Construction site safety has to include the implementation of fall protection programs. The reason behind this is that falls are the leading cause of death at construction sites. According to OSHA, 85 percent of falls that occur at work places result in lost work time. Sites should have toe boards, guard rails and other barriers wherever possible. In other situations, workers are supposed to wear personal fall protection gear. Hole covers and fences also help by protecting workers from falling hazards. Employers should make sure that no work proceeds without the establishments of proper fall protection.

Fall Systems: To stop a worker from hitting a lower level, personal fall arrest systems should be used. An anchor, full body harness and plus connectors make up these systems. A deceleration or a lifeline device may also be included. All these systems keep a worker from getting too close to ledges. Care should be taken to see that these equipments are labeled to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements. Also, they should be correct for the job they are being used for.

Safety Nets: These are another must for implementing construction site safety. They should be hung with enough clearance. This is so that a falling body would not hit the surface below. Safety nets should be placed anywhere between 10 to 30 vertical feet below the work level.

Safety Programs for Workers: In 2003, the Enhancement Enforcement Program was introduced. This program was designed for identifying all the high risk employees by past behavior. It was later found that OSHA did not carry out this program properly. This caused the failure of the Enhancement Enforcement Program because it could not deter employers from risking the lives of their employees. By the year 2010, OSHA started exploring improvements in the worker safety legislation. This was done to make sure that companies don't compromise for safety in any way.

Planning for Fall Protection: If the planning is done well, it helps in minimizing the chances of falls. Employers should make fall protection a priority. A safety policy should be developed and implemented. Professionals should be made to design work safety plans for construction site safety. They should evaluate fall hazards, buy and maintain safety equipment and also train workers how to use them. Even if falls occur, an emergency response plan should be ready for implementation. OSHA has set certain guidelines to ensure fall protection at construction sites.

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