Safety at Heights

Every Death in the Workplace Is a Tragedy

Fatal Falls Are Preventable

Every employer that sends workers to perform tasks at heights should have a comprehensive fall protection program.
Fall protection encompasses a wide range of equipment and systems, including overhead anchorage and anchorage strength, horizontal lifeline systems, harness attachments, self-retracting line positioning, twin-leg lanyards, tie-back applications, post-fall suspension, and much more.

Dropped Objects Are Dangerous!

Gravity makes dropped objects accelerate at 9.81 meters per square second (32 feet per square second). The longer the drop, the faster the fall.
Commonly dropped objects include hand tools, instrumentation, small parts, structural components and other items that have to be transferred and used at heights.
Industries where elevated work areas are common have been especially susceptible to the risk of dropped objects, including the oil and gas, construction, energy and telecommunications infrastructure, shipping operations and aviation industries.

Top Causes of Workplace Injuries and Fatalities

Falling and being struck by a dropped object are among the top causes of workplace injuries and fatalities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in 2017, “fatal falls were at their highest level in the 26-year history of the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), accounting for 887 (17 percent) of worker deaths.”
BLS reported that being struck by falling objects or equipment resulted in 45,940 injuries in 2017 (5.2% of all workplace injuries).
According to OSHA, dropped objects are the third leading cause of injuries in construction.

Click Here for the “Safety at Heights” Webinar

DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 2019

TIME: 10:00 AM CST/11:00 AM EST

Join experts in Leading Edge Fall Protection and Dropped Objects from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), as they discuss ways to implement a successful safety at heights program through fall protection product innovations and the new ANSI/ISEA 121 standard to prevent dropped objects, to keep workers safer and their tools secured while working at heights.

Hosted by The National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE)

Job Hazards to Look Out For

Unstable working surfaces

Unprotected edges

Dropped tools

Misused fall protection

Get Essential Safety at Heights Resources

Dropped Objects Resources

The ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 standard provides employers with:

Clear guidance to minimize the risk of dropped object incidents.

Establishes minimum design, testing and performance criteria.

Addresses four active controls: Anchor attachments, Tool attachments, Tool tethers, Containers (buckets, pouches)

Kicks off a new generation of tethering practices!

Get your copy of the standard: Instant PDF download: ANSI/ISEA 121-2018

Fall Protection Resources

ISEA is officially represented on ANSI accredited standards committee Z359, Fall Protection Equipment.

Personal Fall Protection Equipment Use and Selection Guide (PDF)

Frequently Addressed Topics in Fall Protection (PDF)

Get Additional Resources Here