PREVENTION OF FALL FATALITIES AND INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION

1. PREVENTION OF FALL FATALITIES AND INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION INSERT SPEAKER NAME, TITLE, AND ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

2. Overview • OSHA Alliance Program • OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable • U.S. Construction Accident and Fall Statistics • Safe Practices • Resources • Summary *Through the OSHA Alliance Program, this presentation was developed by members of the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor . (September 2008)

3. Alliance Program OSHA and the participating organizations define, implement, and meet a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three categories: Training and education Outreach and communication Promoting the national dialogue on safety and health Sharing technical expertise, developing and disseminating compliance assistance products with participants Provides OSHA access to millions of employers and employees John R. Miller, President, SIA.; Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA; and Richard J. Marshall, then-Executive Vice President, SIA; sign a national Alliance agreement on February 25, 2008

4. OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable • Purpose of Alliance Roundtable • Success of Alliance Program Construction Roundtable: • Fall Protection Workgroup • Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup • Presentations

5. OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable: Members • American Industrial Hygiene Association • American Society of Safety Engineers • Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association • Construction Institute-American Society of Civil Engineers • Independent Electrical Contractors • Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America • National Association of Home Builders • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health • Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute • National Safety Council • Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute • Washington Division of URS Corporation

6. Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Products Design for Safety Workgroup Design for Construction Safety Web site “Introduction to Designing for Construction Safety” presentation Design for Construction Safety 2 – 4 Hour Course Washington Division of URS Case Study, "Washington Group International Designs and Builds a Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility." February 2007 Fall Protection Workgroup Safety Tips Sheets “Fall Protection” presentation Toolbox Talks Picture of Toolbox Talks: Ladder Safety

7. Design for Construction Safety Web Site Screen Capture of Design for Construction Safety Web site

8. Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Screen Capture of OSHA’s Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Web Page

9. U.S. Construction Accident Statistics1 • Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,226 deaths each year • 5.5% of workforce but 21.5% of fatalities • Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry sector SIGNIFICANCE: NEARLY 100 DEATHS PER MONTH 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

10. U.S. Construction Fall Fatality Statistics1 Total Falls433 From roof edge 74 From scaffold, staging 70 From ladders 68 To lower level 48 Through floor opening, floor surface, ground to lower level 31 From structural steel 24 Through skylight 23 From non-moving vehicle 22 Through roof surface, roof opening 20 1Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

11. Fall Speed vs. Reaction Time In 1 second your body will fall 16 feet Good body reaction time= 0.5 seconds Travel distance in 0.5 seconds = 4 feet By the time you react your body will be 4 feet below where you were standing

12. When Do You Need Fall Protection? OSHA’s Regulation 29 CFR 1926.501 (b) under Subpart M requires fall protection wherever the potential to fall six feet or more exists. Fall protection is required when you are: • Near an unprotected roof edge; • Working in a unguarded mezzanine and balcony edges;

13. When Do You Need Fall Protection? Fall protection is also required in the following locations: • Working off aerial lift; • Unguarded scaffolding 10 feet or higher

14. Reducing Fall Fatalities and Injuries • Design Professionals – Design Professionals’ need to be cognizant to design with health and safety in mind. Design permanent building features so that fall protection is not needed. This eliminates the chance of an accident if fall protection is not provided, provided but not used, or not used properly • Contractors– It is the contractor’s responsibility to enforce compliance with safety practices with regard to ladders, scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is necessary • Workers– It is the worker’s responsibility to apply the safety practices with regard to ladders, scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is necessary

15. Types of Fall Prevention and Protection Systems • Passive Systems prevent falls by placing a physical barrier between the worker and the hazard (e.g. guardrails). • Active Systems protect workers by limiting the fall to a specified distance and also limit the amount of force the worker is subjected to in the event of a fall (e.g. personal fall arrest systems).

16. Personal Fall-Arrest Systems • A Personal Fall-Arrest System is a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. • Any person ordered to work with at height who has an increase risk of falling off of structures/buildings should wear a personal fall arrest system.

17. Personal Fall-Arrest Systems • Personal Fall-Arrest Systems, when stopping a fall shall be rigged such that a worker can neither free fall more than six feet, nor contact any lower level. • Must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

18. Personal Fall-Arrest Systems A personal fall-arrest system shall consist of the following: • Anchorage points, Full body harness, Shock Absorbing Lanyard, Lifeline, Rope-grabs, Connectors All components of the fall arrest system shall be fully compatible.

