Fall protection of buldings and employee
Employee security
Everyone knows that construction is one of the most dangerous sectors of the economy. According to the statistics of the Central Statistical Office of Poland for 2018, the construction industry is in the infamous first place in the number of fatal accidents. The most common cause of death in this case is a fall from a height. Construction workers are constantly exposed to various risks- from a protruding nail to the aforementioned fall from a height. The lack of adequate protection may not only result in serious costs for the employer, but above all, a threat to human life and health. In the case of a protruding nail, appropriate, specialized footwear is enough, but what can we use during erection of new building? Below we present less and more popular options for securing employees.
Temporary anchoring system
This system is designed to protect workers at height, especially during reinforced concrete and formwork works. Anchorage posts can be used as part of a working rope system- we place the posts and attach an anchoring tape to them, thanks to which employees are secured and have great freedom of movement. The posts can also be used as an anchorage point- simply attach directly to the post. To keep as much safety as possible, the posts have been designed in such a way that it is possible to raise the system above the working level- thanks to this, we increase safety in the event of a fall.
The system consists of a 2m high post and is mounted in a plastic cassette placed 15cm deep in concrete. This system is gaining more and more popularity in Poland, which directly translates into increased security. It is a reusable system- when we finish work in a given place, we disassemble the post, leave the plastic box and attach it in a different place.
Attachment points
Attachment points are intended for securing work at heights in concrete structures. When erecting buildings and work in basic state, there are often many places to fall. Such a system protects the employee by providing him with the appropriate comfort of work. The anchorage point can be quickly and easily mounted to concrete (minimum 25 Kn / m3). The points are attached above the head, we can directly use PPE or a rope system made of two or more points. The device is durable (high-quality stainless steel), reusable and can serve for years on various investments.
Temporary collective protection systems
In this category, we can distinguish the 2 most common employee protections- safety nets and temporary barriers. First of all, safety nets are cheaper than barriers, in addition, it is an option that is easier to transport. The nets are so strong that they can easily stop people from falling from a height. Sometimes they are used to hang around the roof in order not only to protect people but also to protect equipment and tools- the net catches them very well, also increasing the safety of people at the bottom. Barriers, on the other hand, are a more traditional approach, they are definitely easier to install and have a longer service life than the nets.
Individual equipment
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is the basis of any fall protection system. The fall protection system is one thing, but for it to work properly, you need appropriate personal equipment. Without the selection of equipment such as harness or fall arrest device, the fall protection system may not work properly. Therefore, it is worth considering this aspect and paying attention to whether the harness has undergone a review, whether the self-braking device is of the appropriate length, etc.
Training and awareness
Above, we have examples of selected safeguards to protect human life and health. However, nothing protects people like good training and awareness of the dangers that threaten us. Therefore, according to the law, employees must repeat health and safety training from time to time. Many companies are aware of this and that is why they regularly organize trainings on work at height, thanks to which the number of accidents on the construction site decreases. So there are many options for securing employees, the only question is the proper selection and compliance with safety rules.