Eastman Insight: How to Ensure Proper Fall Protection
To recognize Construction Safety Week 2021, Eastman Cooke is highlighting important ways to keep your workers safe on your jobsites. At ECA, safety is always our top priority, especially when it comes to height safety.
There are many fall hazards in the field of construction. Some of them include scaffolds, ladders, stairs and building structures. To protect workers from falling, many companies like Eastman Cooke install a safety cable rail with vertical netting at jobsites. “Anything over 18 inches requires a guardrail for safety,” says Ray Ruggiano, Superintendent, Eastman Cooke. There are also safety applications put into place to protect people below from falling objects as well.
At Eastman Cooke’s Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) jobsite in Brooklyn, Ray and his team are building a three-story structure that is 65 feet high. “To keep our crew safe, we implemented a vertical safety cable rail, as well as orange mesh netting across the railing. This enables our guys to work freely and safely within the parameters of the building without falling off,” Ray explains.
Companies unable to provide a guardrail must ensure that workers are tied off with a harness and lanyard if working at a height six feet or more above the lower level. “No matter how uncomfortable and constrictive a harness may be, it’s an important tool to keep workers safe on the job. Safety first – always!” Ray says.
Plywood placed over an open hole properly marked, or an area cordoned off and labeled CAZ (Controlled Access Zone) are effective ways to alert others about safety risks and prevent them from entering these dangerous areas. “These are just some of the everyday precautions taken to help save a life,” Ray points out.
