Fall Protection Friday: Falling into and out of Confined Spaces

This Weeks Toolbox Talk Attached Below!

Welcome back, let's Build Smart & Build Safe! We’ve spent this week discussing the extreme dangers of confined spaces. Today, on Fall Protection Friday, we’re connecting these hazards to the most common cause of fatalities in construction: falls.

Falls don't just happen from a roof or a ladder. They can happen when working near or entering a confined space, and a simple fall can become a life-threatening situation due to the hazards inside.

The Dual Hazard: Falling Into a Confined Space

• The Risk: Openings to confined spaces can be located on the ground, on a platform, or even overhead. A worker can easily trip and fall into the space, suffering an injury from the fall itself and then being exposed to the atmospheric and physical hazards inside.

• Prevention: Always use a guardrail system or a sturdy, marked cover over a confined space opening. Never walk over a space that is not properly protected.

Fall Protection for Rescue

• The Retrieval System: Fall protection in a confined space is not just about preventing a fall; it is a critical component of a safe rescue. Any worker entering a permit-required confined space must wear a full-body harness with a retrieval line attached.

• Non-Entry Rescue: The retrieval line allows rescuers to pull an incapacitated worker out of the space without having to enter it themselves. This is the preferred method, as most fatalities during confined space incidents are would-be rescuers who enter without the proper equipment or training.

The Dangers of Fall Protection During Rescue

• Falling During Rescue: If a rescue requires an authorized person to enter the space, they must be properly trained and use a fall protection system designed for rescue. A fall inside the space could lead to further injury for the worker and the rescuer.

• The Importance of a Plan: Every confined space permit requires a pre-planned rescue procedure. This plan must include the use of retrieval systems and detail how a safe, non-entry rescue will be performed.

When you work around a confined space, think of the opening as a fall hazard. And when you enter a permit-required confined space, your fall protection is your lifeline for a safe retrieval.

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-The Safety Man