OSHA Training & Certification for Fall Protection
At Webb-Rite Safety, we’re the experts in industrial safety equipment. We produce fall protection equipment for any application. Our family-owned business is committed to safety through high-quality designs, precision engineering, and educating employers and workers on optimal safety practices via OSHA training and certification coursework. Along with our comprehensive line of commercial and industrial safety equipment and products, we create fall protection safety courses to ensure our customers and their staff know:
- How to work with fall protection equipment
- How to ensure the safety of people and equipment on sites with potential fall hazards
- How to respond to an emergency or a fall that involves yourself or another worker
Each of our courses focuses on best practices according to regulatory bodies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
As part of our commitment to safety, we also can inspect and recertify equipment. This process ensures your equipment is compliant with ANSI and OSHA standards and that your company’s equipment is in good operating condition in the event of a fall. To be compliant with these organizations, equipment must be inspected by a competent person every 12 months. We can inspect your equipment onsite or handle inspections and any necessary repairs at our installations.
What Are OSHA’s Guidelines and Regulations for Fall Protection?
OSHA establishes regulations for government and private sector worksites to minimize potential fall incidents and mitigate the risk of injury during a fall. Falls are one of the most common causes of injury or death, making it essential that employers do what they can to minimize the risk of falls from high platforms and workspaces or into exposed pits or holes in a facility or worksite.
Employer Obligations to Maintain Fall Protection
Some of the OSHA-required responsibilities for employers include:
- Providing training about job hazards and safety measures
- Guarding holes with rails and toe boards to minimize falling accidents
- Guarding the edges of open-side platforms, raised walkways, and more with similar protections
- Keeping floors clear and clean to minimize the risk of trips and slips
- Placing rails and toe boards around hazards such as chemical vats, sharp equipment, and moving machinery that employees may fall into or onto
- Providing employees with safety harnesses and fall protection gear at no extra cost and requiring their use in relevant situations
- Installing handrails, stair rails, and safety nets
These requirements are tightly regulated, with OSHA setting minimum heights and clear definitions of circumstances when the standards go into effect.
OSHA 1926.501 is the specific standard about an employer’s “duty to have fall protection.” Under the terms of OSHA 1926.501, employers must provide workers with fall protection gear and have adequate guards and warnings in place. The subsections of this standard outline specific height minimums, environmental factors, and fall protection gear types for different situations.
Fall protection procedures are especially important in the construction industry. Falling is the leading cause of death in this industry, as workers encounter ladders, open platforms, holes, scaffolds, and other fall hazards. While OSHA has established numerous guidelines about construction sites in particular, one clear standard is that employers must provide adequate fall protection training and equipment when employees are working six feet or more off the ground or if they are in a scaffold at least ten feet above the next level down.
Construction site managers should familiarize themselves with the OSHA standards that specifically apply to construction sites and their industry, as well as the general standards.
Webb-Rite Safety Complies With ANSI’s Fall Protection Regulations
Similar to OSHA, ANSI establishes certain safety standards that employers must comply with. ANSI standards—ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007 American National Standards Section 5.5.2, in particular—require fall protection equipment to be inspected at the start of work shifts and inspected more thoroughly by an independent third party every 12 months. This inspection ensures that the equipment is safe for workers and/or rescuers to use, has all of its required markings visible, and hasn’t already been used to stop a previous fall.
The Fall Protection Courses Offered at Webb-Rite Safety
Along with creating fall protection equipment and offering inspection and repair services, our company teaches specialized courses to help workers within different industries understand the standards that govern safety, how to maintain best practices, and more. These courses satisfy the OSHA and ANSI requirements for training.
We offer the following courses:
Authorized Person Course
An “authorized person” is anyone who works on elevated platforms or encounters heights during their work. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the core areas of knowledge they need, including how to recognize fall hazards, the standards that govern these situations, what they and others are required to do in different circumstances, and rescue procedures in the event of a fall incident.
Competent Person Course
This course addresses the information from the authorized person course and adds information that decision-makers and site managers need to know. This course helps students identify potential fall hazards and covers multiple different strategies for reducing those hazards. The course includes detailed overviews of fall protection equipment, applicable regulations, how to rescue fallen workers and anchor fall rescue gear, and more.
Competent Rescuer Course
Unlike authorized or competent persons, rescuers must be additionally trained in rescue techniques and protocols for managing their company’s fall protection rescue program. In this course, students will learn how to operate rescue equipment, techniques for rescuing fallen individuals in different scenarios, and how to assess different situations. The course gives students the information and experience they need to respond to falls, assess equipment, and develop written fall procedures.
Confined Space Entrant Supervisor/Rescuer
Confined spaces can be particularly hazardous and present unique complications to fall protection, fall scenarios, and rescues. In this course, students will learn how to mitigate these unique hazards, how to use rescue equipment to rescue workers fallen in confined spaces, how to assess and respond to emergencies, and more. This course prepares individuals and teams to develop rescue plans and safety procedures to manage the risk of falling in confined spaces.
Fall Protection Equipment Inspector
Fall protection equipment must be inspected regularly to ensure it is free of damage and defect. Our Fall Protection Equipment Inspector training course gives individuals the knowledge to inspect and assess fall protection equipment of varying types. Students will learn how to inspect separate components and full systems of fall protection gear and how to appropriately document inspections.
Sign Up for OSHA Training and Certification for Fall Protection Today
At Webb-Rite Safety, we believe that fall safety relies on good designs, reliable equipment, and thorough education. Our fall protection courses comply with applicable OSHA and ANSI standards so our clients can work with confidence. Each course gives students the knowledge base and resources they need to work safely, keep employees safe through rescues and proper procedures, and more. Contact us to learn more about our expertise or sign up for a fall protection course today.
