Fall Protection for Construction

1. Fall Protection for Construction

2. Training objectives • Nature of fall hazards in the work area • Subpart M of the construction regulations 1a

3. Training objectives • Procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting fall protection systems 1b

4. Training objectives • Use and operation of: • guardrail systems • personal fall arrest systems • safety net systems • warning line systems • safety monitoring systems • controlled access zones • other protections to be used 1c

5. Training objectives • Role of each employee when a safety monitoring system is used • Role of employees in fall protection plans 1d

6. Training objectives • Limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during roofing work on low-sloped roofs 1e

7. Training objectives • Correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection 1f

8. Fall hazards in the work area • Falls are one of the major causes of injuries to construction workers • Working at the leading edge of floors, formwork, or roofs 2a

9. Fall hazards in the work area • Leaning over for overhand bricklaying work • Working near holes or openings • Walking on elevated ramps or runways 2b

10. Standard applicability • The OSHA standard requires construction employers to: • identify and evaluate fall hazards • provide fall protection • train employees • The requirements are performance-oriented 3a

11. Standard applicability • The standard does not cover construction workers who are inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions: • prior to the actual start of work; or • after all work has been completed 3b

12. Standard applicability • Other OSHA standards also contain fall protection requirements, but they may not outline specific rules for fall protection during all parts of the job 3c

13. Standard applicability • Review: • Subpart L - Scaffolds • Subpart N - Cranes and derricks • Subpart R - Steel erection • Subpart S - Tunneling • Subpart V - Electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment • Subpart X - Stairways and ladders 3d

14. Fall protection measures • All walking and working surfaces must be strong enough to safely support employees • Employees must be protected from fall hazards whenever they are 6 feet or more above a lower level 4a

15. Fall protection measures • Construction workers who are exposed to the hazard of falling onto or into dangerous equipment must be protected at any height • All employees must be protected from falling objects 4b

16. Fall protection measures • Guardrail systems • Safety net systems • Personal fall arrest systems • Positioning device systems 4c

17. Fall protection measures • Warning line systems • Controlled access zones • Safety monitoring systems • Covers 4d

18. Terms • Anchorage • Body belt (safety belt) • Body harness • Controlled access zone (CAZ) 5a

19. Terms • Dangerous equipment • Deceleration device • Deceleration distance • Free fall 5b

20. Terms • Free fall distance • Guardrail system • Lanyard • Leading edge 5c

21. Terms • Lifeline • Low-slope roof • Lower levels • Mechanical equipment 5d

22. Terms • Overhand bricklaying and related work • Personal fall arrest system • Positioning device system • Roofing work 5e

23. Terms • Safety-monitoring system • Self-retracting lifeline/lanyard • Steep roof 5f

24. Terms • Unprotected sides and edges • Walking/working surface • Warning line system 5g

25. Guardrail systems • The top edge height of top rails must be between 39 inches and 45 inches above the walking/working level 6a

26. Guardrail systems • Midrails, screens, mesh, or intermediate vertical members are needed when there is no wall or parapet wall at least 21-inches high 6b

27. Guardrail systems • Guardrail systems must be able to withstand the forces specified in OSHA’s standard • Steel or plastic banding cannot be used as top rails or midrails 6c

28. Guardrail systems • Top rails and midrails must have a diameter of at least 1/4-inch • If wire rope is used for top rails, it must be flagged with high-visibility material at least every 6 feet 6d

29. Guardrail systems • Top rails or midrails made from manila, plastic or synthetic rope must be inspected frequently • The guardrail’s surface must be smooth enough so it does not cause lacerations or other injuries, or snag clothing 6e

30. Guardrail systems • The ends of top rails and midrails must not overhang the terminal posts to create a projection hazard 6f

31. Safety net systems • Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working surface, but in no case more than 30 feet below the surface 7a

32. Safety net systems • When nets are used on bridges, the potential fall area from the walking/working surface to the net must be unobstructed 7b

33. Safety net systems • Safety nets are to extend outward from the work surface by a sufficient distance as specified in the standard • Safety nets must have sufficient clearance under them 7c

34. Safety net systems • Safety nets must be capable of absorbing an impact force equal to the standard’s specified drop test • Defective nets must not be used 7d

35. Safety net systems • Inspect safety nets at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration • Safety nets must also be inspected after any occurrence that could affect the integrity of the safety net system 7e

36. Personal fall arrest systems • Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system • Connectors, dee-rings, and snaphooks must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 8a

37. Personal fall arrest systems • Devices used to connect to a horizontal lifeline are to be capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline • Lanyards and vertical lifelines must meet the standard’s minimum breaking strength requirements 8b

38. Personal fall arrest systems • When vertical lifelines are used, each employee must be attached to a separate lifeline • Lifelines must be protected from being cut or abraded 8c

39. Personal fall arrest systems • Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards must meet the standard’s load requirements • Anchorages used for personal fall arrest equipment must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms 8d

40. Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must • Limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when used with a body harness • Be rigged so that an employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet 8e

41. Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must • Be rigged so that an employee will not contact any lower level • Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit the employee’s maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet 8f

42. Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must • Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the anticipated potential impact energy 8g

43. Positioning Device Systems • Positioning devices are to be rigged so that an employee cannot free fall more than 2 feet 9a

44. Positioning Device Systems • Positioning devices must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting: • at least twice the potential impact load of an employee’s fall; or • 3,000 pounds, whichever is greater 9b

45. Positioning Device Systems • Connectors, dee-rings, and snaphooks must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 9c

46. Positioning Device Systems • Positioning device systems must be inspected before each use for: • wear • damage • deterioration • defective components 9d

47. Positioning Device Systems • Body belts and components must only be used as part of a positioning device system—they cannot be used to hoist materials 9e

48. Fall protection systems • Employers have a duty to anticipate fall hazards, and to plan work activities accordingly • Careful planning and preparation lay the necessary groundwork for an accident-free workplace 10a

49. Fall protection systems • Limit work activities to walking/working surfaces that have the strength and structural integrity to safely support employees 10b

50. Fall protection systems • The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: • unprotected sides and edges • hoist areas • holes • wall openings • formwork and reinforcing steel 10c