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Workers in Ontario have three basic rights:

1. The right to knowwhathazardsareintheworkplace

2. The right to participateinkeepingtheworkplacehealthyandsafe

3. The right to refuse unsafe workthattheybelieveendangerstheirhealthorsafetyorthehealthorsafetyofothers.

The health and safety responsibilities of workplace parties are specified in the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects (“Green Book”).

Working At Heights Responsibilities

Employers:· Provideworkersandsupervisorswithfallprotectiontraining.

· Createfallprotectionpoliciesandproceduresfortheworkplace.

· Developwrittenfallarrestrescueprocedures.

· Ensuresupervisorsknowhowtoaddressfallhazardsonthejob.

Supervisors:· Ensureworkerswearandusetheappropriatefall

protectionequipment.

· Ensureworkersfollowfallprotectionregulationsandprocedures.

· Informworkersaboutfallhazardsandhowtoworksafelyatheights.

Workers:· Participateinfallprotectiontraining.

· Followthefallprotectionregulationsandprocedures.

· Informsupervisoraboutfallhazardstheyfind.

Section 26 of the Construction Projects regulation applies to workers who are exposed to:

· Fallingmorethan3m(10ft)

· Fallingmorethan1.2m(4ft),iftheworkareaisusedasapathforawheelbarroworsimilarequipment

· Fallingintooperatingmachinery

· Fallingintowateroranotherliquid

· Fallingintoorontoahazardoussubstanceorobject

· Fallingthroughanopeningonaworksurface.(O.Reg.213/91,s.26)

Other common fall hazards encountered on a jobsite are

· Inadequateormissingguardrails

· Poorhousekeeping

· Weather—ice,snow,rain,wind,etc.

· Poorlymaintainedequipment—ladders,scaffolds,etc.

· Usingthewrongtypeofequipment

· Overheadpowerlines

· Excessivenoise

· Physicallimitationsorhealthproblems

· Tightjobdeadlines

· Workingalone

Fall protection training must cover the common fall hazards. Help workers to recognize fall hazards on site by putting up fall prevention posters and stickers. Order IHSA004, P042, P043, P044, S042, or S052 by visiting ihsa.ca

Workerswhomaybeexposedtoafallhazardmustbeprotectedbythehighest-rankedmethodoffallprotectionthatispracticable(O.Reg.213/91,s.26.1(2)).Thehigherthemethodisranked,thelesschancethereisforaworkertobeinjured.Thesemethodsarerankedinorderbelow.

Hazard EliminationChangingtheworkprocesssothehazardnolongerexists(e.g.,buildingaroofontheground).

Guardrails, Protective Covers, and Warning BarriersPreventsafallfromunprotectededgesoropenings.

Travel Restraint SystemAllowsaworkertoreachtheedgebutnotfalloverit.

Fall Restricting SystemDesignedtolimitafalldistanceto0.6m(2ft).

Fall Arrest SystemDesignedtostopafallingworkerbeforetheyhitthegroundorobjectsbelow.

Safety NetDesignedtocatchafallingworkerbeforetheyhitthegroundorobjectsbelow.

CSA-approved full-body harnessThecheststrapshouldbesnugandnearthemiddleofthechest.Legstrapsshouldallowafisttofitsnuglybetweenthestrapandleg.TheD-ringshouldbeinthecentreofthebackbetweentheshoulderblades.

CSA-approved lifelineAtypicallifelineis16-mm(5/8-in)syntheticrope(polypropyleneblend).AlllifelinesmustmeettheCSAstandardZ259.2.5-12forfallarrestersandverticallifelines.(Seepage6.)

CSA-approved lanyard with energy absorberLanyardmustbe16mm(5/8in)indiameterandmadeofnylonropeorequivalent.Itshouldbesecuredtoanattachmentpointhigherthanwaistlevelandkeptasshortaspossibletoreducefalldistance.Remember: the energy absorber can increase lanyard length by as much as 1.1 m (42 in).

CSA-approved connecting devicesMustbecapableofsupportingatleast22kN(5,000lb).Snaphooksandcarabinersmustbeself-lockingtopreventaccidentalroll-out.Ropegrabsmustbeattachedtothelifelineinthecorrectdirection.Note: Rope grabs are designed for use with a specific diameter of lifeline and length of lanyard.

