Existing Hazards
- Falls are one of the most frequent occupational safety accidents both domestically and internationally.
- Falls are extremely severe occupational safety accidents that are highly likely to result in fatalities.
- Fall accidents are likely to occur among our colleagues.
- Fall accidents are also likely to occur to ourselves.
Methods to Eliminate Fall Hazards
Three Steps to Hazard Elimination
- Identify Hazards
- Assess Hazards
- Control Hazards
1. Identify Hazards
Understand the definitions of high-altitude standards in various countries, comprehend the degree of injury caused by fall impact forces, and identify workplaces and scenarios prone to fall risks.
1) Definition of High Altitude*49
- Chinese National Standards
- GB 3608-83 “Classification of High-Altitude Operations”: Any operation conducted at a height of 2 meters or above (including 2 meters) from the falling height reference plane is defined as high-altitude operation.
- GB 11651-89 “Rules for Selection of Labor Protection Equipment”: High-altitude operations refer to work at a falling height reference plane of 2 meters or above, such as outdoor construction installation, overhead line work, cliff work, ship-side suspended painting, cargo stacking, etc. Mandatory protective equipment includes safety helmets and safety belts.
- U.S. OSHA Safety Regulations
- OSHA 1910.23 (General Industry): Fall protection must be provided for work heights above 1.2 meters (4 feet).
- OSHA 1926.501 (Construction Industry): Fall protection (guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems) must be provided for work heights above 1.8 meters (6 feet), or below 1.8 meters but above hazardous equipment.
- Key OSHA Statistics
- 1.2 meters (4 feet): Height where severe disabling fall accidents frequently occur.
- 1.8 meters (6 feet): Height where fatal fall accidents frequently occur.
- EU Temporary High-Altitude Work Guidelines*53
- EU Directive 2001/45/EC (April 2005): Regardless of whether the work position is at height, ground level, or underground, if personnel may be injured due to a fall, it shall be considered high-altitude work, and fall protection must be provided. The 2-meter rule no longer applies.
2) Impact Force and Injury Severity
| Dynamic Force (kN) | Injury Severity | Threshold | Embodied in Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 kN | Fatal | Death Threshold | New Fabric Maximum Static Load |
| 15 kN | — | — | Old Fabric/Metal Parts Maximum Static Load, Scrap Limit |
| 12 kN | Injury | Injury Threshold (Globally Recognized, 20th Century Data) | — |
| 9 kN | Significant Reduction | Original National, ISO, and EU Safety Thresholds (2/3 of Injury Threshold) | — |
| 5 kN | Rare | Canada, U.S., Japan Safety Thresholds (Statistical Values) | — |
3) High-Risk Workplaces and Scenarios
- Scaffolding
- Ladders
- Roofs (sloped/flat)
- Skylights/hatches
- Manholes/confined spaces
- Stairs without guardrails
- Floor openings/stairwells
- Steel structure assembly
- Tower climbing
- Aerial lifts/platforms
- Temporary work platforms
- Excavation sites
- Open construction fronts
- Loading/unloading zones
- Access pathways
- Areas above hazardous equipment
- Falling object zones
2. Assess Hazards
Evaluate the risk level of hazards and prioritize mitigation. Risk Formula: Risk = Severity × Frequency Use scoring systems to quantify severity and frequency, rank risks, and address them sequentially.
3. Control Hazards
Primary Goal: Eliminate the possibility of falls.
1) Preventive Measures
- Engineering Controls:
- Avoid the need for working at height (e.g., design modifications).
- Use collective fall protection systems (e.g., guardrails, safety nets).
Example: A stadium’s high-mounted light fixtures can be lowered to ground level via a control panel, allowing bulb replacement without workers ascending.
- Administrative Controls:
- Warning lines
- Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)
- Safety monitors
2) Secondary Measures (Fall Arrest Systems)
Deploy only when engineering/administrative controls are insufficient:
- Full-body harnesses with shock-absorbing lanyards.
- Anchor points must withstand static loads of 22 kN (OSHA) or 10 kN (GB/EN).
