Swing Fall Hazards

Talking points

1. A swing fall occurs when you fall from a position that is not directly below your anchorage point. The result is a pendulum swing that can slam you into structures, equipment, or lower levels.
2. The farther you are from directly below the anchorage, the greater the swing distance and impact velocity. A worker 10 feet to the side of an overhead anchor can swing with the force of a ground-level fall.
3. Position your anchorage directly above your work area whenever possible. If lateral movement is necessary, use a horizontal lifeline or multiple anchorage points to minimize swing distance.
4. SRLs are particularly susceptible to swing fall injuries because they allow workers to move freely. Plan the anchor location relative to the work area and the potential fall path.
5. Consider swing fall during rescue planning — a swinging worker may be out of reach of the nearest platform. Pre-position rescue equipment where the worker would actually end up after a swing fall.

Ask the crew

Look at where your anchorage is and where you are working — if you fell, would you swing into anything?

Standards this talk is built on

• 29 CFR 1926.502(d)

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

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