Fall Protection in Agriculture

Introduction

Falls are the leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. The agricultural setting has many tasks and situations that could potentially put an employee at risk of falling from heights. Fall protection must be provided for all workers exposed to a fall over 4 ft.

Find the Hazards

It’s important to be aware and identify all the hazards involved in the tasks that you perform. Agricultural work tasks that may involve risks of a fall can include:

  • Activities on machinery/equipment or structures that are being inspected, tested, maintained, repaired, filled, or cleaned
  • Tasks on slippery or potentially unstable surfaces
  • Using equipment to access an elevated work surface
  • Working on a sloping surface which is difficult to maintain balance
  • Tasks that are close to an unprotected edge

Common Locations and Equipment with Fall Hazards

  • Silos and grain bins
  • Accessing vats and tanks
  • Windmills and towers
  • Loading and unloading trucks and trailers
  • Pits, effluent ponds, or lagoons
  • Accessing trees
  • Farm machinery (tractors, combines, planters, etc.)
  • Accessing roofs and gutters for maintenance and cleaning

Controlling the Risk

Using the hierarchy of controls by going from most effective to least effective:

  1. Eliminate the Risk: Highest level of control. This involves removing the hazard or hazardous work practice from the workplace through arranging the task to be performed from the ground or solid construction, whenever practicable.
  2. Install a Passive Fall Prevention Device: This involves using a guard railing, elevated work platform (ex. Cherry picker), or a temporary work platform (such as a scissor lift).
  3. Install a Fall Injury Prevention System: For example, a safety net, catch platform, or fall harness system.
  4. Use a fixed or portable ladder: or implement administrative controls such as work procedures that are designed to eliminate or reduce the risk of a fall.

Training

If your work puts you at heights greater than 4 feet without some form of fall protection, let your supervisor know, consult the written program, or contact Health, Safety, And Risk Management (HSRM) at (612) 626-6002 or [email protected] for further guidance.

Summary

There are many factors that can cause or contribute to a fall incident in the workplace. Unsafe conditions coupled with unsafe actions of employees while working at heights can result in a serious injury or fatality. Do not put yourself or other workers in a position where an injury from a fall can occur.