BASIC FALL PROTECTION

OFFERED BY:

CH BULL COSOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Falls Kill

• Unrestrained falls from 10’ kill or disable 4 out of 5 victims

• Unrestrained falls from 11’ kill 4 out of 5

PHYSICS OF A FALL

Elapsed Distance Velocity Speed MPH Force at

Time of fall Ft. per second impact

.25 1 Ft 8 5.5 400 Lbs

.50 4 Ft 16 11 1600 Lbs

.61 6 Ft 20 14 2400 Lbs

.75 9 Ft 24 16 3600 Lbs

1.0 16 Ft 32 22 6400 Lbs

1.25 25 Ft 40 27 10,000 Lbs

1.5 36 Ft 48 33 14,000 Lbs

1.75 49 Ft 56 38 19,600 Lbs

*calculations based upon a 200 pound worker including tools.

Construction

• In 1995 1,048 people died on the job– 32% of fatal accidents involved falls

Key Areas of Concern

• Falls from heights

• Confined spaces

• Lift equipment

• Scaffolds

Eliminating the Risk

• Don’t go there

• Build a work platform

• Implement a personal fall arrest system

• Use alternative means

Fall Protection

• A series of steps taken to reasonably lessen or eliminate the risk of falling in the work place

What Is Fall Protection?

• Equipment?

• Planning?

• A culture change?

• It is all of the above

Key Fall Exposures, Concerns

• At heights

• When positioned

• Confined spaces

• Lift devices

The Regulatory Environment

• Employers have the GENERAL DUTY to provide a safe, healthy workplace

Hierarchy of Regulation

• State or federal standards– Minimum acceptable

• Manufacturer notices, warnings, instructions

• Employer safety policy

Generally Speaking the Regs Require

• Fed OSHA limits free falls to 6’ or less• Cal/OSHA limits free fall to 30” or more• Special criteria for confined space work• Fall protection in lift devices• Scaffold builders to be “tied off”

Specific Regulations

• 29CFR1910

• 29CFR1926

• Multiple state regulations– CAL/OSHA of Regulations, Title 8– Subchapter 7

Two Types of Personnel Are Described

• Competent

• Qualified

Competent Persons

• Know application limits

• Regulations

• Able to “solve and resolve” problems

• Have authority to take necessary actions

Qualified Persons

• Degree or certificate of competency– PE

• Vast experience

• Skill necessary to “solve and resolve” technical problems

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• Must be in place when the risk is present

• Must limit impact loads on the victim

• Must ACTUALLY work in the environment in which they are used

When Positioned

• A fall of NO MORE THAN 2 FEET

• A minimum 3,000# anchor

• All other hardware must meet PFAS requirements

Powered Lift Equipment

• Confusing Scenario– Scissor lift– Boom lift or other device

Scissors Lift

• Working surface

Boom Lift

• Must be “tied off”– 29CFR1910.67(c)(2)(v)

A full body harness shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift.

One More Look at Boom Lifts

• Do you see any problems here?– Free fall potential?

– Anchor strength?

– Basket capacity?

Federal Regulatory Basis

• OSHA– 29 CFR 1926 Sub R

• Steel erection only

– 29 CFR 1926 Sub M• Well documented• 6’ free fall

29CFR1926 Sub R

• Significant changes– 1926.760(a) sets 15’ “trigger height” with

exceptions– Specific training

What if Conventional Fall Protection Will Not Work

• Fall protection plans are acceptable alternative– Very restrictive– Very specific

Fall Protection Plans

• Require clear statement that “conventional” fall protection “is impractical or creates a greater hazard.”

• Must clearly identify why conventional systems are not appropriate

Plans Must be Specific

• Where it is to be implemented

• Who is responsible for implementation

• A qualified person must approve the plan and any changes

• The plan must be maintained on site

Additional Actions May be Required for Compliance

• Title 8§1671.1(a)(9) requires controlled access zones and safety monitoring when “no other alternatives measure has been implemented….”

