Why fall protection is important

That is why it is so important to make sure that proper security is in place to work safely. How? You can read about that here.

Cause of accidents

Every year, some 550 serious accidents occur due to working at height, 23 of which are fatal. According to the RIVM, the biggest causes are a ladder placed incorrectly, losing balance and not enough fall protection.

Here's how to prevent accidents

Many of these accidents could have been prevented with proper fall protection, such as roof edge protection or a harness. It is important that workers know how to use fall protection. This can be done, for example, through training. Also, for safety, fall protection should be inspected annually and its proper use monitored.

Different types of fall protection

So to prevent accidents, it is important to have good fall protection. But what types are there really? The most well-known type is roof edge protection. This involves attaching fences to the roof edge to reduce the chance of someone falling. Does a roof have skylights? Then make sure you have good skylight protection, because a skylight is not strong enough to break a fall. When working individually on a roof, anti-fall belts or safety harnesses can prevent someone from falling down. In addition, a cage ladder can be used. A cage ladder starts at a height of 2.5 meters and creates a safe escape route when there is a fire, for example. A cage ladder is also ideal when someone needs to get to the roof from outside the building. Keep in mind that if the height difference of the cage ladders is more than 10 meters, rest platforms should also be installed.