Why You Need Industrial Safety Nets to Protect Your Workers

Working in the field of construction is not without its challenges. For many contractors and project managers, the biggest challenge is ensuring that every worker on the site is safe. There could be a lot of repercussions if accidents and injuries happen under the watch of supervisors and project managers. If your company wants to make sure that no such thing happens on your watch, you need to set up robust and effective workplace safety measures immediately.

There are so many things that can happen within the project site. Some of the leading causes of fatalities in construction sites include working-at-heights, falling debris or blocks of materials, machinery misuse, just to name a few. Over the years, many companies have caught on to the dangers of working at height and have since placed safety measures in their workplaces. Others, however, still have to catch up.

One of the ways to protect the workers and pedestrians is to set up safety systems in the area like roofing nets and other types of industrial safety nets. This is no longer an optional thing that contractors can choose to ignore. It has actually been passed as a legislation, which means all contractors have to follow.

But different construction projects come with their unique sets of risks. Working for skyscrapers, for instance, will likely have a higher falling risk, while working in mines might have a higher risk for collapse or head injury.

No matter what the job entails, safety should always be the number one priority – both for the workers and the pedestrians in the vicinity. The upside does not only include public safety, it also means that you won’t have to suffer from unexpected downtimes due to injuries and costly clean-ups.

In the UK, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) dictates that every employer must ensure that work equipment is constructed and adapted to be suitable for the purpose of which it is used or provided. It is also mandated that in selecting work equipment, every employer shall assess the working conditions and the risks that it poses to the health and safety of the people that are within the premises.

Given all the mandates that are outlined in PUWER, it might be overwhelming to select the right fall protection equipment. We understand that committing to a particular system may be daunting. That is why we have prepared the guide below for you to know more about the different kinds of fall protection equipment that you can integrate into your workplace.

The Four Different Kinds of Fall Safety Systems

All too often, safety risks in the workplace remain unknown until it is too late. Accidents happen and that’s the only time that workplace safety is truly evaluated. But if you’ve found yourself perusing this article, you might be finding ways to protect worker safety and public safety. We are here to help you by making sure the fall safety systems that you integrate into your system are the right ones for you.

Different work sites will have different needs in terms of safety solutions. It is best to discuss your needs and requirements with our specialists here at Pro Netting Essex. Nevertheless, here are our recommendations for your workplace:

Guardrail System

Guardrail systems are railings that are installed at the edge of construction sites. It can also be installed on the roof, ledges, or on strategic areas to prevent a fall. Over the years, guardrail systems have proved to be successful at reducing and controlling many occupational safety hazards. With strategically-placed guardrail systems, workers can walk and navigate the site safely.

Guardrail systems are typically installed along with other fall arrest systems for maximum falling risk reduction. Many construction sites, commercial environments, manufacturing industries, and even residential spaces use guardrail systems as a safety precaution.

The key benefit that roof guardrail systems have as opposed to other fall safety systems is that they can be built according to the designer’s specifications. These customisable systems are easy to install as long as you have got the right providers by your side.

Pro Netting Essex Limited has got the installation process covered from start to finish. We’ll install it without hassle. And if you don’t need it anymore, we can just as easily take it off the site and clean up in no time.

Fall Arrest Systems

Full-body harnesses, anchorage, and connectors are the three main components of a complete fall arrest system. These devices help break the fall of any workers, protecting them from hitting the ground at an accelerated pace.

Fall Restraint Systems

Job positioning devices are excellent fall restraint systems that keep the staff from going over the edge of a building or structure. This is a preferable alternative if guardrail systems cannot be installed due to logistical constraints.

Safety Net Systems

A safety net system is a netting mechanism that can help reduce the velocity of a falling person or object. Safety nets are also effective at catching any falling object so that it does not hit anybody on the ground. Roofing nets, or industrial safety nets as they are often called, are suitable for construction sites and industrial framed structures.

Fall Arrest vs Fall Restraint Systems: Should You Choose One Over the Other?

Contrary to popular belief, the terms “fall arrest” and “fall restriction” are actually two different things. They do fall under fall defence, but that is where all of their similarities end. When it comes to fall protection, fall arrest systems function as a means to prevent workers from hitting the ground whenever they’re working at heights. On the other hand, fall restraint devices, on the other hand, protect workers who are already at risk of falling from encountering a higher level of danger.

In most cases, employees who work at heights are equipped with fall arrest systems to make sure that they are safe all the time. Through the use of fall arrest systems, they can also reach hard-to-access areas like high ceiling points and crevices. Getting to those areas are indeed risky, but workers often have to reach them to fulfil their tasks. It falls on your shoulder, as the employer, to make sure they stay safe while doing their job.

Fall arrest systems take time to be put on and assembled. And though this means, you might be looking at slightly slower productivity rates, it is important to remember that safety is still the priority. Employees must be trained on the proper wear and use of the harnesses, so as not to meet any complications off the ground.

