Marty Sharp is president of Arizona Wire & Rope and Ultra-Safe Inc. In the industry for more than 25 years, he is a respected hands-on fall protection leader. Ultra-Safe Inc. services include planning and training. Call Marty at 800-850-5914 or email marty@ultrasafeusa.com.
OSHA regs are mandatory, but are only baseline standards and do not necessarily represent the most current thinking. ANSI voluntary standards represent the best of today’s thinking and each of us should keep “up to speed.”
The campaign’s goal is to prevent falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolds by encouraging construction contractors to plan ahead, provide the right equipment and train everyone to use the equipment safely.
The “Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction” (http://stopconstructionfalls.com), an initiative launched jointly by NIOSH and OSHA, targets companies of all sizes but significant efforts are focused on raising awareness among smaller companies.
A fallen worker suspended in a harness must be rescued within five to ten minutes. Wouldn’t it be prudent to train selected workers in appropriate rescue techniques?