How to prevent falling from a height – training
Several times a year, events are organized in various parts of Poland to raise awareness about safety at work at height. Employees exposed to falls are trained what actions and protection against falls from a height to use to minimize the risk of an accident. Companies from various industries have such a risk: construction and production companies, warehouses, power plants. More and more employers are aware of the dangers of working at height. Safety at work is extremely important, it is also about the costs of the employer (accidents at work can be very costly), but most of all about human life and health.
At this point, we will focus mainly on work where there is a risk of falling from a height. It is the main cause of accidents at work. Knowledge and training are the basis for safety, so we will focus here on advice and identifying potential threats.
Spend some time talking about the safety and the dangers of falling from a height
When it comes to safety, it is good practice to organize a full day of training. Such training on the hazards of working at height, fall protection systems and safety standards gives us tools to minimize accidents. Employees get tips and knowledge. A break from work emphasizes the importance of training and the importance of safety.
When organizing the training, we want it to be as effective as possible, i.e. to be remembered and give real, practical knowledge to use. Here are some quick tips to help keep everyone safe from falling.
- Choose a specific topic
The point is not to water down the material. Too extensive knowledge may not have any effect. We should focus here on e.g. permanent fall protection systems on roofs, PPE- Personal Protection Equipment or maintaining safety standards when working at height. You have to choose the topic that is the most important from the company’s point of view at the moment.
- Choose a date and promote the training
The sooner the better. Knowing the date of the training, employees will be able to adjust mentally. From time to time, remind them of this event and emphasize how important it is. Make sure they understand their importance and contribution to safety when working on the roof. Tell them beforehand to think about, for example, the causes of falls from a height. This will help them get more involved.
- Photos and Pictures
Use visual tools during training. Such a tool stimulate the imagination and increase attention- hence the assimilation of knowledge. Make sure that each photo adds something, there must not be too many of them, so that it does not become a mess.
Let there be photos of e.g. dangerous places, safety systems or PPE.
- Start with the foundations
The most appropriate thing to rely on when it comes to training is the basic safety rules and standards. Workers may already have been repeatedly instilled in the importance of adhering to these standards and procedures. If, despite this, accidents still occur, you need to put even more pressure on compliance with the rules and implement safety systems into use. Read all the rules and existing methods of protection against falls from a height.
- Show in practice
Take a walk with the employees around the workplace. Show them where a fall from a height is a great danger. Let your employees see live how important fall protection systems are. Show them how simple it is to use permanent fall protection systems and PPE. In these sensitive places, discuss the rules of conduct and safety with them. You can also involve them in the discussion, e.g. find out where, according to them, there are such dangerous places in which a fall from a height may occur.
- Proactivity
One-sided commitment is a low absorption of knowledge. The focus should be on getting people to take an active part in the training. Practical exercises can be performed on the use of PPE.
- Discuss workplace accidents
Accidents that have occurred in the workplace should be discussed. Discuss their causes and discuss ideas that would prevent these accidents from happening anymore. By acting in this way, you provide employees with information about threats and attention to the need to use security measures, such as, for example, roof fall protection systems. In addition, employees themselves will feel involved in complying with safety standards and reporting any problems.
- Examine the ideas of employees
If employees report safety issues / ideas, do not ignore them. Each idea should be researched and verified. The employee should also get feedback. Such functioning may give rise to interesting and effective ideas increasing safety in the workplace. In addition, employees will feel appreciated and more attached to the company.