Dropped Object Prevention
The DROPs Prevention Program sets standards for working at heights, hoisting and suspending equipment, and operating with overhead-mounted equipment.
Safety Topic
Dropped Object Prevention
Overview
The DROPs Prevention Program sets standardized requirements for working at heights, hoisting and suspending equipment, and operating with overhead-mounted equipment. Its primary objective is to reduce the risk of equipment failure, falls, and dropped objects in order to protect personnel, equipment, and the environment.
Related Life Saving Rule:
- Working At Heights
- Safe Mechanical Lifting
- Line-Of-Fire
All personnel are required to complete Titanium Awareness Training in Fall Protection and DROPs Prevention to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities when working at heights or around potential dropped object hazards.
Dropped Object Prevention
Equipment Inspections
The newly added DROPs Inspection sections within the Pre-Job and Monthly Unit Inspections must be completed and documented. Any deficiencies identified must be corrected before being deployed to a client location.
Conduct pre-use equipment inspections to verify safe operating condition or identify defects or questionable conditions that could lead to failure, ensuring compliance with company policies and maintaining a safe work environment when working at heights, hoisting loads, or operating around overhead-mounted equipment.
Training & Competence
Workers shall be trained and competent in fall protection systems before working at heights. The Fall Protection & DROPs Prevention Programs are introduced during onboarding and reinforced periodically as a safety topic discussion.
Supervisors receive additional training to prevent workers from falling or dropping objects from heights. Training also covers safe mechanical lifting, handling, and equipment inspections. Workers must complete refresher training every three years to stay current with updated procedures, regulations, and equipment requirements.
Exclusion Zones
Establishing and clearly identifying No-Go Exclusion Zones is vital for safety during Working At Heights, Hoisting Equipment and operating with overhead-mounted equipment operations.
No one should ever be under a suspended load, since equipment can fail without warning. Barriers and signs help keep people out of danger.
Enforcing adherence and compliance to No-Go Zones follows the Safe Mechanical Lifting Life-Saving Rule, protects workers from falling loads, and keeps the work area safe and controlled.
Life Saving Rule
Working At Heights
While slips, trips, and same-level falls are common in many industries, falls from height remain one of the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
These incidents are preventable when proper planning, equipment, and training are in place.
Safe Mechanical Lifting
Safe mechanical lifting involve the proper selection, inspection, and use of lifting equipment to move loads safely and efficiently.
Trained personnel assess the load weight, center of gravity, and environmental conditions to prevent dropped loads, equipment failure, or injury. during lifting operations.
Line Of Fire
The Line-of-Fire Life Saving Rule warn of serious hazards when working around moving equipment, tools or vehicle movement, stored energy releases, and dropped or falling objects.
To stay safe, always position yourself away from potential danger zones, respect and obey barriers or exclusion zones, and secure all loose tools and objects before and during work.
Roles & Responsibilities
Supervisor Role
- Complete pre-job and monthly unit inspections, documenting deficiencies and corrective actions.
- Conduct Field Level Hazard Assessments (FLHAs) addressing fall hazards and DROPs.
- Verify all tools and equipment are properly secured before work begins.
- Establish and maintain No-Go DROPs Exclusion Zones where required.
- Lead toolbox talks focused on fall protection and DROPs prevention.
- Report hazards or incidents immediately.
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Operator Role
- Complete awareness training to understand hot to use equipment, and resources
- Comply with all Fall Protection & DROPs SOPs.
- Wear required PPE and fall protection equipment.
- Use approved tethering systems for tools at height.
- Identify and tag No-Go DROPs Exclusion Zones with signs, flagging, or barriers.
- Report hazards or incidents without delay.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Confirm the lift equipment is fit for purpose and is operated below its working load limits.
- Ensure line of fire hazards and overhead power lines are identified, and a safe distance is maintained.
- Ensure tag lines are used to position suspended loads.
- Establish, identify and adhere to barriers and exclusion zones.
Stop & Think
Dropped Objects Procedure
- Awareness Training
- DROPs Prevention Policies & Procedures
- Review Job Scope
- Equipment Inspections
- Job Preparation
- Equipment Certifications
- Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)
- Discuss JSAs, LSRs & Controls.
- ERPs & Fall Protection Rescue Plans
- Lift/Critical Lift Plans
- Implement Control Measures
- Pre-Use Inspections
- DROPs Inspections
- Lock-Out Tag-Out (LOTO)
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Tool Tethering & Secondary Safety Systems
- Establish No-Go Zones
- Report Incidents including Near Miss events
- Adhere & Enforce Compliance
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