The same thing applies to other equipment such as fall arrest nets and man safe nets. They should be installed under the supervision of experienced installers like Pro Netting Essex Limited.

If you have chosen to add industrial safety nets as part of your fall arrest system, these are some things that you should remember before, during, and after the installation.

Hazard Management for Industrial and Construction Safety Nets Installation

Hazard management for heights follows a universal method. Listed below is the hierarchy of acceptable alternatives to managing falling hazards, which is also followed here in the UK.

⦁ Eliminating the hazard (finding other ways to get the job done with working at heights)
⦁ Guard the hazard (utilise edge protections like scaffolding to assist workers)
⦁ Guard the workers (equipping the workers with personal protective equipment systems)
⦁ Mitigating the impact of the hazard (through other safety devices like fall arrest systems)

Upon its introduction to the UK market, industrial safety nets were initially classified as a category 4 solution to mitigating falling risks. But with the introduction of flat installation lightweight nets, it has become easier to install them without compensating for the worker’s safety. Thus, roofing nets or industrial safety nets have now been widely accepted as a Level 2 solution of hazard management for falling risks.

As a Level 2 pre-requisite, fall arrest nets can now be:

⦁ Installed very close to the work level so that it prevents any kind of fall that will probably lead to injury or any fatality.
⦁ Supplemented with harnesses or lanyards to maximise fall protection.

Construction safety nets and all forms of fall arrest nets, in general, have been quickly bumped up from Level 4 to Level 2 in hazard management alternatives. This is mainly attributed to the many benefits that fall arrest nets have provided to almost every site that they have been installed in. Some of these advantages are outlined in the section below.

Benefits of Industrial Safety Nets

There are numerous benefits to installing industrial safety nets in the workplace. Some of these include the following:

⦁ Potential falls are prevented at the source.
⦁ Falling incidents are minimised.
⦁ Safety is ensured for almost everyone on the site who has to work on heights.
⦁ Workers now have more flexibility to do a wider range of activities.
⦁ Workers are more productive as they can perform jobs that they couldn’t do before.
⦁ Workers enjoy greater mobility especially when they’re working above nets.
⦁ Crane use is minimised, leading to energy and cost savings.
⦁ Installation of roof structures and other work on higher levels are completed at a faster speed.
⦁ Compatible with other fall safety systems like scaffolding.
⦁ Costs relatively low considering the level of safety that it can guarantee.

Now that you know almost everything there is to know about safety nets, you might be wondering how to go about the installation at your work site. Don’t worry. We have got it down to the tee here at Pro Netting Essex. But if you wish to gain more insight, below are some of the best tips we can offer.

Tips to Getting the Best Working-at-Heights Protection

There’s no end-all and be-all rule in getting safety nets in your workplace. But do keep in mind that you have to get it right the first time around. Procuring subpar quality nets can lead to unexpected dangers. After all, there’s nothing more dangerous than having a false sense of safety.

Make sure that your workers are protected at all times. Here are some tips that you may follow to get the best protection when working at heights:

Tip 1: Find a Reputable Provider in Your Area

When thinking about getting an industrial safety net, remember that you are not only protecting the people above the net but you are also protecting the people below it. Things that fall from extreme height can be dangerous. So, you have to choose the right debris netting that is right for the nature of work that your workers are engaged in.

Safety nets come in different types. As the contractor or building manager, you might not have the time to inspect each and every type of netting. Considering all the construction tasks that lie ahead, it is easy to skip over this very important detail.

Having a reliable supplier or a safety systems provider is important since they can take the time to evaluate details that you might gloss over. They can also recommend the most suitable types of netting and other specifications for your site. Safety nets must always be customised to the needs and specifications of your site, and not the other way around.

Consider Other Factors

Just because your safety net provider can do all the things for you, doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to stay clueless about everything else. When discussing your needs and requirements to the provider that you have chosen to work with, you should take time to lay out the following factors:

⦁ Nature of work being conducted
⦁ Weather conditions in the area
⦁ Height of the building
⦁ Vehicle traffic surrounding the site
⦁ Number of pedestrians passing by daily
⦁ The proximity of the site to other properties
⦁ Size of the smallest debris that can fall

It is important to take account of everything that may lead to danger. For instance, if the site is located somewhere with high traffic, unauthorized personnel may access the site and get injured. Along with safety nets, vision barriers may even be necessary if that is the case.

Work with a reliable partner today!

Safety is everything in any construction or industrial site. Give your workers the safety they deserve. Ensure that no harm comes to the public by putting up safety systems like industrial safety nets.

You can trust that Pro Netting Essex Limited is up to the task. We have serviced over a hundred companies over the years, and our records show just how dedicated and committed we are to keeping your job site safe and secure. Work with Pro Netting Essex Limited today for excellent roofing nets and other safety nets for your site.