Preventing Dropped Objects from Height

Context: Why Dropped Objects are a Critical Risk

Dropped objects from height (Drops) pose a serious safety threat in all types of industrial activities, including construction and the oil and gas sector. Such incidents have a high potential for severe consequences, up to and including fatalities, and can also cause damage to equipment and the environment. During the webinar, Anton Evtodyev shares practical experience in implementing the Drops program, which helps build the skill of identifying potentially hazardous objects and preventing them from falling.

Types of Dropped Objects and Their Causes

The speaker analyzes two main types of dropped objects:

• Static: objects falling under their own weight (e.g., due to fastener corrosion or poor design).
• Dynamic: objects falling due to external impact (equipment strikes, lifting operation errors).

Key causes of drops include: errors in work planning, lack of inspections and maintenance, left-behind tools, poor housekeeping, and aggressive weather conditions that accelerate structural wear.

Control and Prevention Tools

The presentation details an approach to managing dropped object risks at all stages — from design to operation. The speaker demonstrates, using a "dropped object calculator," how to visually assess the potential severity of consequences depending on the object's weight and drop height. This helps personnel realize the real danger of even small items, such as a wrench.

To prevent incidents, the following are used:

• Special securing devices: safety lanyards for tools when working at height.
• Storage organization: using specialized cabinets and boxes with individual slots for each tool, eliminating chaotic storage.
• Regular inspections: using checklists tailored to the specifics of each facility to identify corrosion, missing pins, and other hidden threats.

Personnel Involvement and Safety Culture

Special attention is paid to the intervention program, which complements the Drops program. Workers are trained to recognize hazards and have the right to stop work or report a potential threat. The speaker emphasizes that building a safety culture is a continuous process requiring regular training, toolbox talks, and management involvement. Trusting relationships with contractors and open discussion of issues before work begins are key to successful incident prevention.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How to classify dropped objects and identify hidden threats at the facility?
• How to use a dropped object calculator for risk assessment?
• What practical solutions help securely fasten tools when working at height?
• How to organize effective workplace inspections using checklists?
• How to involve the workforce in hazard identification and incident prevention?