Fall Protection Tips

Pest control professionals often encounter challenging environments when dealing with pest infestations, which can include climbing ladders, accessing roofs, or working in confined spaces. Fall protection training helps technicians and inspectors identify potential fall hazards and take proactive steps to mitigate those risks, reducing the likelihood of accidents.

Working at heights, such as on roofs, ladders, or elevated platforms, can be dangerous. Falls from a roof, through a ceiling or skylight, off a ladder at even relatively low heights can result in serious injuries or fatalities.

Regular fall protection training equips pest control professionals with the knowledge and skills to prevent falls and minimize the risks associated with working at heights. An employee’s knowledge will protect them.

Benefits of Fall Protection

In addition to keeping employees and customers safe, companies providing regular fall protection training realize the following benefits:

• Risk reduction
• Increased efficiency
• Higher employee morale and trust
• Cost savings

Fall Protection Training ABCs

OSHA requires fall protection to be provided when employees are exposed to elevations that are four feet or greater. Common areas within a client’s property where this could occur include:

• Leading edges
• Ramps/runways
• Residential construction
• Wall and floor openings
• Skylights
• Unprotected sides and edges
• Above dangerous equipment (any height)
• Steep or low slope roofs
• Walking surfaces

Fall Protection Each Time, Every Time

Understand that fall protection is required for EVERY job on an elevated surface with an unprotected edge (i.e., roof) – regardless of roof type. The equipment involved in a fall arrest system:

• Full-body harness
• Lanyard that connects the harness to a deceleration device
• Lifeline, or another secure anchorage point
• Throw line
• Anchor
• Anchor strap
• Carabiner (locking)
• Rope termination anchor
• Rope grab

Anchorage Points

Anchorage points are the foundation of the fall arrest system. The anchorage is required to be at a secure point capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds. Good anchorage points include steel pipes, structural I-beams, and concrete-encased anchor bolts. Never use guardrails, plastic pipe, or electrical conduit as anchorage points.

The standard pick-up weighs approximately 5,000 lbs. When an anchor is used for fall prevention, remember that it must hold this much weight. The full body harness is put on like a shirt and then the chest strap is buckled loosely. The lanyard on the harness is designed to break a fall before someone hits something.

Equipment Inspections Are Key

All fall protection equipment deteriorates with use and exposure over time, regardless of brand or manufacturer. To maintain their integrity and service as a life-saving safety solution, personal fall arrest system components must be systematically inspected and maintained.

PestSure – Your Partner in Safety

Founded in 1980, PestSure is the only insurance and risk management provider that is 100 percent dedicated to the pest management industry. It offers industry professionals a full suite of insurance, risk management, and safety training and education offerings.

PestSure provides insurance, safety and risk management consulting to pest management companies representing $2 billion in revenue, $750 million in payroll and more than 16,500 service vehicles. The program is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.

Call 888.984.3813 or visit our contact page for more information.