Fall Protection In Construction

1. Fall Protection In Construction Welcome! OR-OSHA 301 1004

2. This presentation will discuss: • The importance of planning • When fall protection is required • What fall protection methods are available • Basic principals of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) • Rescue planning • Training

3. Planning and identifying needs • The most important element of construction worksite safety is planning. • Hazards must be identified based on the evaluation of the processes, and the worksite overall, before a plan can be developed. • If proper planning isn’t done, time and materials will be wasted and, consequently, costs will rise. • Planning makes the difference between the success or failure of any project.

4. Before we can reduce or eliminate fall hazards in the construction industry, we must first become familiar with: • the characteristics of fall hazards, • what fall protection is, • what methods of protection are available, and • the basic planning requirements for any type of construction work where fall hazards exist.

5. Plan the work before you work the plan • Evaluate the work site • Identify fall hazards • Identify who is exposed to fall hazards • Evaluate the process to be done and the needs to complete the task • Identify what method of fall protection will be used for each hazard identified

6. How much planning was done here?

7. What is fall protection? prevent A method to __________ a person from falling or by reducing the ____________ of a fall to limit physical damage. Conventional systems include guardrails, covers, safety nets, personal fall arrest, personal fall restraint, positioning devices, etc. distance

8. Why is fall protection important? • Prevents or reduces personal injury • Prevents/reduces injury to others • Reduces $$$$$$ • Direct costs from falls are generally between $16,000 - $34,000! • Compliance with the regulations

9. Federal OSHA statistics show: Falls are the leading cause of work-related deaths among construction workers. Why would people have the equipment on and not use it? What factors contribute to falls?

10. Hazard?

11. Hazard?

12. Hazard?

13. Hazard?

14. Hazard?

15. Hazard?

16. The Requirements Although the use of personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) is the most widely used method of fall protection, there are alternatives available that may better suit the work being performed and better protect the worker. Before we discuss the use of personal fall arrest systems, let’s discuss fall protection requirements and take a look at some other fall protection options.

17. Div 3/Sub M OAR 437-003-1501General Fall Protectionstates “…when employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 10 feet or more to a lower level, the employer must ensure that fall protection systems are provided, installed, and implemented according to the criteria in Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926.502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices.”

18. However… Fall protection must be provided when employees are exposed to the hazard of falling six feet or more….. • through holes • through wall openings • from established floors, mezzanines, balconies, & walkways • into excavations

19. And… Every employee must be protected from falls into or onto dangerous equipment - regardless of height!

20. Fall Protection for the following areas is not covered in OR-OSHA Div 3/Sub M because they’re covered elsewhere: • Working on scaffolds - Div 3/Sub L • Certain cranes and derricks - Div 3/Sub N • Steel erection activities - Div 3/Sub R • Certain equip in tunneling operations - Div 3/Sub S • Construction of electrical transmission and distribution lines and equipment - in Div 3/Sub V • Working on stairways and ladders - Div 3/Sub X

21. A few other notes……….. The employer must determine the walking/working surfaces where employees will work are strong enough and have the structural integrity to support employees safely.

22. Protection must be provided when there is a hazard of falling objects: • Hardhats and • toeboards, screens, or guardrails systems • canopy structure • barricade area below and prohibit access

23. A quick look at other fall protection options • Guardrail Systems • Toprail at 42” (+/- 3”) from working surface • Midrail approx. 21”, or screens/mesh from toprail to working surface • Capable of withstanding 200 lbs. of force (midrail must withstand 150 lbs.) • applied within two inches of the top edge

24. What’s missing? 1926.501(c)(1) Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling from higher levels; or,

25. Surfaced to prevent cuts, lacerations, and slivers • Ends must not extend over posts if it can pose a projection hazard • Flag every six feet when wire rope is used • When hoisting operations are not taking place • chain, gate, or removable section must be installed across access opening • Erected along all open sides of a hole

26. A quick look at other fall protection options • Covers • Capable of supporting, without failure, at least 2X the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time • Must be secured to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees • Must be color coded or marked “HOLE” or “COVER” • Capable of supporting, without failure, at least 2X the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross over

27. Safety Nets • Installed as close as possible under the walking/working surface • never more than 30 ft. below! • Must extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface:

28. Vertical distance from working level to horizontal plane of net Minimum required horizontal Up to 5 ft 8 ft. More than 5 ft. up to 10 ft 10 ft. More than 10 ft. 13 ft. A safety net is being used under the roof of this building as an acceptable fall protection system.

29. Drop tests specified in Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926.502(c)(4) • Inspect at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration • inspect after any occurrence which could affect integrity • Materials, scrap, etc., must be removed ASAP • Mesh openings must not exceed 36 sq. in. nor be longer than six inches on any side • Safety nets, and sections of it, must have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5000 lbs.

