Workplace Safety Policies – The Importance of Fall Prevention Programs

Working from heights presents numerous hazards for workers, many of which are preventable with proper fall protection in place. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety , more than 40,000 workers are injured on the job annually due to falls. This results in lost hours and reduced productivity which could cost your business thousands of dollars. Not to mention the mental and emotional trauma of having an employee injured from a fall. This makes it crucial to include working from heights in workplace safety policies for businesses.

The most common sectors to experience falls on the worksite are:

• Road transport – includes falling from loading docks and stationery vehicles
• Longshoring – falling from stationery vehicles and ladders
• Air transport – falling from scaffolds or down the stairs
• Telecommunications – falling from poles, towers, ladders, stationery vehicles or down the stairs

At what height do you need fall protection?

It is against the law to have employees working from heights without the proper fall protection. According to occupational health and safety laws, workers require the use of fall protection at 3 metres (10 feet) or more. This is sometimes referred to as the “3 Metre Rule.” However, some industries, sectors, and provinces may have other requirements based on the job functions.

What are the hazards associated with working at heights?

There are several factors that could lead to a fall at a worksite, some of which include:

• Lack of or improper maintenance of safety devices and equipment
• Workers neglecting to use safety devices provided by employers
• Climbing or walking on material or machinery not intended for climbing
• Transporting material or other items in an unsafe manner
• Working in poor weather
• Placing the ladder or scaffold on unstable footing or extending ladder beyond the point of stability
• Failing to wear proper PPE and nonslip footwear

How to ensure employees work safely at heights?

Employers must play their part in ensuring their workers have the right gear and take the proper precautions when working from heights. To ensure compliance with Canadian health and safety legislation, employers must:

• Know and understand the legislation, codes, and standards
• Find and correct trip, slip, and fall hazards in the workplace
• Use workplace safety planning
• Implement a fall prevention program and company policy governing fall hazards
• Display written procedures for fall hazards and protection
• Educate employees on fall hazard procedures
• Provide PPE and training for workers regarding fall hazards
• Document, investigate, and report any fall-related incident immediately after it happens

What happens if a violation of the OHSA results in employee injury or death?

Employee injury resulting from non-compliance of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will lead to severe repercussions for business owners. If you are found guilty, you could be slapped with a fine, imprisonment, corporate probation, creative sentence, or combination of all four.

Fines can be up to $500,000 and or up to 6 months in prison per violation for the first offense. If the offense continues, you could be fined an additional fine of up to $30,000 per day. Second offenses can result in fines of up to $1 million and or up to 12 months in prison per violation.

Corporate probation may be an additional punishment which may include safety training, public acknowledgment of the convicted offense, third-party policy audits, and more. Corporate probation typically lasts between six months and three years.

Creative sentencing involves the court making directions for diverting sentencing funds to projects that promote occupational health and safety. Some of these projects include:

• Educational or training programs
• Research programs
• Educational scholarships for institutions offering OHS courses or related disciplines
• Non-profits for health and safety initiatives

Need help creating a fall prevention program for your business?

Let us help you keep your workers safe from workplace falls and protect your business from huge fines due to non-compliance. Our team of expert consultants can help you draft, update, and review workplace safety company policies, as well as assist you with any HR, health & safety, and employee issues that may arise. Call us at 1 (833) 247-3652 today to learn more about how our services can benefit your business.