Skip to main content
CFAES Safety and Compliance home

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

Fall Protection Program / Elevated Work & Aerial Lift Safety

Fall Protection

Falls from elevations account for many workplace injuries each year. OSU EHS has developed a Fall Protection Program to eliminate fall hazards from the workplace and protect workers who are required to perform work on elevated surfaces.

Fall protection systems can include:
1. Passive Fall Protection (Guardrails and covers)
2. Fall Restraint systems
3. Fall Arrest systems
4. Administrative Controls (Warning line or a safety monitor)

Workers who are required to perform work on elevated surfaces should be familiar with the Ohio State Fall Protection Program and work closely with their competent person to ensure work is done safely and meets all related standards and guidelines set forth by OSHA, ANSI and EHS.

The Ohio State Fall Protection Program outlines responsibilities for employees involved in elevated work; supervisors of employees involved in elevated work, elimination of fall hazards, and protection against fall hazards when they are present.

Work at heights greater than four feet, unprotected from a fall hazard, should be reviewed by the competent person and/or EHS to ensure proper protection.

View Fall Protection Program

Elevated Work (Aerial Lifts / Scaffolding / Ladders)

The Elevated Work Written Program is developed and maintained to provide safety related information to users of these devices and minimize injuries as a result of improper use. This program covers all Ohio State personnel, including staff and contractors utilizing equipment to perform elevated work on Ohio State property.

View Elevated Work Program

Resources:
OSU Fall Protection Safety Program (pdf)
OSU Elevated Work Safety Program (pdf)
Fall Protection Plan Checklist
Site Specific Fall Protection / Rescue Plan Form
Ohio BWC Fall Protection
New Safety Standards for MEWPS (2020)
Genie MEWP Operator Training video
OSHA Fall Protection
OSHA Ladder Safety
OSHA Aerial Lifts Safety
OSHA Scaffolding Safety
OSHA Ladder eTool
OSHA Ladder Safety

Training:

The College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences follows a training program that can be accessed via OSU Environmental Health and Safety website. (www.ehs.osu.edu) A fall protection module and elevated work module is available for faculty, staff and students. Additional training specifc to equipment, processes, or locations may be required by the supervisor.

To start the training (OSU employees / students):

1) Click on this link -  https://ehs.osu.edu/training

2) Cick on the Occupational Health & Safety content area.



3) Scroll down to locate the Fall Protection and /or Elevated Work (Aerial Lifts / Scaffolding / Ladders) training course and click on "Take this Course".

4) Sign in using your osu.edu login (last name.###)

5) At the end of the on-line training you will be prompted to take the quiz.

6) Once training has been completed, a list your training sessions will be listed under “My Training”.

7) Go over the model specific controls and safe operation with supervisor.

Supervisor note: Supervisors must go over specific operation of each arial lift with staff prior to staff operating the lift. This includes lift controls, functions, capacity, safe use and rescue planning.

 

Contacts:

If you have any questions regarding Fall Protection, please contact Kent McGuire at mcguire.225@osu.edu or 292-0588. You may also contact the OSU Environmental Health and Safety Office online at http://ehs.osu.edu/ or by phone at (614) 292-1284.

 

Reviewed / Updated: 10/26/20 K. McGuire