Assuring Fall Protection When Working At Heights

Stan Liang, CIH, CSP, CETKTA-Tator, Inc.

Webinar Objectives

Brief overview of the following: When fall protection is required Approaches for controlling fall hazards Proper usage of fall protection OSHA fall protection requirements

Resources for additional information

Fall Hazards in the Workplace

• Third most common cause of fatalities

• Virtually all fatalities are preventable, according to an OSHA study

Fall Protection

• Even brief exposures to fall hazards not permitted by OSHA

• 100% fall protection policies are necessary

Causes of Falls

• Personal factors (i.e., lack of concentration, illness)

• Environmental factors (i.e., poor lighting, slippery surfaces, weather)

• Poor housekeeping

• Poor planning

Fall Protection /Fall Prevention Systems

• Plan for fall protection in advance

• Eliminate fall hazards where possible (e.g. use alternatives to personal fall arrest such as aerial lifts)

Fall Protection /Fall Prevention Systems

• Fall prevention– Guardrail systems– Covers for openings

• Fall protection– Personal fall arrest systems– Safety nets

Regulation Overview

• 29 CFR 1926

• Subpart M - Fall Protection

• 1926.500 - 1926.503

Subpart M

• 1926.500 - Scope, application, and definitions

• 1926.501 - Duty to have fall protection

• 1926.502 - Fall protection systems criteria and practices

• 1926.503 - Training requirements

Subpart MAppendices

Appendix A – Determining Roof Widths

Appendix B – Guardrail Systems

Appendix C – Personal Fall Arrest

Appendix D – Positioning Devices

Appendix E – Sample Fall Protection Plan

1926.500 Scope and Application

• Subpart M outlines the requirements and criteria for fall protection in all construction work places covered under 29 CFR 1926.

1926.501 Duty to Have Fall Protection

• Requirements for employers to provide fall protection

• Applies to unprotected side or edge six (6) feet or more above a lower level

Protection from Falling Objects

• When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the employer must require workers to wear hard hats and implement one of the following:– Install toe boards, screens, or guardrail systems;

or– Install a canopy structure; or– Install barricades and keep employees from

entering the barricaded area

1926.502 General Requirements

• Provide and install all fall protection systems before the employee begins work that necessitates fall protection

1926.502Guardrail Requirements

• 42-inch height requirements (+/– 3 inches)

• Mid rails, screens, mesh or equivalent structural member

• Screens and mesh, if used, must extend from the top rail to the walking/working level and along the entire opening between top rail supports

1926.502Guardrail Requirements

• Intermediate members, if used, must not be more than 19 inches apart

• Guardrails must withstand a force of 200 pounds on the top rail

• Mid rails must be able to withstand a force of 150 pounds

• Must be smooth to prevent cuts or clothing snags

1926.502Guardrail Requirements

• Must be at least 1/4 inch diameter (wire rope)

• Use high visibility flagging at 6 foot intervals if wire rope guardrails are used

• If used around accessways, offset or provide one guardrail with a gate

• Inspect fiber rope guardrails as necessary

1926.502 Safety Net Requirements

• Installed as close to the work surface as possible, but in no case more than 30 feet below such level

• Sufficient clearance under them to prevent contact with any surface or structure below

1926.502 Safety Net Requirements

• Safety nets must extend outward from the structure as follows:

Distance from Horizontal

working surface distance beyond

to ground structure

up to 5 feet 8 feet

5 to 10 feet 10 feet

over 10 feet 13 feet

1926.502Safety Net Requirements

• Test when installed or relocated

• Inspect once per week

• Remove tools and other debris as soon as possible

1926.502Safety Net Requirements

• Maximum mesh size shall be 36 square inches (6" on a side)

• Connections between net panels shall not be more than 6" apart

Holes

• Control fall hazards via personal fall arrest, covers or guardrails.

• Protect employees on walking/working surfaces from tripping hazards.

• Protect employees from objects that may fall through holes.

1926.503Covers

• Capable of supporting twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials

• Secured to prevent accidental displacement

• Marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” or color coded

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• A Personal Fall Arrest System includes:– Anchorage– Connectors (snap hooks) and D-Rings– Lanyard (dual lanyard for 100% fall protection)– Full body harness

• Other components may include a self-retracting lifeline, vertical and horizontal lifelines, and a rope grab device

• As of 1/1/98, the use of body belts is prohibited

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• Injury is still possible when personal fall arrest is used

• Personal fall arrest is a last resort• Investigate alternatives before using personal fall

arrest

General Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• Must limit the maximum arresting force on a worker to 1800 pounds

• Lanyard must be connected to D-ring on harness between the shoulder blades

• Anchorage should be at the same level or higher than the harness D-ring height

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• System must be rigged so that the employee: – Cannot free fall more than six (6) feet– Is brought to a complete stop with a minimum

deceleration distance of 3.5 feet

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• Ensure that adequate clearance is available when using personal fall arrest systems.

• With a 6 foot lanyard, 18.5 feet of clearance is needed.

