The OSHA Fall Protection and Walking-Working Surfaces Standards deal with human and equipment-related issues to protect workers from fall hazards.

These standards outline where fall protection is required, the appropriate safety systems, the proper installation of safety systems, and the proper supervision of employees to prevent falls. They are designed to prevent and protect workers from falling off, into, or through working levels and from being struck by falling objects from heights.

Sunrise over campus

Fall Protection Manual

EH&S developed the Iowa State University Fall Protection Program to protect employees from injury. Open the manual to learn more about the program.

Fall Protection Manual (PDF)
Course instructor demonstrates how to adjust a fall protection body harness.

Safety training for employees

If you need assistance with the online course, please contact ehstrain@iastate.edu. The links below will take you to the courses in Workday Learning, where you can enroll in an upcoming course offering.

ABCs of fall protection

When working at heights, it can be challenging to remember the basics of personal fall protection systems. The ABCs of personal fall protection is an easy way to remember the basics of personal fall protection systems. The ABCs include the three components most often used together when utilizing a personal fall protection system:

Anchor Point

An anchor point is a secure point of attachment to a structure. Anchoring devices come in various forms and can be temporary or permanent.

Body Harness

A full-body harness allows for a maximum range of motion while still providing body support in the event of a fall. They’re designed to distribute the force of a fall throughout the trunk of the body.

Connector

The connector attaches the body harness to the anchor point. They come in many forms, the most common being a fixed-length shock-absorbing lanyard or a self-retracting lifeline.