How do safety nets provide additional protection?

Safety nets serve as crucial safety equipment in construction and other high-risk environments by acting as an additional or lower order control measure. In the hierarchy of controls, when eliminating hazards at the source is not feasible, implementing safety nets helps mitigate risks associated with falls. While they do not eliminate the hazard of falling, they significantly reduce the potential for serious injury by catching workers or tools that may fall from heights.

By providing this layer of protection, safety nets enable workers to operate with a greater sense of security, supporting safe work practices. They can be used effectively alongside other safety measures, creating a more comprehensive safety system. This is essential in environments where workers are frequently at elevated heights, as it addresses fall protection requirements without relying solely on personal protective equipment and procedural controls alone, thus aligning with industry safety standards and best practices.