Employers Encouraged to Check Fall Protection Equipment

Employers in Nova Scotia are encouraged to examine the safety of fall-protection systems in light of a recent industrial accident.

The equipment used during the accident is a popular brand known as a pole choker fall-arrest system. The system uses a pole belt that adjusts to cinch the pole to an employee's climbing belt.

"We do not know if the cause of the incident is because of product engineering or because the equipment was not used or maintained properly," said Jim LeBlanc, director of occupational health and safety at the Department of Environment and Labour. "Our department is investigating to determine the factors that contributed to the accident."

The Department of Environment and Labour encourages anyone using this type of fall-arrest system to:

• ensure it is being used in accordance with manufacturers's specifications;
• check all equipment before use;
• ensure is being used by properly trained individuals; and
• develop a regular maintenance and inspection program for the equipment.

Improper use of fall-protection equipment can have serious consequences in the equipment's ability to provide protection and may result in equipment failure, falls and serious injury.

If fall-protection equipment shows signs of failure, stop using the equipment immediately and report the failure to the product manufacturer.