Fall prevention systems
Fall prevention systems (or fall restraint systems) are safety systems designed to stop personnel from falling when working at height. Ideally, this type of system completely eliminates the hazard by making it inaccessible to personnel.
Fall prevention systems are active, which means workers have to take action in order to be protected. This aspect differentiates them from collective restraint systems, which are passive and require no action on the part of the worker.
Prevention systems use individual restraints to keep workers from falling. They incorporate customised harnesses connected to an anchor and safety line to keep workers from entering areas where hazards are located.
These systems must be professionally installed and should be regularly inspected to ensure compliance with health and safety and CDM (Construction Design and Management) regulations. These can be internal inspections carried out by the contractor, third party audits or external inspections by the Health and Safety Executive.
Fall prevention systems must be replaced when necessary. Training is required for proper use.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Approved Document K.
- BS 7883.
- BS 7883 guide released.
- Collective restraint systems.
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.
- Fall arrest systems.
- Injuries on construction sites.
- Personal fall protection system.
- Safety in high places.
- Safety systems for working at heights.
- Site safety.
- Work at height checklist for managers.
- Work at height regulations.
- Work at height.
- Working at height - our duty to prevent harm and protect each other.
- Work at height rescue plan.
- Working at height training.
[edit] External resources
- Health and Safety Executive, A technical guide to the selection and use of fall prevention and arrest equipment, 2005.
- Health and Safety Executive, Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope, 2009.
- Health and Safety Executive, The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, 2015.
Featured articles and news
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Put digitalisation and sustainability at the core of curricula
Project management educators are urged.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.
APM Programme Management Conference 2024
Strategies for Success.
Residential takes the reins as contract awards even out
Contracts down, but remain above the last quarter of 2023.
Celebrating Eid and the largest mud-brick building.
Barry Kingscote claims prestigious CIOB CMYA Award.
The British Mosque: an architectural and social history
The story of some 1,500 mosques or more in Britain.
Heat pump refrigerants, efficiencies and impacts
R12 to R1270 what are the differences?
Global heat pump market in 2023
Challenging times with positive but modest outlook.
Beyond the infrastructure pipeline
Opportunities and chokepoints.