The many possible construction fall prevention measures

Construction is one of the industries that we serve most with aluminium, brass and stainless steel components here at K&S Metals (http://www.ksmetals.net), but it is also unquestionably one of the most dangerous industries. Injuries and deaths from falls at construction sites are sadly reported all too often, with heavy fines routinely forthcoming from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK. Layers of legislation are devoted to ensuring the highest standards of construction industry safety, and many measures can be taken.

It’s very normal for construction workers to be involved with high-rise buildings, in which case, scaffolding is required to support those working higher up the structure. Scaffolding is used for all manner of services, ranging from painting and roof repair to window cleaning. Although scaffolding has definitely proved to be an efficient solution over many years of use, there have still been deaths due to workers slipping accidentally. This has led to the adoption of harnesses as another fall prevention measure. It involves the secure fastening of a durable rope or belt onto the worker’s waist, meaning that even if they do fall – from any height – they can survive.

Safety nets have also been used a great deal in the past as a fall prevention measure. These stretchable nets can serve as a secondary solution to cover for the possibility of a broken harness, surrounding the structure and catching anyone who falls from the building. Incidentally, such nets can also catch any other items that fall from the structure, ensuring that they don’t break – as would often be the case if they were left to fall to the ground. In that sense, the nets can save on the costs of vital equipment as well as lives.

But of course, that last point does raise another question: what about those people in close vicinity of the building below? Fall prevention measures are ultimately intended for their safety as well as that of construction workers at high heights, given that even a simple nail falling from height can be fatal to anyone it hits at street level. Often, it isn’t a nail, but something much more substantial and even more dangerous, such as a metal pole, concrete slab or large brick, that ends up falling from height. Naturally, construction firms have a huge responsibility to get such safety measures right, and in the case of each project, the location will need to be studied and risk prevention methods carefully considered with the assistance of a health and safety consultant.

The leading metal fabrication specialist, K&S Metals (http://www.ksmetals.net) is proud to do its bit to help to ensure the highest levels of construction site safety for those working at height, with a range of safety barriers, scaffolding and other fall prevention products being available. Items can be made to the client company’s request and the surface either powder coated or zinc plated, so that the most specialised of needs can be met.

Editor’s Note: K&S Metals (http://www.ksmetals.net) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.