If falls cannot be eliminated or prevented and there is no safe place, the next level involves selecting equipment that will mitigate the risk of a fall.
This means selecting control measures that minimise the distance or consequences of a fall, should one occur.
Mitigation of falls is the lowest level of equipment selection and should only be considered when it is not reasonably practicable to avoid or prevent falls from height. These mitigation measures require a high level of training and skills for both installation and use. They include:
- Safety nets. In select circumstances, high fall-risk activities may be mitigated by using safety nets. Safety nets may be appropriate in situations where work is carried out on or near fragile roofing. If used, there must be adequate clearance under the nets to prevent injury.
- Airbags. Airbags might be appropriate in situations where falls might occur from a lower height, such as when loading and unloading vehicle trailers. They should be located as close as possible to the working area to ensure they catch anyone who might fall. Airbags decrease in effectiveness as the fall distance increases, so should only be used for small fall distances.