Anchorage or fixed supportsMustbecapableofsupportingallloadsthatmaybeplacedonit(16kN(3,600lb)atminimum).(Seepage6.)

Inspect your equipment before each use. Your life depends on it. Always look for the CSA logo.

Check the harness to make sure that:❑ thehardwareandstrapsareintactand

undamaged

❑ movingpartsaremovingfreely

❑ thewebbingisfreeofburns,cuts,looseorbrokenstitching,frayedmaterial,andsignsofheatorchemicaldamage

❑ thefallarrestindicatorhasnotdeployed.

Check the lanyard for:❑ fraying,kinking,andlooseorbrokenstitching

❑ rust,cracks,anddamagetothelanyardhardware

❑ stressortearingonthecoverjacketoftheenergyabsorber

Check the lifeline for:❑ tears,cuts,orburns

❑ strandsthataredifferentsizesorshapes

❑ discolorationandbrittleness

❑ brokenorloosestrandsinsidetherope

❑ buildupofpowderordirtinsidetherope

❑ loosethimbles.

Check connecting components for:❑ damage,cracking,dents,bends,orsignsof

deformation

❑ sharpedges

❑ movingpartsthatdon’tworksmoothly

❑ rustandsignsofwearormetalfatigue.

There are three basic types of anchors:

1. Permanent anchors (Designed fixed supports)Load-ratedanchorsthatarepermanentlyinstalledforfallprotectionasanintegralpartofastructure(e.g.,roofanchors).

2. Temporary fixed supportsDesignedtobeconnectedtothestructureusingspecificinstallationinstructions(e.g.,nail-onanchors).

3. Existing structural featuresNotintendedasananchorbutverifiedbyaprofessionalengineerorcompetentpersontoserveasone(e.g.,reinforcedconcretecolumns).

NEVER anchor to roof vents or hatches, small pipes and ducts, metal chimneys, TV antennas, stair or balcony railings, or fixed-access ladders.

There are three basic types of lifelines:

1. Vertical lifelinesCanbeusedbyonlyonepersonatatimeandmusthaveapositivestoptopreventtheropegrabfromrunningofftheend.

2. Horizontal lifelinesMustbedesignedbyaprofessionalengineerandclearlyindicatetheanchorpoints,thedesignloads,andthenumberofworkersthatcanbesafelyattached.

3.Self-retracting lifelines (SRLs)Allowsthelinetounspoolandretractbasedontheworker’smovements,therebylimitingthefalldistance.Mostaredesignedtobeanchoredoverhead.

CAUTION: Knots along the length of either a horizontal or vertical lifeline can reduce its strength by as much as 40 per cent.

Rights and Responsibilities Recognizing Fall Hazards Fall Protection Methods Fall Protection System Components Inspecting Fall Protection Equipment Anchors and Lifelines

IHSA004

IT’S THE LAW

You need fall protection training.

IHSA can help. 1-800-263-5024 • www.ihsa.ca

Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA)

5110 Creekbank Road, Suite 400

Mississauga, Ontario L4W 0A1 Canada

Tel: 1-800-263-5024 • Fax: 905-625-8998 • www.ihsa.ca

Contact IHSA for Working at Heights training.

IHSA Tie Off - Poster.indd 2

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Afallprotectionsystemmustpreventafallingworkerfromhittingthegroundoranobjectbelow.ThisrequiresknowingtheFallClearanceDistance,whichisthedistancefromtheground(orobjectbelow)totheconnectionpointwheretheworkerattachestheirlanyardtotheanchororlifeline.

Onceaworkerknowsthelengthofthelanyardandlengthofthedeployedenergyabsorberusedintheirfallprotectionsystem,theycancalculatetheirFallClearanceDistanceandadjusttheirfallprotectionsystemtoprevent“bottomingout”.