Personal Fall Arrest System

• Where there is inadequate clearance for a 6 foot lanyard:– Use a shorter lanyard– Move anchorage point higher– Use a retractable lifeline– Consider alternative to personal fall arrest

systems, such as a restraint system

Anchor Points

• Importance of anchor point selection:– Strength of the entire personal fall arrest system

is dependent on the strength of the connection to the anchor point

• Anchor point criteria:– 5000 lb. per employee attached– Safety factor of at least 2– Not used to support other equipment

Anchorage Points

• Use of existing structures - most likely scenario:– A “qualified person” must evaluate each

“make-shift” anchor point– In general guardrail systems or scaffold

platforms should not be used as anchor points

Anchor PointsSwing Falls

• Keep anchor point overhead to prevent swing fall hazards

• Pendulum like motion can result in injuries due to collision with objects

Anchorage Points

• Use beam clamps or other temporary connectors specifically designed for use in fall protection system.

• Do not wrap a lanyard around the anchorage – unless designed by the manufacturer for this type of connection

Horizontal Lifelines

• Design must be by a qualified person (with a safety factor of at least two)

• Multiple tie offs only if permitted by qualified person

Vertical Lifelines

• One person per vertical lifeline

• Minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs

• Minimum 12 feet of lifeline below lowest point of travel or extend lifeline to ground

• Weight or tie off bottom of line

Vertical LifelinesRope Grabs

• Must be compatible with the lifeline

• Installed with directional arrow pointing up

• Should be equipped with “anti panic” feature

Lanyards

• Knots in lanyard or lifeline reduce strength 50%

• Do not connect one or more lanyards together

• Consider retractable, horizontal, and vertical lifelines or different anchorage when a lanyard is too short

Lanyards

• Looping a rope lanyard or lifeline around an “I” beam can reduce system strength by 70%. Use:– Cross arm straps– Web lanyard– Wire rope lanyard– Padding to avoid sharp

edges

Snaphooks and Caribiners

• Must be locking type• Compatible with

anchorage• Caribiners must be the

“auto lock” type

Harness Breakaway Clip

• Used for attachment of unused dual lanyard snap hook.

• Prevents “blow out” failure during a fall

Rescue Procedures

• Employers relying on personal fall arrest systems must have pre-planned rescue procedures or make sure workers can rescue themselves in the event of a fall.

• The availability of rescue personnel, ladders, or other equipment should be considered.

• Use the buddy system.

Inspection

• Prior to each use, check equipment for:Cuts Deterioration

Tears Contact with fire or corrosives

Abrasions Distorted parts

Mold Loose or damaged mountings

Stretching Non-functioning parts

Alterations Fading

Rotting Deterioration

Wear Visible reduction in rope diameter

Inspection

• Do not use equipment previously used to arrest a fall.

• Discard fall protection heavily contaminated with paint or other chemicals.

• Do not mix equipment from different manufacturers.

Cleaning Fall Protection

• Wash harnesses and lanyards with warm soapy water followed by fresh water rinse

• Do not use industrial solvents on synthetic material

• Do not oil parts unless directed by manufacturer

Fall Protection Storage

• Keep synthetic materials away from direct sunlight

• Store in a cool, dry place

Positioning Devices

• Positioning devices must meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.502, paragraph (e).

• Requirements include anchorage strength, maximum free fall permitted, and equipment inspections.

• Applies to restraint systems

Roofing Work on Low-Slope Roofs

• Options for fall protection include:– Guardrail systems– Personal fall arrest– Safety nets– Guardrail/warning line systems– Warning line/safety net– Warning line/personal fall arrest– Warning line/safety monitor

Wall Openings

• Fall protection is required under the following conditions:– Outside bottom edge is more than 6 feet above

a lower level; and– Inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less

than 39 inches above the walking/working surface

Wall Openings

• Options for fall protection include:– Guardrails– Safety nets– Personal fall arrest

Additional Fall Hazards Regulated by OSHA

• Hoist areas – guard rails and personal fall arrest

• Formwork and reinforcing steel – personal fall arrest, positioning device systems

• Excavations – guard rails (when excavation can not be readily seen)

• Dangerous equipment - guard rails or equipment guards

Additional Fall Hazards Regulated by OSHA (cont.)

• Leading edges – guard rails, safety nets, personal fall arrest

• Steep roofs – guard rails, safety nets, personal fall arrest

• Residential construction – guard rails, personal fall arrest, or safety nets

1926.503 Training Requirements

• Fall hazards in the work area• Erecting, assembling and maintaining fall

protection• Use and operation of fall protection

equipment• Handling and storage of materials and the

erection of overhead protection• Requirements of the standard

Ladder Safety

• Fall prevention systems (e.g. ladder climbing devices) are only required for fixed ladders.

• Fixed ladders must have fall protection when the height exceeds 24 feet.

Fixed Ladder Fall Protection Options

• Ladder climbing safety device

• Self retracting lifeline• Cage

Fixed Ladder Cages

• Rest platforms required at 50 foot intervals

• Prevents falls due to exhaustion

OSHA Scaffold StandardFall Protection Requirements

• Fall protection is required when employees are more than 10 feet above a lower level.

• Fall protection is required for erection or dismantling of scaffolds, if the competent person determines it is feasible.

• Temporary containment platforms are regulated by OSHA as scaffolds

Scaffolds

Major OSHA Requirements for Aerial Lifts

• Fall protection worn and anchored to boom or basket

• Stand firmly on the floor of the basket

• Fall protection can not be connected to adjacent pole, structure, or equipment

Additional Information

• www.osha.gov

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L (Scaffolds)

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M (Fall Protection)

• 29 CFR Subpart X (Ladders and Stairways)

• OSHA compliance directives (Scaffolds CPL 2-1.23) and letters of interpretation

• Equipment manufacturers

• Health and safety professionals

Questions