fall protection equipment selection and inspection
TRANSCRIPT
Fall Protection Equipment Selection and Inspection
David Jewell, CSPNational Safety Consultant for Conney Safety Products, Division of
WESCO
Subjects •Legislation
•Standards
•Care and Maintenance
•Full Body Harnesses
•Lanyards
•Snaphooks and Carabiners
•Tie-off Adaptors
•Anchorage Plates
•Self Retracting Lifelines
•Horizontal Lifelines
Assessing the Need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.132 requires employers to assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of PPE
Most Significant Update• Allowing employers to select the fall protection
system that works best for them (4’ trigger)Fall Protection: Any equipment, device, or system that prevents a worker from falling from an elevation OR mitigates the effect of such a fall.
1. Guardrail System
2. Safety Net System
3. Personal Fall Arrest System
4. Positioning System
5. Travel Restraint System
6. Ladder Safety System
4
Final Subpart D (compared to the old)
Final Subpart D (New) Previous Subpart D (old)
1910.21 Scope and definitions 1910.21 Definitions
1910.22 General requirements 1910.22 General requirements
1910.23 Ladders1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
1910.24 Step bolts and manhole steps 1910.24 Fixed industrial stairs
1910.25 Stairways 1910.25 Portable wood ladders
1910.26 Dockboards 1910.26 Portable metal ladders
1910.27 Scaffolds and rope descent systems 1910.27 Fixed ladders
1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection
1910.28 Safety requirements for scaffolding
1910.29 Fall protection systems and falling object protection - criteria and practices
1910.29 Manually propelled mobile ladder stands and scaffolds (towers)
1910.30 Training requirements 1910.30 Other working surfaces
1910.140 Personal fall protection systems
Subpart I
1910.28(b) Protection from Fall hazards
1) Unprotected sides and edges
2) Hoist areas
3) Holes (including skylights)
4) Dockboards
5) Runways and similar walkways
6) Dangerous equipment
7) Openings
8) Repair pits, service pits, and assembly pits less than 10’ deep
9) Fixed ladder (that extend more than 24’ above a lower level)
10) Outdoor advertising (billboards)
11) Stairways
12) Scaffolds and rope descent systems
13) Work on low-slope roofs
14) Slaughtering facility platforms
15) Walking-working surfaces not otherwise addressed
Guardrail Systems Safety Net Systems Personal Fall Protection Systems
Positioning Systems Travel Restraint Systems Personal Fall Arrest Systems
Handrails Designated Areas Ladder Safety Systems
So Let’s Talk Selection
• Guard Rails
Permanent or Temporary
Fall Restraint
Aerial Work Platforms
Fall Arrest Considerations
• Clearance
• Freefall
• Rescue
• Energy Absorption
• Obstructions
Clearance Calculations
Situation:
• I am 6 ft. tall
• Using a 6 ft. lanyard
• Anchored at my shoulder
How much fall clearance do I need?
Doc. 62-597 Rev. A
Deceleración
Safety Factor
Free Fall
OSHA 1926.501(d)(16)(iii) & (iv)
General rule:
You will need at least 17.5 ft of clearance
• 6.0 ft free fall
• 4.0 ft deceleratión
• 6.0 ft worker height
• 1.5 ft safety factor
• 17.5 ft total distance
How to calculate the distance
Deceleration
Safety Factor
Free fall
OSHA 1926.501(d)(16)(iii) & (iv)
What can we do if we do not have 17.5 ft?
• Raise the anchor point • Use a shorter lanyard • Use a SRL• Use Fall Restraint (so you cannot
fall)• Use Guard Rails when possible!
Alternatives?
Deceleración
Safety Factor
Free Fall
OSHA 1926.501(d)(16)(iii) & (iv)
Clearance distances
Type A:
• 2 ft arresting distance (max)
Type B:
• 4.5 ft arresting distance (max)
Self Retracting Lanyards
Fall Considerations
Swing Fall
Obstructions
This limits to a 4 ft. drop
Components of a Fall Arrest System
ANCHORS
BODY SUPPORT
CONNECTORS
DESCENT/RESCUE
Body Support
Full Body Harness
ANSIFall Arrest
(always must have)
OSHA 1926.502 (d) (16) (ii):
Personal fall arrest systemsshall limit the maximum
arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds
(8 kN) when used with a body harness.
D-ring locations 19
All Harnesses
Types of buckles 20
Mating Buckle
Tongue Buckle
Quick Connect Buckle
Other Harness Types
Controlled Descent
Escape & Evacuation
Connectors
Connectors include lanyards, snap-hooks, carabineers, deceleration devices such as SRD’s, ladder climbing systems, vertical & horizontal lifelines and rope grabs
OSHA says…“ [1926.502(e)(5)]: Connecting assemblies shall have a minimum tensile
strength of 5,000 lbs. (22 kN)."
hardware 23
Snaphooks Carabineers
Must be double acting, have 3600 rated gate, auto-locking (ANSI), rated for 5000 lbs.
AND REMEMBER, you cannot connect a SNAPHOOK to a CARABINER!
Incompatible Connections
Lanyards
• Many different types of lanyards
• Needs to be able to reduce energy from 5000 lbs force to… • 1800 lbs for OSHA
and ANSI• 900 lbs or less is very
common with shock absorber
connectors 26
Shock-pack style
Not for fall arrest, only fall restraint!
