in the case that the fall protection system is employed? | Yes No N/A |
Download our fall protection checklist
Want an easy way to help prevent falls on the jobsite? Fill out the form to download our fall protection checklist as a workable PDF. We’ll also email you a copy. Then, work through each checklist item and add your responses to better protect field crews from accidents and injuries.
Fall Protection FAQs
Find answers to some of the most common safety questions related to fall protection in construction.
Falls are a common cause of injury and death in construction. According to the CDC, there were 401 fall fatalities in 2019 alone. While falls are a hazard in industries outside of construction, construction represents 51% of all fall fatalities across the nation.
To reduce injuries and death, OSHA requires that employers identify, then eliminate or control all fall hazards at construction sites. Read more about fall protection in our Fall Protection Toolbox Talk.
According to OSHA, the top four construction hazards, or struck-by hazards, are:
- Falls
- Electrocution
- Caught-in/between object(s)
- Struck-by object
Safety orientation should cover each of these hazards, as well as how to prevent them on the jobsite. Read more about the fatal four in our Fatal Four Hazards Toolbox Talk.
In construction, OSHA requires that fall protection be implemented when working at elevations of six feet or more.
Fall hazards are very common on construction work sites. They can include:
- Holes
- Skylights
- Scaffolds
- Exterior construction work areas
- Stairs
- Ladders
OSHA provides safety prevention protocols for each of these hazards, ensuring that construction progress can continue while maintaining workers’ safety.
From most effective to least effective, the hierarchy of fall protection includes:
- Elimination of fall hazard
- Prevention, by adding guardrails, barriers, etc.
- Control, by using safety nets, harnesses, fall arrests, etc.
Safety training and the use of PPE also increase the safety of everyone on a construction site.
When a fall hazard cannot be eliminated or engineered out, a fall protection system must be implemented. A personal fall protection system includes all the components an employer uses to provide protection, or safely arrest, an employee in case of a fall. These components can include harnesses, lanyards, and retractable lifelines.
Fall protection can look very different depending on the situation. By assessing the jobsite and the needs of the workers, most fall protection can be categorized into one of the following:
- Fall arrest
- Positioning
- Retrieval
- Suspension
Each type of fall protection has its own standards which OSHA defines.
Construction safety management software that utilizes construction checklists and safety training are essential in maintaining workers’ safety on jobsites.
For presenting consistent and timely safety topics to your teams, digital toolbox talks are a great tool to utilize. To keep the focus on the safety topics themselves (and not having to find and schedule them), consider investing in toolbox talk software. This will give you digital sign-in sheets and more organized documentation in case you ever need to show safety measures. Check out Raken’s library of toolbox talk topics—ready for your teams to implement.
See how this checklist works in the app
There’s an easier way to find and complete construction checklists—and we’d love to walk you through it in a personalized demo. (All demos come with a free trial, too.)
