SafetyTalk: A 200 lbs. Person Hitting a Hard Surface Can Generate Thousands of Pounds of Force

- Gabriele Fusco P.Eng., President Peakworks Inc.

Everyday as we climb into our cars over 90% of us will do up our seatbelts without thinking. Those that don’t fasten their belts roll the dice either because they are invincible or didn’t do well in high school physics. The same scenario plays out everyday on worksites across Ontario. Instead of seatbelts, workers play roulette with their fall protection equipment. On December 24th, four workers plunged to their death in Toronto.

In Ontario, the law dictates that anyone more than 3 metres (10 feet) off the ground must have some sort of fall protection. In most cases, workers wear a harness and are connected to a solid structure with a lanyard. If the worker should fall, the harness and lanyard keep the worker from falling to the ground. In the tragedy on Christmas Eve, it is unclear what safety equipment the workers had.

Our laws go further than just calling for fall protection equipment. Every person that works at height must be trained in fall protection. All fall protection equipment needs to be inspected by a qualified inspector at least once a year. Ministry of Labour inspectors regularly check both industrial and construction sites to ensure that workers are trained and have the proper equipment. Despite the diligence of the Ministry of Labour, it is easy to spot violations. Drive around your neighbourhood and have a look at workers up on roofs. It is an easy bet that you will find one without any fall protection equipment.

Any company that has workers that are exposed to fall hazards must have a fall protection plan. The plan must identify the fall hazards that exist, what equipment will be used to mitigate the risk of the hazard, what personnel are qualified to use the equipment and a rescue plan in the event of a fall. Despite the resources available to help create a fall protection plan, many companies are without one.

Despite the legislation in Ontario that makes supervisors and managers responsible for safety in their facilities and locations, every person must take ownership for their own responsibility. In Ontario employees have the right to refuse work if they deem it to be unsafe.The physics behind falling is eye opening. After falling 10 feet, a person will be travelling almost 30 kilometres per hour. A 200 pound person hitting a hard surface can generate forces in the thousands of pounds. None of us would step in front of a car travelling at 30 kilometres per hour, so why don’t we wear fall protection equipment.