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FALL PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

OSHA REGULATION

CFR 1926.500-503

Disclaimer

The information presented in this presentation has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable and is intended to be a tool to assist and guide you in building your own presentation. This program may not address all the hazardous conditions or unsafe acts that may exist. For that reason, SPIN cautions users to confirm accuracy and compliance with the latest standards and best practices. Local, State/Provincial and Federal regulations take precedence over this material. Implementation of any practices suggested by this program is at your sole discretion, and SPIN will have no liability to any party for any damages including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with the information provided or its use.

Guardrail Systems

defined as a barrier erected to prevent workers from falling to lower levels.

A guardrail system must be used: on unprotected sides or edges of a ramp or

runway. on unprotected sides or edges of holes. to restrict access to hoist areas when not

used for hoisting.

Guardrail Systems No openings can be more than 19” apart. When holes are used to pass materials, no

more than two sides of the guardrail may be removed at a time.

Never use a guardrail as a place to tie off! Guardrails must be inspected as often as

needed

Standard Guardrail SystemTop Rail 2 x 4 material

Mid Rail 2 x 4 materialToeboard

Verticals - 8 foot max spacing2 x 4 material

42” +/- 3”

21”

All guardrails must meet the following criteria:

1. It must resist a 200 # force within 2” of the top edge in an outward or downward direction at any location along the top rail.

2. Midrails must resist a 150 # force along any point of the rail.

3. Toeboards must resist a 50 # force along any point.

4. Guardrails may be constructed of wood, pipe, roping or wire

42”21”

Floor or deck

Columns

Next floor or roof deck

Wire rope 1/4 ” minimum dia. with

flagging at 6’ centers.

Cable secured at

columns

Guardrail Systems

42” +/- 3”

21”

Special Applications

21”

Add additional top rail as needed for

workers on stilts or scaffolds whereguardrails do not exist.

Roof opening ordeck opening

Standard guardrailsystem

Path of workers toaccess ladder orstairs

Path

Floor and Roof Access Openings

Wall Openings

39” minimum

Window openingsA

A

Section A-A

Elevation

39 ” minimum

Parapet wall

Roof deck

Roof Systems With Parapet Walls

Safety Net Systems

Safety net systems are used to catch people or tools, material or equipment.

Safety nets must be installed as close as practical under the surface where employees are working.Note: The safety nets must never be more

than 30 feet below the working surface.

Safety net Requirements: The safety net must be installed so that if something falls

into the net, it will not touch structures or surfaces below. The fall area between the working surface and the net

must be free of obstructions. Safety net must extend out as follows:

Distance from working level to net

Distance net should be extendedfrom edge of the working surface

Up to 5 feet

Over 5 feet up to 10 feet

Over 10 feet

8 feet

10 feet

13 feet

Tools, scrap, or equipment that fall into a net must be removed as soon as possible,

Mesh openings cannot be larger than 36 square inches, or longer than 6” on any side.

The border rope of a safety net must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs..

Safety nets must be inspected:weekly for wear, damage and other

deteriorationafter any use that could affect the net

Drop Testing

Safety nets must be drop-tested, on site:before useafter any major repair to the systemevery six months if left in one place for

extended periods of time. Drop-test is done by by dropping a 400 lb.

sandbag, 28” to 32” in diameter, into the net.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems A system used to protect an employee in a fall

from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body

belt or body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these.

As of January 1, 1998 the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited!

Employers must plan the rescue of the worker

LanyardBefore Fall

Shock Absorber

Working Surface

Free Fall

Deceleration(Shock Absorber Activation)

1.

2.

3.

Clearance

Closest Object in Fall Path

1.) Free Fall Distance. Limited to 6’

2.) Total Fall Distance. The sum of the fall distance and deceleration distance.

3.) Deceleration distance. Must not exceed 3.5’.

Lanyard Device

Incorrect Correct

Swing Fall

Hazard

Anchorage's

Swing Fall Hazard

Anchorage point must be able to withstand a force of 3’000 lbs.

Must never use guardrails as a point of anchorage.

Anchorage Connector’s

POSSIBLE ANCHORAGE DESIGN

Wire rope diameter sized basedWire rope diameter sized based

on loading requirementson loading requirementsEye bolt designed for loadEye bolt designed for load

requirementsrequirements

Washer plates toWasher plates to

distribute the loaddistribute the load

Slab or deckSlab or deck

EyeBolt

Snap Hook

EyeBolt

Snap Hook

Snap Hook

Tag Line

Tag Line

First: Pull down on tag line until cable is within reach.

Second: To test-pull sharply on cable to activate lock. To unlock relieve tension of cable.

Third: Attach eye of steel cable to harness with snap hook- then climb.

Tag Lines

Positioning Devices

The difference between fall arrest systems and positioning, is that fall arrest systems are designed to stop a fall while a positioning device is used to hold you in position while you’re working.

