Fall Protection for Tools - Is it Necessary?

How Far Can a Dropped Object From Heights Travel?

Another important factor to consider on equipment drops besides height is the path an object can take when it falls from various heights. The graphic below shows the possible trajectories an 8.3 lbs tool can experience on a fall, and the horizontal distance it can travel from its original drop point.

This is important because if we combine the information in the graphics both above and below, we can speculate that an 8.3 lbs object dropped from 100 feet or more has the potential to injure not only fellow workers, but also nearby public spaces with civilians. This can have rather destructive outcomes.

What Can You Do to Work Safe at Heights?

To help ensure your equipment won't become a hazard, there are a few safety measures that can be taken:

1. Utilize proper equipment tethering and avoid makeshift tethers; it is the key to ensuring tools and gear do not experience a fall. It is also important to assess the tool attachment points to ensure they are being secured properly.
2. Use tool buckets with secured seals to transport or store equipment and spare parts at greater heights.
3. Tether your hard hat. Some may overlook the importance of this precaution since hard hats are fastened through their suspension system, but incidents have been known to happen. A hard hat tether will give you peace of mind that if your hard hat gets bumped off, it's not going very far.
4. Lastly, we recommend assessing the rest of the items you're bringing with you at heights to ensure everything is secured. This includes water bottles, your radio, your phone and any other miscellaneous items you might need to bring with you. By following these guides you can play your part in limiting workplace injuries.

Rest assured the 3M™ DBI-SALA® lineup of fall protection for tools has everything you need to keep your equipment secured to you or your work area, and you'll find these products at MacMor.