Exploding some myths about fall protection equipment

Fall protection is a vital part of construction safety programs, but as is well-known, a lot of times workers don’t use the equipment or don’t use it properly.

Workers’ excuses range from complaints that the equipment slows them down, makes it harder to work or really isn’t needed. Many of these complaints center on personal protective equipment, such as harnesses and lanyards.

Some of the complaints stem from misconceptions, as Thomas Kramer points out in an article in Contractor’s Tool Source.

This article gets into the nitty-gritty of fall protection, pointing out such myths as:

• An adequate clearance distance is six to eight feet when using an energy-absorbing lanyard.
• A harness only needs one D-ring.
• A guard rail that is taller than 42 inches is always acceptable.
• Self-retracting lanyards always lock up in a few inches.

Consistent, proper use of personal protective equipment and other fall protection devices can be a lifesaver – literally. I commend Kramer’s article to you as a valuable tool for worker education.