Working at heights is always going to come with some level of risk. Over time safety measures have been implemented to reduce these risks, such as harnesses, helmets, and temporary infrastructure. However, one area that is still behind when it comes to working safely at heights is the security of tools used by the professionals whose job puts them tens or even hundreds of feet in the air. That is why the "stop the drop" initiative is so important, so here is a brief outline of how it relates to your business and what you can do about it.
Stop the Drop
Every year dozens of pedestrians and workers are injured or killed by unsecured tools that are accidentally dropped from people working high up. While the workers who are working up high are safely fastened into their harness, often their tools are not. It seems shocking that this phenomenon of injuries from falling tools continues to happen, but it is hard to police this problem without awareness from both companies that do this work and the general public. That is why the "stop the drop" initiative was created: to highlight the problem and offer solutions.
Since the initiative started, many industries have started adding safety carabiners and cables to their tools so that those who need to use them at any height can do so freely. When the tool is not in use it can be connected to a personalised strap or even to a safety harness. In addition to this, many workplaces have now started adding nets beneath construction workers that are going on up high. These nets can capture almost all debris and accidentally dropped tools and can save lives.
How Do I Get Involved?
The best way to start getting your workplace involved is to educate them on the dangers and risks that come with working at heights. There are many resources provided by various "stop the drop" awareness groups that are easily found online. It is also important to provide your workplace with options for tools that have safety features so that they can make the change immediately. Often, when you hear about something so simple to fix you want to make the change instantly, so giving them links to websites that have all the relevant tools is a great way to start. In addition to this, many companies can upgrade current tools so that they are compliant with the initiative, which means you don't have to go out and buy a whole new set of tools.
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