Data can help employers manage fall risks

SAN ANTONIO — Data and technology have a place in helping employers manage the risks of falls from heights, which have not been abated since the Occupational Safety and Health Administration enacted rules for those working at heights, according to a safety expert.

Kevin Wilcox, Dayton, Ohio-based principal and safety practice leader at LJB Inc., a structural engineering consultancy, told attendees Monday at Safety 2023, the American Society of Safety Professionals’ annual conference, that employers need to think beyond lanyards, platforms and holsters.

Annual personal protective equipment sales have gone from $300 million in 1995 to $800 million in 2021. In 1995 there was one OSHA regulation that addressed falls — today there are four, Mr. Wilcox said. The American National Standards Institute, which helps employers craft safety plans, has at least 1,000 pages devoted to fall protection, he said.

“It’s not enough,” he added. “The old way is not working.”

The next frontier is using technology to assist with data collection and interpretation to develop and manage a fall protection program.

By using technologies such as drones, laser scanning and building information modeling — already in place at many construction sites — employers can identity hidden fall risks and keep track of mitigation efforts. Mobile applications can help them with tasks such as tracking how many employees are working at heights, who is trained in using PPE, where the PPE is located and how it can be used.

On the business side, money spent on PPE can also be better tracked, giving employers an idea of where more money could be needed to help mitigate the risk and where at the work site materials need to be deployed.

“It’s not just about collecting data, it’s about putting it to use,” Mr. Wilcox said. Such programs can also help with documentation and certification of safety programs that are often required.