As we approach The National Safety Stand-Down To Prevent Falls in Construction (May 2-6, 2022) I am reminded of how some view “Elimination” within the Hierarchy of Controls. The number of postings on social media calling for the “Elimination of falls” in the construction industry has me asking… can this actually be done? One such proposal calls for roofs to be constructed on the ground and then lifted into place, but wait… this does not eliminate the risk of falling. It merely reduces the likelihood of a fall and even at ground level, we still have a risk of falling @ the same level.
So “elimination” of falls is one that is a matter of science and energy and a risk that will be nearly impossible to “eliminate”. Just last year a friend called for some help after a worker, who was working on scaffolding, and slipped on the icy boards and fell, breaking his wrist. The scaffolding was built to code and the railings prevented him from falling 60′ to an almost certain death; however, the accident is still a “FALL-Same Level”.
The scaffolding helps reduce the SEVERITY of the fall as it prevents falls to a lower level – but scaffolding does NOT “eliminate” all falls.
When all we are doing is reducing the likelihood of a fall to a lower level or the severity of the injury involving a fall to a lower level – this is NOT “elimination of the hazard”, we are sampling managing the risks associated with the hazard of falling.