Purpose and Scope
This Standard Operating Procedure sets mandatory controls to protect personnel from fall hazards during work at or above [Trigger Height] under applicable regulations, near unprotected edges, floor holes, openings, and during ladder use at [Site/Project Location].
This procedure applies to all [Organisation Name] employees, contractors, and visitors at the site.
Control measures follow a strict hierarchy:
- Eliminate hazards by completing work at ground level or adjusting construction sequencing.
- Install passive, collective fall protection systems (such as guardrails or safety nets) to protect exposed personnel.
- Use Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) as a secondary control requiring individual tie-off and restraint.
Working through related paperwork at the same time? See also our NY Retail Worker Safety Act Policy Template, Accident & Incident Reporting Procedure Template and OSHA Injury Reporting & Recordkeeping Procedure Template.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Competent Person ([Role/Name]): Identifies fall hazards, selects protection systems and anchorages, inspects equipment and installations, maintains daily plan oversight, and holds full authority to stop work.
- Site Supervisor ([Role/Name]): Schedules work sequences so protection systems are installed before hazard exposure, enforces compliance across all personnel and trades, and immediately reports any fall, arrest, or near-miss.
- Workers: Inspect personal protective equipment before every use, maintain required tie-offs, keep guardrails and covers in place, and stop work to consult the Competent Person if conditions deviate from the plan.
- Qualified Person ([Role/Name/Engineer]): Designs or approves specialized structural anchorages and engineered fall protection systems when required by standard.
Hazard Identification
Evaluate and document fall hazards across these areas:
- Unprotected edges: Roof perimeters, floor edges, mezzanines, and loading docks ([List Locations]).
- Holes and openings: Floor openings, skylights, equipment shafts, and wall openings. Guard every opening or secure it with a cover properly marked, fastened, and rated for expected traffic.
- Leading edges and active work surfaces under construction ([List Areas/Phases]).
- Ladders, scaffolding, and elevated work platforms ([List Equipment/Locations]).
- Fragile surfaces and environmental hazards: Treat skylights and untested decks as open holes. The Competent Person must evaluate weather conditions like wind, ice, rain, or low visibility to modify or stop work.
- Conduct and document walking hazard inspections at [Frequency/Phase] intervals as construction moves forward.
Protection System Selection
Document fall protection controls for each task in the site task log at [Location]:
- Guardrail Systems: Primary control for edges, platforms, and holes. Build them to regulatory standards and inspect via the Competent Person. If a section comes down temporarily for material handling, control the zone and reinstall the guardrail immediately after the task.
- Safety Net Systems: Install under structural or leading-edge work where guardrails are impractical. Nets must meet required regulatory clearances and inspection schedules.
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS): Consist of a full-body harness, connector/lanyard, and approved anchorage point built to manufacturer specs. Use PFAS only when anchor points are designated and the Competent Person calculates fall clearance before work begins. Body belts are strictly prohibited for fall arrest.
- Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems: Use where specified to stop workers from reaching a fall edge.
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Daily Working-at-Height Procedure
- The Competent Person walks the work area before the shift starts, confirms controls for planned tasks, and briefs the crew on hazards, systems, anchorages, and the rescue plan.
- Inspect physical fall controls (guardrails, covers, safety nets) to confirm they are complete and undamaged before anyone enters the zone.
- Each PFAS user inspects their harness, lanyard, webbing, stitching, D-rings, snap hooks, and carabiners before use. Tag damaged or suspect equipment out of service immediately.
- Don the harness and complete a fit-check verified by [Role/Buddy/Competent Person] to ensure proper strap tension and back D-ring positioning.
- Connect only to approved anchor points listed in the plan. Never tie off to guardrails, conduit, or unverified structural elements. Check fall clearance before connecting.
- Maintain 100% tie-off whenever exposed to hazards, including moving between anchors using approved double-lanyards or continuous connection points.
- Set up drop zones beneath elevated work using physical barricades, warning signs, tool tethers, toe boards, or debris netting.
- Stop work immediately and notify the Competent Person if conditions change (weather, missing guardrails, scope changes). Update the plan before restarting.
- Once the task is done, reinstall all guardrails and covers, store gear in a clean, dry spot, and report equipment wear or site incidents.
- Immediately remove any PFAS component subjected to a fall arrest from service for destruction or formal evaluation per standard.
Ladder Safety Procedure
- Select a ladder rated for the total working load, correct height (work without standing above the safe step limit), and correct material for the site (like non-conductive fiberglass near power lines).
- Inspect ladder rails, rungs, feet, and locking mechanisms before use. Take damaged ladders out of service immediately.
- Set the ladder on a firm, level surface. Secure extension ladders at the top or base, maintain the correct setup angle, and extend side rails above the landing per standard dimensions.
- Keep three points of contact at all times when climbing up or down, facing the ladder. Carry tools in tool belts, shoulder bags, or hoist lines, never in your hands.
- Keep your body centered between side rails while working. Move the ladder instead of overreaching.
- Never shift, adjust, or extend a ladder while someone is on it.
Rescue Procedure
- Confirm the specific rescue method for each work area during the pre-work briefing before elevated work begins.
- Verify that primary rescue equipment (such as an aerial lift, portable ladder, or rescue kit at [Location]) and designated site rescue personnel ([Role/Name]) are staged and ready.
- Stage and inspect all required rescue gear before personnel tie off.
- If a fall arrest occurs, immediately call emergency medical services at [Emergency Phone Number] and execute the site rescue plan using trained personnel.
- Ensure the rescued worker gets a professional medical evaluation after suspension, regardless of apparent injury status.
- Quarantine all fall arrest gear involved in the incident for investigation, and submit the incident report the same day per [Organisation Name] reporting procedures.
Training, Records, and Review Cycle
Training Requirements
- All personnel exposed to fall hazards must complete training delivered by a Competent Person before working at height.
- Training must cover hazard recognition, protection system limits, PFAS inspection and donning, anchor selection, ladder safety, and rescue protocols.
- Retrain workers when workplace systems change, when performance shows skill gaps, or after any fall or near miss.
Records Maintenance
- Archive training records, inspection logs, daily task hazard evaluations, and plan changes at [System/Location].
Review Cycle
- Review this procedure and site fall plan [Frequency/Phase Interval], after any fall arrest or near miss, or when structural changes alter work methods.
- Document Owner: [Role/Name]
- Next Review Date: [Date]
FAQs on a fall protection plan
What is a fall protection plan?
A fall protection plan sets mandatory controls to protect personnel from fall hazards during work at or above under applicable regulations, near unprotected edges, floor holes, openings, and during ladder use at your site.
Having it written down means the same rules apply to everyone, so managers are not making judgement calls case by case under pressure.
What does a fall protection plan include?
This template covers hazard identification, protection system selection, daily working-at-height procedure and ladder safety procedure.
Every section is written to be filled in. The bracketed placeholders mark the decisions that are yours to make, such as timescales, approval owners and retention periods.
How to implement a fall protection plan with Whale
Copy this template into Whale and work through the bracketed placeholders so it reflects how your organisation actually operates.
Assign it to the teams it applies to so it sits where people work rather than in a shared drive, and set a review date so it gets revisited on schedule instead of quietly going out of date.
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.