Controlled Access Zones

• Control line set not less than 6’ nor more than 25’ from unprotected or leading edge

• Set with lowest point no less than 39” nor more than 45” above the working level

• Must be clearly marked at not more than 6’ intervals

Safety Monitoring

• Safety monitor must be competent person

• Must always be in communication with employees being monitored

• Monitor should have no other responsibilities diverting attention

Safety at Heights: A Simple Proposition

• A - anchorage

• B - full body harness

• C - connectors

• D - devices

Anchor Points

• Basic - most common alternative• Engineered - meets 2:1 safety factor• Most common errors Assume anchor point is strong enough Somebody else tied off to this anchor point

Can You Recognize an Appropriate Anchor?

• 5,000 lbs

• 3,000 lbs

• How about a rule of thumb?

Anchor Point Evaluation

• Ford F-250 Extended Cab

• 2 WD• 5,058 lb.

Anchorage Selection

• 5,000 pound requirement

• Set as high as possible– Cuts free fall

• Use correct device– Cable or web sling

– Carabiner, handgrip

Weight Limits

• Most fall arrest equipment sold in the United States has a stated weight limit of 310 pounds.

• Why?

• Anchor quality

B: Body Harness

• The only acceptable device for use in a fall arrest situation

• Spreads load to minimize injuries– OSHA allows 1,800 pound impact load

– ANSI Z359.1-1992 limits impact to 900 pounds

• Positions victim for rescue

Harness Categories

• General use

• Specialized

• Rescue, Climbing

Common Features

• Ease of inspection

• Improved labeling

• Two-color design

Harness Fit

• Legs closed tightly• Sub pelvic strap

correctly positioned• D-ring positioned

between shoulders

Harness Fit

Harness Inspection

• Webbing okay?– No burns, tears,

discoloration

• Hardware okay?– Properly positioned

– No cracks

Connectors

• Must be double locking

• Must be compatible

• Must be inspected prior to each use

Energy Absorbing Devices

• Must absorb the energy built up during a fall

• Must control energy imparted on both victim and anchor point

• All get longer under load

Shock Absorber Types

• Rip stitch

• “Woof material”

• Tearing

• Self retracting lifelines

Inspection is Critical

• Webbing undamaged?

• Hardware functional?

• Shock absorber okay?

Make Your Inspection COMPLETE!

• Internal damage can be hard to detect

• Tug on the lanyard legs to be sure they are attached

Falls Actually Don’t Kill…. The Stop Does the Damage

• Contact with lower levels, dangerous equipment

• Swings into structures

Fall Protection Math

• Lanyard length + shock absorber length + victim height + elongation = REQUIRED CLEAR SPACE

• 6’ + 6’ + 42” + 1’ = >15’

• Do you have this much distance?

Fall Protection:

• 10% equipment

• 90% rigging

Rigging Is Critical

• Anchor set as high as possible

• Lanyard attached properly to harness– Shock absorber clipped

to back d-ring

Self Retracting Lifelines

• Must be positioned over work area– Minimize swing fall

potential

• Cuts anchor requirement– 3,000 lbs.... Vs. 5,000 lbs..

Temporary Horizontal Lifelines

• Ideal for steel, bridge, and decking

• Anchored correctly

• Check vertical clearance– Nearly 20’ may be needed

Engineered Fall Arrest/Protection Systems

• Fall arrest – there may be fall from an exposed edge

• Fall restraint – prevents personnel from reaching an exposed edge

Cell Tower

Light Tower

Arenas

Crane Runway

Ladder

Bridge

Roof Application

Horizontal systems

• Cable systems

• Rigid rail systems

• Embedded strut

• Beam trolley

Cable System

Embedded Strut

Beam Trolley

Vertical climbing systems• Cable systems

• Rail systems

Cable System

Summary- Engineered Systems

• Definition• Standards• Hazards and Solutions• What are the benefits of an Engineered

System?

Benefits

• Cost effective• Versatile• Low Maintenance• Very easy to use• COMPLIANT

Inspection Intervals

• Title 8 Sec 1670 (19) requires that PFAS “shall be inspected not less than twice annually” by a competent person

• Inspection date must be documented

Rescue: The Final Challenge

• Most falls are self rescued

• If rescue is required it– Must be timely, per OSHA– Must be within 15 minutes, per ANSI

• Must be part of the plan

A Safety Reminder

• Even if you were born to do a job, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to automatically do it safely.…You know what you're doing, its what you've been trained to do your whole life. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right???

• Think again!

Thank You!It starts right now. Remember

knowledge is not power, it is what you do with what you know that

gives you power