Category: Training

Falls from a height are the most common causes of death at work and one of the most serious reasons for injury. When workers are in a hurry or need to perform a quick task, they often become negligent and ignore fall protection measures, which can be catastrophic. A 2012 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) study about causes of death among workers in the private industrial sector reveals that the main cause of death on construction sites is the lack of adequate protective equipment at work. Climbing and descending stairs is also a key safety issue in many other industries: from utility cleaning and wind turbines, to fixed ladders found on silos and in bulk storage halls. In all these areas, the use of a complete height protection system can have a beneficial effect on workers in the event of a fall.

Current regulations are applied to all jobs where there is a risk of a worker falling from a height, not only on construction sites but also in telecommunications, utilities or in other fields that involve this risk.

Legal regulations are established in a broad sense so that any work at height must be carefully evaluated and avoided as much as possible; if it cannot be avoided, then all due diligence must be done to minimize the risk. Risk minimization also refers to the use of protective equipment to prevent falls or reduce the distance involved, or to an appropriate written procedure and training so that, in carrying out their duties, workers understand and are able to cope in any risky situation that may arise. Protective equipment must be inspected, maintained and repaired, and workers must be properly trained in how to use it properly.

There are fall protection competent person training Colorado companies that provide these important safety courses. Courses may include:

1. Basic courses for height safety
2. Telecom tower access courses
3. Training courses for rope access
4. Courses customized and specific to a certain industry (e.g. roofing)
5. Rescue courses

These courses are structured in modules, so that they can cover a wide range of industries where mandatory and/ or optional fall protection training is required.

Training is structured on four parts: theory, theoretical testing, practice and practical testing.

Theory

• Awareness of the dangers that can occur during working at height
• Collective Protection
• Personal Protection (Standards / Limits)
• Strong impact
• Fall factor
• Calculating the distance required for the correct use of work equipment at height
• Inspection of personal protective equipment
• Questions and answers (free discussion) and legislation

Theoretical testing – an evaluation for assessing theoretical knowledge.

Practice

• Presentation of specific personal protective equipment for working at height: complex belt, ropes, retractable devices, anchoring points etc.
• Use of PPE during access and work on the application tower
• Use of retractable systems for horizontal and vertical movement
• Use of retractable systems on both flexible and rigid work supports
• Correct working position
• Presentation of rescue equipment, practical exercises for different types of rescue situations

Practical test: test for the evaluation of practical knowledge, completed with obtaining a certificate.