Note: A positioning device does not protect you while you’re moving!

Requirements:

The positioning device must be rigged so that a worker cannot free fall more than 2’.

Anchorage's must be able to support two times the potential impact of a worker’s fall or 3,000 lbs., whichever is greater.

Connectors must be:drop forged, pressed or formed steelcorrosion resistant with smooth edges

Snap hooks must be of the double locking type to prevent unintentional opening.

Making Connections

Warning Line Systems

A warning line system is used in areas where work conditions make it impossible or would create a greater hazard to use other means of fall protection.

It is defined as a barrier erected on a roof to alert workers to the fact that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge.

Additional Requirements: Rope, wire or chain can be used. The line must be marked every 6’ with a highly visible

material. The line must be between 34-39 inches from the

working surface. The post that support the line must be able to withstand

at least 16 lbs. of pressure without tipping over. The line must be firmly attached to the posts so that if

it’s pulled in one area it doesn’t take up the slack in another.

Warning Lines around Mechanical Equipment

Defined as all motor or human propelled wheeled equipment used for roofing work, except wheelbarrows and mop carts.

When mechanical equipment is used or stored, the warning line must be no less than 6’ from the roof edge

Warning Lines around Mechanical Equipment:

6’

10’

Note: Mechanical equipment can only be used or stored where a warning line, guardrail, or personal fall arrest system is in place.

Parallel

Warning Line

Mechanical Equipment

Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)

CAZ restrict entry to bricklaying and leading edge work areas when conventional fall protection systems (guardrails, safety nets, etc.,) cannot be used or may create a greater hazard.

In order to use a CAZ for overhand bricklaying, workers must not reach more than ten inches below the working level to do the work.

Requirements:

The CAZ uses a control line to restrict access to leading edges.

Control line must:Run the full length of the leading edge and

connect on each side to a guardrail or wall.Be made of rope, wire, tape or equivalent

material and be supported by posts.Be marked at least every 6’ with a highly

visible material.

Additional Requirements: The control line must have at least a 200 lb.

breaking strength. The control line must also be between 39” and

45” inches from the working surface, including the highest and the lowest points.

Exception: For overhand bricklaying areas where the highest point can be 50”.

Note: Only workers who are doing overhand bricklaying or leading edge work are permitted in this area.

Progress of workLeading edge

6’ minimum

Warning Line

Control Access Zone

(CAZ)

Standard Guardrail System infrom edge of structure

25 feet maximum

Controlled Access Zone (CAZ)

Safety Monitoring Systems This system is used to protect workers on low-

sloped roofs, in leading edge operation, and in pre-cast concrete.

The safety monitor consist of a competent person who is responsible for recognizing fall hazards.

A competent person not only understands the hazards but has the authority to take actions to eliminate them.

Requirements:

The safety monitor must: have no other responsibilities that would interfere with the

monitoring function. be on the same working level as the workers

When using the safety monitoring system: no mechanical equipment may be used or stored on low-

sloped roof areas only workers covered by the plan may enter area all workers in area must comply with monitors warnings

Fall Protection Covers

Covers are used to prevent workers from falling through holes in floors, roofs or other working surfaces.

A hole is defined as any gap or void 2” or more in its least dimension.

Requirements: Roadway covers must support, without failure, at

least two times the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle that may cross the cover.

Other covers must support, without failure, at least two times the weight of workers, equipment and materials.

All covers must be secured so they cannot be displaced by wind, equipment or workers.

All covers must be color coded coded or marked with the word hole or cover.

Protection From Falling Objects

Protection from falling objects lists the requirements for toe-boards, guardrail, and canopies that are used to protect workers below from being struck by falling objects.

Requirements:

Toe-boards must be:at least 3-1/2” highplaced no more than 1/4” above the working

surfaceable to withstand a 50lb. force from a downward

and outward direction. When tools or materials are piled higher than

the toe-board, paneling or screening must be added between the toe-board and the mid-rail.

Additional Requirements:

Where roofing operations are underway:materials and equipment may not be stored

within 6’ of the edge, unless a guardrail system is in place.

material stacked near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting.

Canopies used to protect workers must be strong enough to prevent collapse or penetration of any items that fall on it.

When an employer can prove that it’s not feasible or may create an even greater hazard to use a conventional fall protection system, a fall protection plan may be used.

This option is only available to those working in leading edge or pre-cast concrete.

Fall Protection Plan

Requirements: Be designed for each specific work site, by a

qualified person. It must be kept on site, with any changes

noted. State why other systems can not be used. Must also show how workers will be protected. Identify the workers in CAZ. Be under the direction of a competent person.

•Equipment may not be modified in any way

•Must be inspected before and after each use

•Must be taken out of service if any defects are found

Inspection & Maintenance

Inspection & Maintenance

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