As an employer, it is your responsibility to provide your employees with a better working environment. From clean drinking water to a properly ventilated workspace, every small detail matters. But amid all this, one thing you might overlook is having a proper fall protection system, especially if you are in the construction or mining business.
Why is fall protection critical in the workplace?
Having a fall protection system at the workplace is crucial for the following reasons:
- As an employer, your top priority must be to protect the lives of your workers. Falls from height are among the key causes of workplace deaths, especially in the construction, warehousing, and maintenance sectors.
- A fall incident at work not only affects the injured person but can also bring the entire operation to a halt. Your team may need to pause work for investigations or to cope with emotional stress.
- Not every fall results in death, but many lead to life-altering injuries. Survivors may suffer from spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, or multiple fractures that can leave them permanently disabled.
- If, during an inspection by the concerned authorities, your workplace is found to lack proper fall protection measures, you may face legal consequences.
Types of fall protection
The four common types of fall protection systems you can install at your workplace are:
- Guardrails: They are fixed protective barriers installed at the edges of elevated work surfaces, such as rooftops, mezzanines, platforms, and scaffolds.
- PFAS: This refers to a personal fall arrest system, which includes a full-body harness, a lanyard or lifeline, and an anchor point.
- Safety Nets: They are positioned below the work area to catch a worker in case of a fall. You will mostly find them on construction sites.
- Warning line system: It consists of a series of highly visible lines or ropes on a rooftop or elevated work area. You will usually find them in roofing jobs to alert workers when they are approaching a hazardous edge.
How does insurance complement fall protection systems?
Even if you have a fall protection system at your workplace, you must still invest in a workmen's compensation insurance policy. Here's why:
- Even after the installation of the fall protection system, if your worker sustains an injury, the insurance will cover the medical expenses.
- If your worker becomes temporarily or permanently disabled due to a fall and is unable to return to work, the policy will compensate for the portion of their lost wages during the recovery period.
- In the unfortunate event of death, the policy provides financial assistance to the legal dependents of the deceased.
- In some cases, the injured worker or their family may file lawsuits against you for not providing a safe working environment. In such cases, the policy will cover the legal expenses.
Conclusion
Protecting your employees from falls is not just about complying with regulations; it is about safeguarding lives and ensuring business continuity. Depending upon your workplace, consider installing guardrails, PFAS, safety nets, and warning line systems. However, even with these measures in place, the importance of workmen's compensation insurance cannot be overstated.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. Please read the sales brochure / policy wordings carefully for detailed information about on risk factors, terms, conditions and exclusions. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.