30. A quick look at other fall protection options • Slide Guard Systems • Installed under Competent Person supervision • Cannot be used on roofs with ground/eave height of 25 ft. or more • Cannot be used as fall protection on roofs with a slope less than 3:12 nor greater than 8:12 • Roofs with slopes greater than or equal to 3:12 to and including 6:12 • minimum of one slide guard placed below the work area • no closer than 6” from the eave

31. Roofs with slopes greater than 6:12 to and including 8:12 • multiple slide guards must be used • spaced 8’ apart, vertically • lower slide guard must be placed no closer than 6” from eave • Lowest slide guard must be 90 degrees to the roof surface • Upper slide guards cannot be less than 60 degrees to the roof surface

33. Slide Guard Systems - Manufactured Roof Brackets • Installed according to manufacturer’s specs • Minimum 6” brackets must be used • All brackets must bear on a solid surface • Brackets must not be spaced greater than 8’ apart horizontally, or according to manufacturer’s specs (whichever is less)

34. Nominal 2”X6” material must be used for slide guards • must be secured to the brackets or otherwise protected against cantilevering and failure due to material flex • Manufacturer’s specs must be available for review

35. Any problems here?

36. A quick look at other fall protection options • Safety Monitoring System • Only for roofing work on roof slopes of 2:12 or less • A safety monitoring system alone can be the only fall protection for roofs 50’ wide or less • A safety monitor • must be competent to recognize fall hazards • must warn employees when it appears they are unaware of the fall hazard • must be on the same surface and within visual distance of the employees • must be close enough to communicate • must not have other responsibilities which could take away their attention

37. Warning Line Systems • For roofing work • must not be used as fall protection on slopes greater than 2:12 • employees performing roofing work between a roof edge and a warning line must be protected by guardrails, nets, PFAS, PFRS, or safety monitoring system • Must be erected around all open sides of the roof work area no less than 6’ from the roof edge

38. When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line must be erected • no less than 6’ from the roof edge which is parallel and no less than 10’ from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction of the mechanical equipment operation • Points of access and material handling areas must be connected to the work area by an access path formed by two warning lines • close access/offset when not in use

39. Warning lines must consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and • flagged every 6’ w/ high-visibility material • rigged and supported that its lowest point (including sag) is no less than 34” and its highest point is no more than 39” • stanchions must be capable of resisting at least 16 lbs. of force • warning line must have a minimum tensile strength of 500 lbs. • Employees are not allowed between the roof edge and warning line unless performing roofing work

41. A quick look at other fall protection options • Positioning Device System • Must be rigged to prevent a free fall of more than two feet • Must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of a fall or 3000 lbs. (whichever is greater)

42. Connectors and connecting components must be in accordance with Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926.502(d). For example: • must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or equivalent • must have a corrosion-resistant finish and surfaces must be smooth • proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3600 lbs. without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation • snaphooks must be compatible with the member it connects to

43. Personal Fall Restraint System • Must be rigged to prevent the user from falling any distance! • Comprised of a full body harness, anchorage, and connectors (e.g. lanyard, snaphooks, etc.) • in accordance with Div 3/SubM 29 CFR 1926.502(d) Courtesy of Superanchor.com

44. Personal Fall Restraint System • Anchorages used for attachment must be capable of supporting 3000 lbs. per employee attached, or • be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall restraint system which maintains a safety factor of at least two • under the supervision of a qualified person Courtesy of Superanchor.com

45. Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) • Reduces injury sustained in a fall by • reducing the distance of the fall • absorbing the arresting forces • Must limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1800 lbs. or less • Must be rigged such that an employee • cannot free fall more than six feet • not contact a lower level • limit deceleration distance to 3.5 ft

46. Personal Fall Arrest System • Anchorages used for attachment must be capable of supporting 5000 lbs. per employee attached, or • be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two • under the supervision of a qualified person • A rescue system must be in place when personal fall arrest systems are used • provisions for prompt rescue • assurance of self-rescue

47. The ABCs!….er, and R Courtesy of Protecta International

48. Personal Fall Arrest System Anchorage An anchorage pointis a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, deceleration devices, or self retracting lanyards. Courtesy of DBI/SALA

49. The anchorage point can be a single attachment to a substantial structure above the surface from which the employee is walking/working on, or it can be one to two attachments used to anchor a vertical or horizontal lifeline. Courtesy of Superanchor.com

50. Anchorages used for personal fall arrest must be independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms (e.g. two point suspended scaffolds). Courtesy of DBI/SALA