A safe and efficient execution of completing work at heights requires a solid plan that guides workers on how to perform their jobs. To achieve and maintain these outcomes, requirements were implemented to structure a standard fall protection plan. The requirements that need to be present in a standard plan are:

A Defined Roles and Responsibilities

The first requirement of the fall protection plan is to have defined roles and responsibilities. This information should detail the person designated to perform a specific role. This approach places clear responsibilities on each person assigned and avoids any confusion during the process of performing work. Additionally, it is a requirement to outline the entire organizational structure to emphasize the chain of command. Such an arrangement provides a clear direction for where workers need to report, especially when there is a concern or an incident taking place.

Hazard Identification

The next step in creating your plan is to integrate a hazard identification. You need to review all the work activities, pick out the probable hazards in each procedure, and evaluate the risk associated with each hazard. Taking into account all potential hazards guarantees the safety of the entire activity procedure, as it allows for the provision of their control measures. Furthermore, this important procedure is detrimental to the selection of the appropriate control measures for each identified hazard.

Selecting the Appropriate Fall Control Measures

After the hazards have been identified and the risk evaluated, the selection of the appropriate control measure would properly follow. This requirement suggests using the tiered hierarchy of fall protection controls as a guide for selecting control measures. The hierarchy is as follows:

• Eliminate the fall hazard: The purpose of this control measure is to eliminate the possibility of the task being done above ground to prevent any fall dangers. You can accomplish this by moving the job below ground or using equipment to prevent individuals from coming above ground.
• Passive Fall Restraint: If elimination is not possible, providing passive fall restraints should be the next option. This safety system works automatically without any worker interaction. The control measure should include the installation of physical barriers like guardrails and parapets. This provides workers with a physical barrier that keeps them away from exposed edges, holes, or elevated platforms. Aside from being a barrier, the restraints also provide workers additional support when working in such areas.
• Active Fall Restraint: Active fall restraint systems should be considered if a passive fall restraint is not applicable. Alternatively, to enhance protection, consider implementing this method concurrently with the passive fall restraint system. This fall restraint needs the user's involvement for it to function optimally. Examples of such are lanyards, anchors, and full-body harnesses.
• Fall Arrest Systems: When passive or active fall restraints cannot be provided, employers should consider deploying a fall arrest system. If a fall occurs, this system prevents the employee from hitting the ground, reduces the impact force on the body, and reduces the momentum of the fall to a softer landing. It is important to understand that this system does not prevent falls but reduces their consequences when they occur. Having said that, we should use this type of approach as a last resort when selecting the control measures.

Equipment Inspection

A control measure can only be effective if it is working properly. A defective or non-functional control measure could be fatal because of complacency. Therefore, an equipment inspection is required to prevent such unwanted events. This process aims to ensure that the provided control measures are in optimal condition to perform their functions effectively, ensuring the safety of the workers relying on them.

Systematic Procedures

All activities that involve working at heights must establish a standard, and the implementation of structured procedures is the only way to achieve this. The use of these standard processes guarantees that the activity will always be carried out in a healthy and risk-free manner. Without any variation in the steps, there is no space for errors that might potentially expose the individual to different risks.

Emergency Action Plan

The emergency action plan is one of the essential documents in the fall protection plan. When a comprehensive emergency response plan is in place, it is possible to reduce a significant number of hazards and thereby save a significant number of lives. This document provides comprehensive instructions for all potential fall emergencies that may arise.