Standing on good policy to prevent falls

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Health care facilities and safety managers are responsible for determining which Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and programs are applicable to their individual facilities. Each facility may require different physical environment standards, so it’s important to identify the right ones. The OSHA fall protection website provides a good starting place to get a solid understanding of the basics. There is also an array of business partners and American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) members who can provide safety recommendations.

A health care facility’s fall protection policy should address its organization’s risks as well as related policies that address ladders, overhead protection, walking surfaces, platforms, signage, scissor lifts, personal protective equipment, and training and awareness.

Today, we’ll focus on fall protection for facilities outside of the construction industry, which falls under specific OSHA standards for general industry and maritime. Key references for industries outside of construction include OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910, Subparts F, D, I and R.

It’s wise to first develop a ladder safety policy because many falls and injuries occur when workers are on damaged or unsafe ladders. Ensure that ladders are in good condition with no worn or broken parts. Avoid using ones from other contractors, especially if they are marked with another company’s name. If ladder tags are worn out, unreadable or missing, it’s critical to have the ladder inspected by a professional company before use. Make sure to use the correct ladder height, weight rating and design. Ladders should also have specific use guidelines, such as not allowing wooden ladders or permitting the use of aluminum ladders in MRI areas only. To assist with this, ASHE is providing a tool for ladder inspections that organizations can download and tailor for their own operations. It is available at the link in the "ASHE Resource" box above.

Jeffrey Henne, CHC, CHSP, FASHE, FSM, CHEP, safety and emergency manager at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, and Shay Rankhorn, CHFM, CHC, CHSP, FASHE, FTHEA CHEP, LLE, a partner at Facility Diagnostics LLC in Nashville, Tenn.