Summary Statement

A toolbox talk on preventing being struck by falling objects. Includes questions to ask, an incident to discuss with images, and a place to record questions the trainer would like to ask about the incident. Part of a collection. Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items.

How can we protect ourselves from falling objects?

Ask the following questions and give time for answers.

  • What are the hazards? Trees falling on equipment, loads dropping on workers, heavy equipment tipping over or rolling onto workers, tools falling from elevated work stations
  • What are the results? Broken bones, head injuries, death
  • What should we look for? Elevated work areas, toeboards missing from scaffolds over 10 feet high, objects not secured in overhead storage, canopies missing under scaffolding, cranes making lifts, equipment operating close to trenches, embankments, and debris piles

Relate this incident or, better, one you know.

Actual Incident: October 8, 1997, a 56-year-old truck driver was crushed when a crane tipped over and the crane’s boom landed on the cab of the dump truck in which he was sitting. The crane had been lowering an empty 4-yard concrete bucket, while booming out

Keeping back from operations is key. Photo courtesy of FEMA
Keeping back from operations is key. Photo courtesy of FEMA

Ask the following question and ensure every item is covered.

How do we prevent these results?

  • Operators must know the capacity of their equipment and work from a load chart.
  • Workers on the ground should always keep an eye on nearby operations and never assume the operation is completely safe.
  • Operators must be particularly careful where trees are being cleared and stay far enough away to avoid being struck.
  • Everyone on the site needs to wear their hard hats all the time.
  • Everyone should stay away from ongoing operations unless they are needed for the work.

Ask the following questions about this site and ensure every item is covered.

Let’s talk about this site now.

  • What are the greatest potential for being struck by falling materials on this site?
  • Is there something we can do to limit the risks from these hazards?
  • Are there any particularly steep embankments that could pose a rollover risk?

Record questions below that you want to ask about this site.