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Assuring Fall Protection When Working At Heights. Stan Liang, CIH, CSP, CET KTA-Tator, Inc. Brief overview of the following: When fall protection is required Approaches for controlling fall hazards Proper usage of fall protection OSHA fall protection requirements
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Assuring Fall Protection When Working At Heights Stan Liang, CIH, CSP, CET KTA-Tator, Inc.
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 Webinar Objectives
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 • 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 above 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
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 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
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 • Use wood alcohol to remove paint from metal parts
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