Tubular shock absorber
100% tie-off
27
Shock AbsorbersRemember:
• Always connect the shock pack to the Dorsal D-ring
• Make sure you are not exceeding the weight limit of the lanyard
• Never connect two lanyards together
Anchorages
Anchorage Classes
2 to 1 safety factorAs low as 1800 lbs. for OSHA & ANSI
Requires 5000 lbs
Non-Certified (Improvised)Certified (Engineered)
Impact Force M.A.F.Maximum Arresting Force
Anchors….5000 lbs.
Strength and Stability
Anchorage Connectors
Self Retracting Devices
SRD/SRLsSRL - Self Retracting Lanyard SRD - Self Retracting Device
Classes• Class A: A class A SRD will stop the fall within 24” and ensure the forces are below
1350 lbs.• Class B: a class B SRD will stop the fall within 54” and ensure that the forces are
below 900 lbs.
Types• SRL-R: An SRD with some sort of rescue capability, this could be an incorporated
winch or automatic descent capability.• SRL-LE: An SRD that has been designed for a worker falling over an edge.
• Will have an integral external shock absorber.• Will have a cable that can withstand a sharp edge.
35
SRD - SHARP EDGES
DEFEAT SHARP EDGES EVERY TIME
• Sharp edges are found in many leading edge applications where a traditional lifeline may be cut, shred or snap upon contact.
SRD - FOOT LEVEL TIE-OFF
FORCE• Products not specifically designed for foot level tie-off can generate
forces exceeding 1,800 lbs. (8kN), well beyond accepted safety parameters, in the event of a fall.
• The Nano-Lok™ edge components work together to absorb the energy, limiting the average arresting forces to 900 lbs. (4kN) or less.
• Nano-Lok™ edge is specifically
designed for foot level tie-off.
Anchoring at your feet may be
your only option. Typical
equipment is not designed for
this application. It may cause…
• Trip hazards
• Dangerous forces
• Fall clearance issues
SRD - FOOT LEVEL TIE-OFF
FALL CLEARANCE• Traditional foot level tie-off products require fall clearances up to 18.5 ft.
(5.6 m).• The Nano-Lok™ edge requires fall clearances as low as 16’ (4.9 m)
SRD - FOOT LEVEL TIE-OFF
Type A vs. B
Legislation
OSHA1910.140(c) (18)
Personal fall protection systems must be inspected before initial use during each workshift for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration, and defective components must be removed from service.
Standards
ANSI A10.32-2004 (Construction), requires:
• Inspection Prior to use;• Inspection of equipment semi-annually by a competent
person;• Removal of equipment following fall arrest
ANSI Z359.1-2007 (General Industry), requires:
• Inspection Prior to use;• Inspection of equipment each year by a competent person;• Comply with manufacturer’s instructions
Care and Maintenance• Storage
– Cool– Dry– Out of sunlight
• Cleaning– Most equipment should be washed with water and a mild detergent– You can utilize WD40 on some moving components(Buckles, snaphooks and
carabiners)(Manufacturer Specific)– Equipment should not be dried with high heat
• Maintenance– Some specialized equipment must return to a factory authorized repair center
for regularly scheduled maintenance(Manufacturer Specific)
Harnesses
Key Components:
• Hardware
• Webbing
• Stitching
• Labels
• Recording and Logging of Inspection
Hardware• Buckles• D-rings• Back Pad• Keepers
Must Not Be: Damaged, Broken, Distorted
Free from: Sharp Edges, Burrs, CracksWorn Parts, Corrosion
Webbing / Stitching
• Cuts, Frays, Broken Fibers, Tears, Abrasion can be no greater than 1/8” *
• Holes or burns can be no greater than 1/16” diameter *
• Look for discoloration and hard spots or mold
* Manufacturer specific guidelines
Webbing / Stitching
StitchingLook for broken stitches, there should not be more than 2 per stitch pattern.(Manufacturer Specific)
Labels
Should be:• Present• Legible / Clean
Indicate:• Date of Manufacture• Serial No. / Model No.• Standards• Size• Care, Donning, Use• Warnings• Inspection Log
LanyardsMade from Polyester / Nylon / KevlarCan Not Have:• Knots• Cuts • Burns• Missing Labels• Other Damage• Similar to Harnesses and other Webbing Damages Caused By:• Being stored wet• Acids / Bases • Stretch • Impact• Abrasion • HeatLoad Indicators:• Thimbles Deformed • Shock Absorbers • Stiff• Length • Thread
• Tag
• Ensure it operates properly• Look for:
• Corrosion • Deformation • Markings • Dirt and Grime
• Load Indicators: • Sticky• Deformed• Difficult to Open • Will Not Close
Snaphooks/Carabineers
Tie-off Adaptors
Hardware
Webbing
Load Indicators: • Broken stitches, • Stiff, • Excess Wear in one
spot.
D-Ring Anchor Plates
Inspect:• Welds • Bolts• Anchorage
Load Indicators:• Distortion• Cracks
Self Retracting LifelinesWhen to Inspect:• Prior to Use
- Visual and function- Regular basis
- A competent person should do a thorough inspection regularly
What to Inspect:• Bolts• Housing • Retracting and Locking function
Labels, • Corrosion• Wire or Webbing
Load Indicators:• Grommets• Threads• Reserve Lifeline
Horizontal Lifelines
Due to the complex nature of Horizontal lifelines they should be inspected regularly by a Qualified Person.
– Impact loading
– Broken wires
– Anchor stability
– Proper tension
– Other (Hardware, Webbing, Stitches, Labels and any other thing that the designer has stipulated.
Some Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas
Ideas