Photo: Diversified Fall Protection

Building a Team That Protects America’s Workforce

By Kevin Kelpe

A Growing Need Meets a Shrinking Workforce
    Across the United States, skilled trades are experiencing a historic labor shortage. Fall protection is an industry that blends construction, engineering, specialty fabrication, and regulatory expertise, and feels this pressure acutely. Field teams are the backbone of this work, and the industry simply needs more of them.
    Companies that design, integrate, install, and service permanent fall protection systems have recognized that solving the labor crisis requires more than recruiting. It requires creating a workplace where tradespeople want to build long, fulfilling careers, on the jobsite and beyond.
    Field technicians and installers aren’t just completing tasks on a project; they are safeguarding the lives of other skilled workers who rely on these systems every day. That sense of mission is powerful, and it’s a cornerstone of what makes this career path meaningful.

A Mission Built on Protecting People
    Fall protection is often seen as a technical discipline, but at its heart, it’s a human one. We design, fabricate, install, and service systems that protect real people — electricians, steelworkers, maintenance teams, window cleaners — whose families expect them home each night. Each year, more workers are seriously injured or killed by falls from height. In many cases, these workers have equipment available, but fail to use it, or use it incorrectly. This is why companies that seek to provide a comprehensive partnership with employers (“fall protection partnership for life,” as we say) have the greatest ability to make a difference.
    This mission applies just as strongly inside companies as it does outside. Employers in this field have a responsibility to create workplaces where their own team members feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow. The work may be technical, but the purpose is deeply personal.

Many Paths into the Industry — All of Them Welcome
    There is no single doorway into a career in fall protection, and that diversity is one of the industry’s greatest strengths. Yes, many professionals enter from engineering or technical disciplines. But some of the strongest contributors come from jobsite backgrounds: former ironworkers, installers, specialty steel tradespeople, and even professionals from adjacent safety businesses.
    Because the industry is so specialized, and because turnkey providers integrate engineering, fabrication, installation, and service, it takes time to build mastery. Most people need 12–24 months before they develop confidence. That’s not a weakness; it’s a reflection of the complexity of engineered fall protection systems.
    Every project is different. Every building is different. Every hazard profile is different.
    Mastery in fall protection is mastery of ambiguity — figuring it out when no two projects look the same.
    For some, that unpredictability is challenging. For others, it’s what makes the work exciting, dynamic, and intellectually engaging. One thing is certain: There is always something new to learn. I’m several years into my fall protection journey, and I still learn something new every day.

Developing the Next Generation of Industry Leaders
    Across the industry, many companies have found that the strongest fall protection professionals often start in the field. Continuous hiring and continuous development of installers, inspectors, and technicians are critical, and many employers prioritize promoting from within whenever possible.
    Instead of formal multi-stage academies, we’ve found more traction with one-on-one mentorship, pairing newer team members with seasoned professionals. This approach preserves institutional knowledge, accelerates learning, and strengthens team culture.
    Whether someone starts as an installer, a field inspector, or in an administrative or engineering support role, the goal is the same: help them grow. Certifications, manufacturer trainings, cross-functional exposure, and stretch assignments all play a part.
    The fall protection industry needs people to stay, not because they can’t go elsewhere (they certainly can), but because they are advancing, growing, and building meaningful careers over time.

The Skills That Will Define the Future of Fall Protection
    The next decade will reshape this industry in ways both predictable and surprising. Advancements in energy-absorbing equipment, anchorage systems, structural materials, and active fall protection will change how systems are designed and installed. Meanwhile, digital tools and construction technologies will expand what’s possible.
    On the compliance side, even in a more deregulated environment, companies must understand — and quantify — the cost of non-compliance. This will require:
    • Technical literacy in evolving equipment and structural systems
    • Strong analytical skills to interpret codes and evaluate risk
    • Systems thinking to integrate design, installation, and maintenance
    • Field experience to build practical judgment
    • Communication and project management abilities
    Technology will enhance the work, but it won’t replace the need for skilled professionals.

A Career with Room to Grow
    One of the most compelling aspects of permanent fall protection is the breadth of career paths it touches. Professionals may begin in installation or inspection and eventually move into engineering support, project management, sales, customer experience, marketing, or leadership roles. And full-service providers offer especially broad pathways.
    The throughline is clear: this is an industry where a person can start almost anywhere and, with persistence and curiosity, build a long and varied career.

Choosing a Workplace That Invests in You
    For anyone entering the fall protection industry, my single piece of advice is this:
Choose a company that is committed to your entire career — not just the job you’re applying for.
    Ask prospective employers how they will help you level up your skills, gain certifications, or transition into new responsibilities over time. A strong employer should care deeply about the experience of its people — not just the tasks they complete.
    Show me a great business, and I will show you a great workplace behind it.
    In fall protection, that workplace can be a powerful force for good — not only protecting workers nationwide but also developing the next generation of professionals who will carry the mission forward.