What is Leading Edge Fall Protection?

Fall protection is critical to keeping your employees safe. Falls in the workplace are one of the most dangerous hazards, leading to the most severe injuries year after year. However, due to the nature of fall protection, it can often feel overwhelming and complicated to discern what is needed for the circumstances you are facing.

Before getting started, it is important to understand that when working at heights, each situation requires its own plan for fall prevention. This may mean having multiple fall protection solutions as part of your safety plan. For the purposes of this blog, we will be reviewing the things you need to consider when there is a leading edge risk, which may not always be present. OSHA Standard 1926.751 states that a leading edge is the “unprotected side and edge of a floor, roof, or formwork for a floor or other walking/working surface.”

OSHA standard for construction 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(2) outlines some clear guidelines when it comes to leading edges. For starters, this standard states that “each employee who is constructing a leading edge 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.” It also says that employees walking/working in those same areas where leading edges are under construction, but are not participating in the work of that construction, will be protected by the same list of measures.

We know that all falls bring risk. However, when a leading edge is in the mix, there are added considerations. Our long-trusted fall protection vendor and educator, Safewaze, outlines the hazards of leading edges for us very clearly. A leading edge may present opportunities to fray or cut the cable or webbing of a fall arrest device, and extreme force upon connection with the edge may damage a device. Additionally, a worker may fall farther before a fall arrest system activates, and upon activation, the worker is subject to greater arrest force. Finally, a fallen worker has increased swing fall potential. 

With all this in mind, there are specific expectations for leading edge fall protection which are tested and rated specifically for these settings. When shopping for the appropriate SRL, you will always need it to be a Class 2 device, allowing for the worker to be tied off below the D-ring or at foot level and always confirming that it is approved for use as a leading edge fall arrest device. 

We know that the responsibility of selecting and implementing safety devices is a huge responsibility. We are here to help you review the available options as you consider what your workers need to stay safe on the job. Give us a call at 919-602-2503 or reach out to marketing@safetypackonline.com with any questions.

Resources:

• Safewaze, “What is a leading edge hazard?”: https://safewaze.com/helpie_faq/what-is-a-leading-edge-hazard/
• OSHA Standard 1926.75: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.751
• OSHA Standard 1926.501(b)(2): https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.501