Are Your Workers Hurting Because They Can’t Find Fall Protection Data?

Simply collecting safety data isn’t enough—workers must be able to easily find, understand, and act on it to stay safe.

• By Kristi Hames
• Jun 30, 2025

When it comes to protecting workers from safety hazards, producing the right health and safety data is only the first step. Just as important—but often overlooked—is making sure that workers can actually find and use the information they need to perform their jobs safely. 

That’s why an effective workplace safety management strategy hinges on data accessibility. Workers are safest when they know where to look for critical health and safety information, and when that information is accurate, clear, and easy to act on. 

This article explores why locating safety data can be surprisingly difficult and outlines practical steps businesses can take to ensure workers can quickly access the right information when it matters most. 
For Safety Data, Accessibility Is Everything 

Most businesses with employees working in potentially hazardous conditions are required by compliance mandates to collect data that supports worker safety. This includes developing ergonomic procedures to reduce material handling risks, and maintaining technical details like anchor ratings and dynamic loading requirements for fall protection systems. However, producing and storing safety data—even in compliance with regulations—isn’t enough to ensure worker protection. Too often, critical information never reaches the employees who need it, due to barriers such as the following: 

1. Lack of awareness. In some cases, employees are simply unaware of relevant safety data, and as a result, they unintentionally make decisions without it. This issue is especially common when individuals who don’t regularly engage with safety protocols, such as administrative or support staff, are involved in decisions that affect frontline workers. 

For instance, a procurement team might order a fall protection harness without understanding that harnesses vary by rating, design, and use case. If they’re unaware of compatibility requirements with existing lifeline systems, the wrong equipment could be purchased. Without clear communication and data sharing, particularly updated equipment specifications, teams may unknowingly put workers at risk, increasing the likelihood of a serious injury. 

2. Scattered data. Health and safety data exists in many formats, and is often scattered across disconnected systems, making it difficult to access when it matters most. Safety inspections might be documented on paper forms and kept inside a filing cabinet, while procedures are saved on a shared drive and safety data sheets (SDS) live in binders in the Safety Manager’s office. Meanwhile, near-miss and injury records could be stored in an internal software system that frontline workers can’t access. When critical safety data is stored in silos, workers are less equipped to perform their tasks safely and effectively. 

3. Safety data gaps. Data gaps occur when safety information is incomplete, outdated, or difficult to access—undermining both hazard control and employee trust. For instance, a fall protection procedure may specify the maximum load capacity of a harness or anchor point, but omit critical clearance distance requirements. Without this information, a worker may believe they are protected, when in reality a fall could result in contact with a lower level before the system fully engages. These types of omissions don’t just increase the risk of injury, they can also erode confidence in the organization’s commitment to safety. When essential safety data is missing or inconsistent, workers could begin to question whether safety is truly a priority. 

5. Hard-to-interpret information. When safety data is inconsistent or hard to interpret, it becomes a barrier to safe work practices. If workers have to spend time deciphering vague instructions or conflicting information, they’re less likely to apply the guidance correctly—or at all. The more cognitive effort required to understand what to do, the greater the chance of missteps that could lead to injury. Clear, consistent, and actionable safety data is essential to empower workers to make the right decisions in the moment. 

The Consequences of Ineffective Safety Data Management 

The most serious consequence of inaccessible safety data is an increased risk of workplace injuries. No matter how much a business invests in collecting safety information, that effort falls short if employees can’t easily access and apply the data to protect themselves and their worksites. 

In some cases, when safety data is difficult to find, workers may conclude that the company doesn’t truly prioritize safety. That perception can influence behavior—leading employees to deprioritize safety in their own decision-making as well.  

Inaccessibility also impacts efficiency and work quality. When employees waste time searching through disconnected systems for critical safety information, they lose valuable time they could be spending on their actual work. According to the National Safety Council, preventable workplace injuries cost U.S. employers over $167 billion annually—including losses tied to delays, errors, and reduced productivity.  

Consider a technician preparing to service a machine. If they can’t quickly locate the correct lockout/tagout procedure, they may improvise or proceed without following the proper steps. That single data gap could lead to equipment damage, production downtime—or, far worse, a serious injury. 

For both worker protection and operational success, safety data must be easy to locate, understand, and apply. 

Making Safety Data Easy to Access

How can businesses make it easier for employees to find the safety data they need? 

A critical first step is consolidating scattered data. All safety information should be housed in a central location and be accessible through a single, reliable hub that workers know how to use as their go-to resource. There’s a common misperception that safety processes slow work down. In reality, when information is organized and easy to access, workflows improve. Teams spend less time searching and more time preventing incidents. 

Digitizing safety data is another key step. Digital data is easier to search, update, and maintain—making it far more efficient than paper-based systems. It also enables automated analysis that can reveal important insights. For example, digital review might show that fall protection procedures haven’t been updated since new equipment was introduced, signaling the need to revise guidance to match current hazards. 

Finally, businesses should consider equipping workers with tools such as tablets or mobile phones that allow them to access digitized safety data from anywhere. When centralized information is made available over the network, workers can retrieve what they need in real time, whether they’re on the shop floor, at a remote site, or in the field. 

These measures ensure that safety data goes beyond compliance checkboxes. They help build a workplace culture centered on safety and empower every employee with the information they need to make smart, safe decisions. 

This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.