The petroleum and gas industry can be a dangerous place to work, especially since many workers have to regularly work at great heights. Even if the height is not extreme, workers can still be in danger of falling onto a machine, causing serious injury or death.
Thankfully, unlike in the yesteryear of workplace safety, many precautions are taken to ensure worker safety—particularly in high-risk environments like petroleum and gas worksites.
Falls Are the Most Common Workplace Accident
In 2013, falls accounted for over 4,000 deaths, making it the most common workplace accident. Thankfully, with strict guidelines and workplace safety laws, those numbers are down. But accidents do happen. The most common cause of falling is tripping due to:
- Uneven floors
- Wet floors
- Debris
Install safety components like guardrails and fall arrest systems to mezzanines to greatly improve workplace safety. Your employees will feel much more secure knowing that their safety and well-being is a priority.
Mandatory Guardrails Prevent Falls on High Platforms
All of Porta-King’s mezzanines come with guardrails that adhere to the IBC standards of safety. When working on an oil rig or other high platforms, guard railings are a vital safety addition. Guardrails should not be confused with handrails.
Handrails are grasped by the hand for guidance where guardrails are, according to the IBC, “a building component located at or near the open sides of an elevated walking surface that minimizes the possibility of a fall.”
Fall Arrest Systems Save Lives in Case of a Fall
There may come a time when an accidental fall will happen. In case of such an event, a fall arrest system can save a worker’s life. A fall arrest system is comprised of many different parts, each one working together to stop a fall.
Regularly inspect fall arrest systems. These contraptions won’t work properly if something is wrong with it, which can endanger workers’ lives.