19. Full Body Harness • Must be the right size for you. • The attachment point of a body harness shall be located on the: • Rear D-ring between shoulders when working from a suspended scaffold or an aerial lift Front D-ring when working from a bosun’s chair. • Harness must be adjusted snugly starting with leg straps, then waist, shoulders and chest.

20. Lanyards • Used to connect a body harness to a lifeline, rope-grab, or anchorage point. • Shall be the appropriate length: • Bosun’s chair – 2 feet or less • Suspended scaffold – 3 to 4 feet • Aerial lift – 4 to 6 feet • Attach to: • Rear D-ring on harness between shoulders when working on suspended scaffolds and aerial lifts. • Front D-ring when working from a bosun’s chair. • Be protected against being cut or abraded.

21. Lifelines • Vertical - connected to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically. • Horizontal - connected to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally.

22. Lifelines • Are used as a means of connecting other components of a Personal Fall-Arrest System. • Shall be protected from contact with any surface that may abrade, weaken, damage or sever it. • Shall be removed from service as recommended by the manufacturer.

23. Falls From Roof Edge

24. Falls From Roof Edge-Specify Parapets • IBC paragraph 704.11.1 requires that a parapet wall be at least 30 inches high • OSHA 1926 Subpart M requires a 39-45 inch guardrail or other fall protection • If the design professional specifies a 39-45 inch high parapet wall, fall protection would not be required

25. Falls From Roof Edge • Other features that Design Professionals should consider: • Locate mechanical equipment away from the roof edge or on the ground

26. Design Permanent Anchorage Points Design Professionals can design fixed anchorage points so that workers will have a convenient, safe point to tie off when personal fall arrest systems are needed.

27. Design of Anchorage Points • An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines lanyards or deceleration devices; • Must be independent of any anchorage being used for equipment tiebacks; • Must be independent of the means of supporting or suspending the worker; • Must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker; • Sound anchorages include certified roof anchors as well as structural members.

28. Design Permanent Anchorage Points: Residential Fall Protection

29. Falls From Scaffolds/Staging

30. Falls From Scaffolds/Staging • Scaffolds shall be fully planked • Scaffolds shall have guardrails or personal fall arrest systems • Scaffolds shall have a safe means of access

31. Falls From Aerial Lifting Devices

32. Falls From Ladders

33. Falls From Ladders-Specify Fixed Ladders or Stairways Specify fixed ladders or stairways whenever possible

34. Falls From Ladders • Position portable ladders to the side rails to extend at least 3 feet above the landing • Secure side rails at top or use a grab device when 3 foot extension is not possible • Use “3-point” contact rule • Position base of ladder one foot away from wall for every four feet of ladder length

35. Falls From Height

36. Falls From Height-Specify 39-45 Inch High Window Sills

37. Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabrication Building Components Concrete Wall Panels Concrete Segmented Bridge Steel Stairs

38. Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabricated Steelwork1 1 www.safetyindesign.org

39. Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabricated Service Risers1 1 www.safetyindesign.org

40. Falls from Floor Openings

41. Falls From Floor Openings-Guardrails Perimeter guarding shall consist of a mid-rail, top rail, toe-board system. The top edge height of the rail shall be 42+/-3 inches and the mid-rail should be between the top and the walking/working level.

42. Falls From Floor Openings-Specify Cast-in Sockets For Railings1 1 www.safetyindesign.org

43. Falls From Floor Openings Contractor can: • Install temporary guardrails for temporary floor openings • Install a cover for temporary floor openings and holes

44. Falls From Structural Steel

45. Falls From Structural Steel • Avoid hanging connections; design to bear on columns instead using safety seats • Require holes in columns for tie lines 21” and 42” above each floor slab • Specify shop welded connections instead of bolts or field welds to avoid dangerous positions during erection • Consider approximate dimensions of connection tools to prevent pinches or awkward assemblies National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel Erectors Association of America. Detailing Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety. 2001

46. Falls Through Skylights

47. Falls Through Skylights-Specify Guards

48. Falls Through Roof Surface/Roof Opening • Provide Dedicated Walkways to Access Equipment on Roof • Design roof structure so that it can carry stacks of roofing materials • Highlight hazardous and “no-walk” areas with red highlighting paint or other visual warnings.

49. Falls From Non-Moving Vehicles

50. Falls From Non-Moving Vehicles-Trailer Access Platform 1 www.safetyindesign.org