Workers in potentially hazardous work environments should always feel safe and confident in their safety and personal protective equipment (PPE). Many workers, regardless of their occupation, are exposed to fall hazards during their daily work. Falls from elevations are a leading cause of workplace injuries and fatalities, and proper protection is essential.
Safety should not be a second thought when an electrical worker is climbing a telecommunications tower 100 feet from the ground or a laborer is cleaning windows from a suspended scaffold 50 feet off the ground. There isn’t time to be thinking about “am I safe?†or “am I wearing the right PPE?†That question has already been addressed by a safety director before an employee shows up for work. Ultimately, the employer has a general duty to provide a safe workplace for its employees.