AZASSP Construction Section Meeting Fall-FY27

Title: When Fall Protection Doesn’t Fit: Solving Real-World Trench & Excavation Challenges

Description: What happens when a client requires fall protection around trenches and excavations, but traditional fall protection systems do not fit the work, create additional hazards, or are being used outside their intended design?

This construction-focused technical session takes attendees through a real-world fall protection challenge from the contractor’s perspective through development of a feasible solution. Richard Maldonado will share Team Fishel’s firsthand experience navigating client fall protection expectations around trenching operations, including solutions that initially did not work and the challenges of finding an approach that protected employees without creating additional hazards or interfering with the work.

James Harrald will then provide the fall protection manufacturer and technical perspective, examining common ways contractors unintentionally misuse fall protection equipment, exceed system limitations, or configure equipment in ways the manufacturer never intended.

Together, the presenters will demonstrate the importance of collaboration between contractors, safety professionals, fall protection experts, and manufacturers when standard solutions do not fit the exposure. Attendees will see how technical expertise, manufacturer requirements, and field realities can come together to develop a solution that is safe, feasible, and appropriate for the actual work being performed.

Instructors:

Richard Maldonado, Regional Safety Manager – Team Fishel

James Harrald, Fall Protection Senior Sales Executive – 3M