Implementing Fall Protection Training for EHS Managers in Printing and Publishing

Fall protection is a critical component of workplace safety, especially in industries like printing and publishing where elevated work is common. As an EHS Manager, it's your responsibility to ensure that your team is trained and compliant with OSHA's fall protection standards (29 CFR 1910.28 and 1926.500).

Assessing Fall Hazards

Before implementing any training, I always start with a thorough assessment of the workplace. In printing and publishing, common fall hazards include working on elevated platforms, using ladders to access machinery, or working near unguarded edges. We need to identify these risks and document them in a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).

Developing a Training Program

Based on the JHA, we can tailor a fall protection training program. This should cover:

• Recognition of fall hazards specific to printing and publishing.
• Proper use of fall protection equipment like harnesses, lanyards, and guardrails.
• Emergency procedures in case of a fall.

It's crucial to incorporate both theoretical knowledge and practical, hands-on training. I've found that using real-world scenarios from our own facilities helps workers understand the relevance and urgency of the training.

Compliance with OSHA Standards

Our training must align with OSHA's fall protection regulations. For general industry, OSHA requires fall protection for any work over 4 feet, while construction standards kick in at 6 feet. In printing and publishing, we often fall under general industry, but it's important to check if any construction-like activities are occurring, which might require additional compliance measures.

Implementing the Training

Roll out the training systematically. Start with a kickoff session to explain the importance of fall protection and what the training will cover. Follow this with smaller group sessions for hands-on practice. Use our Pro Shield platform to manage training schedules, track attendance, and document completion.

After initial training, regular refresher courses are essential. I recommend annual refreshers, but based on available research, individual workplaces may need more frequent updates depending on incident rates and changes in equipment or procedures.

Evaluating and Improving

Continuous improvement is key. We should evaluate the effectiveness of our training through:

• Pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge gain.
• Regular safety audits to check for compliance and identify areas for improvement.
• Incident reports to analyze any falls or near-misses and adjust training accordingly.

By integrating these evaluations into our safety management system, we can ensure that our fall protection training remains relevant and effective.

For further reading, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provides excellent resources on fall protection strategies and best practices, which can complement our internal training efforts.