The History of Fall Protection Equipment

It’s not a surprise to any of us that the construction industry is filled with danger. Whether it’s the heavy machinery used to complete a job or the conditions that workers are expected to work in, there’s no shortage of potential hazards to prepare for. But this field hasn’t always been as focused on safety as it is today, and it’s only through the creation of OSHA that many protective items were even created at all. This is the history of fall protection equipment and how worker safety became a top priority in the construction industry.

Prior Danger and Liability

Though construction jobs are still a far cry from being considered safe, they’re still much more so than they used to be. Prior to the 1970s, construction workers were the ones primarily responsible for their own well-being on a jobsite, and they rarely used equipment to prevent accidents. This resulted in countless injuries, and even deaths, as a result of falling from their work stations. Because these individuals didn’t have belts to secure themselves to the beams, the risks for them only grew as more workers were assigned to work in a given area.

OSHA Creation and Intervention

The history of fall protection equipment ultimately begins with the development of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971. Once the government realized how many workers were being hurt, with little consequence and liability for their employing companies, OSHA was created to set new regulations. This agency established new guidelines that all companies must follow in order to best ensure employee well-being and even held those who didn’t comply financially accountable. Over time, this made safety a crucial component to effective job performance.

As safety continued to increase in importance over the years, new efforts were put into creating specialized tools such as harnesses, fall arrest systems, and vertical lifelines. These inventions would be continuously improved according to OSHA standards in order to ensure the most protection and security on the jobsite.

Modern Era Fall Protection

Today, construction workers are the safest they’ve ever been while at work. From tower climbing safety harnesses to hazard markers and barriers, every piece of equipment is carefully designed to make workers aware of dangers or stop accidents entirely. This has allowed individuals to devote more of themselves to their work and produce the breathtaking structures we need as a part of our infrastructure.