Inspected fall protection systems help safeguard workers from falls from heights
Fall Protection Inspection Checklist - Download and share
Building a safer workplace means involving everyone in choosing controls that eliminate or reduce workplace hazards when working at heights. Workers play a critical role in identifying and assessing fall protection risks because they are directly exposed to workplace hazards and understand where vulnerabilities exist.
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claim count data for 2024–2025 reinforces the significance of this issue, with 19,413 claims related to falls on the same level and 6,712 claims associated with falls or jumps to a lower level. Across both incident categories, claims resulted in an average of 35 lost workdays per case, highlighting the significant operational and human impact of fall-related workplace injuries.
Choosing controls for working at heights is key toward reducing related injuries. Fall protection planning that involves regular inspection of equipment, using associated inspection checklists for reference and consistent inspection, supports control of risks associated with working at heights.
The difference between fall prevention and fall protection
When selecting controls for your worksite, it is important to understand the distinction between fall prevention and fall protection. Fall prevention refers to measures that stop workers from being exposed to fall hazards in the first place, such as guardrails and travel restraint systems. Fall protection, on the other hand, includes measures designed to minimize injuries if a fall does happen. These include fall arrest systems, fall restricting devices, and safety nets. Regular and systematic inspection of fall protection equipment is a critical control, ensuring maximum safety performance and worker safety.
What to look for
Inspect all components including harnesses, connecting devices, and anchor points. Written records, checklists, and inspection logs should be kept. Each component must be inspected according to the manufacturer’s instructions with the date and results recorded. Damaged equipment must be tagged and removed from the work site. All components must be examined both visually and by touch.
Workplace Safety North offers this harness inspection checklist to assist with the development of site- and equipment-specific inspection best practices.
Falls are common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. In 2024, the mining sector reported 12 percent of lost time injuries were due to falls. It is important to have proactive hazard controls in place to ensure problems can be identified and addressed before anyone is injured.
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