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Forestry and Lumber Fall Arrest Systems

From initial harvest to the lumber mill, the forestry industry presents a unique set of fall protection challenges. Workers in the forestry and lumber industries are routinely exposed to fall hazards, especially during loading and unloading operations. OSHA requires fall protection equipment over rolling stock, both rail and truck, in addition to any work at height operations over four feet.

Addressing these fall hazards requires comprehensive fall prevention strategies. Diversified Fall Protection is a complete turnkey provider of forestry and lumber mill fall protection systems and has years of design and installation experience in this market sector. Contact Diversified for expert assistance with your fall protection, fall restraint, and fall arrest equipment.

Machine cutting log

Forestry Fall Protection Solutions

Design Considerations

Although it may seem obvious to use personal protective equipment such as lanyards and climbing harnesses to safely climb and descend from trees with heavy chain saws, the fall protection that begins in the forest must also continue to the lumber mill and beyond.

Roof guardrails, horizontal and vertical lifelines, and rigid rail fall protection systems utilized in lumber processing facilities must be designed with environmental factors, proximity to cranes and saws, and traffic flow taken into consideration. Fall protection and fall arrest systems must not interfere with worker mobility or impede the path of processing equipment in any way.

Because OSHA regulations apply to unprotected leading edges greater than 48 inches, a fall protection system is required to protect workers while tarping finished lumber loads on flatbed trailers. Eliminating the need to climb on uneven surfaces obscured by a tarp is considered a best practice. For this reason, the use of an automated truck tarp system operated from ground level is recommended.

Diversified Fall Protection has years of experience designing and installing fall protection systems for the forestry and lumber mill market sectors. Our understanding of your facility’s unique access points and fall hazards, combined with our turnkey approach to OSHA compliant fall protection, will keep both your work areas and employees safe.

As your partner in fall protection, DFP’s safety specialists will work with you to identify and secure all fall hazards at your site. Our fall prevention solutions include portable or fixed anchorage, safe access to reach at-height operations, guarding from open edges, and protection while maneuvering around industrial equipment.

OSHA-Compliant Lumber Industry Fall Protection

OSHA requires that employers protect workers from fall hazards along unprotected sides or edges that are at least four feet above a lower level. Forestry and lumber operations expose workers to many of these fall hazards, including working at heights of 15 feet or more over spine cars. Diversified Fall Protection can provide customized solutions for nearly any fall hazard exposures.

Contact Diversified for a safety evaluation to help you secure your site.

Safety Regulations and Standards

Regulations for fall protection systems and equipment are constantly changing. When you partner with Diversified Fall Protection, you can ensure your company is in compliance. We keep you updated when there are changes to current standards and provide regular fall safety inspections to keep your systems up to date.

Explore the important regulations you should know when it comes to your fall protection system.

View All OSHA Regulations & ANSI Standards

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