ThecalculationforFallClearanceDistanceis:

Workers who may use any of the following methods of fall protection will need to complete a working at heights training program that has been approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer:

1. Atravelrestraintsystem.2.Afallrestrictingsystem.3.Afallarrestsystem.4.Asafetynet.5.Aworkbelt.6.Asafetybelt.(O.Reg.297/13,s.6)

Before using a fall arrest system, assess the hazards a worker may be exposed to in case of a fall:

·Willtheworker“bottom out”(i.e.,hitthegroundoranymaterial,equipment,oralowerlevelofthestructurebeforethefallisarrested)?

·Willthependulum effector“swing fall”causetheworkertoswingfromsidetoside,possiblystrikingsomeequipment,material,orthestructure?

·Howwillthesuspendedworkerberescued?(Refertopage9.)

To prevent the risk of bottoming out:calculatetheTotalFallDistancetomakesureitislessthanthedistancefromtheworksurfacetothesurfacebelow.(Refertopage10.)

To minimize pendulum effect:keepthelanyardorlifelineperpendicular(ata90°anglebehindyou)fromtheedgetotheanchorpoint.Orrunahorizontallifelineparalleltotheedge.Theworkercanattachalanyardtoitandmovealongtheedge,stayingclosetoperpendicularatalltimes.

CAUTION: The friction exerted by a swing fall may cause the lanyard or lifeline to break where it runs over a sharp edge. Use edge softeners to minimize this risk.

Emergency rescue planAworkerwhosefallhasbeenarrestedmustbebroughttosafetyasquicklyaspossiblewithoutcausingfurtherinjuryorputtingrescuersatrisk.Beforeusingafallarrestsystem,employersmustdevelopwrittenrescueprocedures.(O.Reg.213/91s.26.1(4))

Workers should not use a fall arrest system without knowing the rescue equipment and procedures for their jobsite.

Suspension traumaAlsoknownasorthostaticintolerance,suspensiontraumacanoccurifyou’resuspendedbyyourharnessinanuprightpositionforaperiodoftime.Beingsuspendedcancausebloodtopoolinyourlegs,deprivingyourbrainofoxygen.Thiscanleadtolossofconsciousness,seriousinjury,orevendeath.

Thebestprotectionfromsuspensiontraumaisaneffectiverescueplanandtimelyrescue.However,usingsuspensiontraumareliefstrapsortyingaloopforafootholdinthelifelinecanhelpbyallowingaconsciousworkertorelievethepressureandincreasebloodcirculation.

Whenemergencyservicesarriveonthejobsite,tellthemhowlongtheworkerhasbeensuspendedsotheycantakeappropriatemeasures.

A worker whose fall has been arrested should be taken to hospital and examined.

Ladders are not work platforms. They are a means of access. When you are over 3 metres, you must follow the fall protection requirements, which includes training.

Risk factors that increase your chances of falling from a ladder:· Reachingtotheside

· Handlingbulkyorheavymaterialsoverhead

· Usingalotofforce

· Applyingaconstantforce

· Experiencingmusclefatigue.

Consider using a scaffold or elevating work platform instead of a ladder.

Scaffold work platformsmorethan2.4m(8ft)highmustbefullyplanked,haveguardrails,andhaveasafemeansofaccessandegress(ladderorstairway).

Elevating work platforms (EWP)musthaveguardrails.OperatorsmustbetrainedonthespecificclassofEWPtheywilluse.IftheEWPwillbemoved,anyworkerontheplatformmustbetiedoff.

Suspended access equipment (SAE)workishazardousbecauseitisdoneatheights.UsersmustbetiedoffwhileworkingonitorgettingonoroffitandtheymusthavereceivedWAHandSAEUserstraining.OnlyadesignatedcompetentworkerwithSAEInstallerstrainingcaninstall,alter,ordismantleSAE.Onlyacompetentworkerorqualifiedperson(seeCAN/CSAZ271-10)caninspect,test,ormaintainSAE.

Working at HeightsQuick Reference Guide

V001

Access Structures Emergency Rescue and Suspension Trauma Fall Clearance Distance Fall Arrest PlanningYou need working at heights training

IHSA can help!

Rev. 2017

IHSA offers approved Working at Heights (WAH) training at many locations throughout Ontario and in many languages. Visit ihsa.ca/wah for details.

WAHtrainingisvalidforthreeyears.Onceexpired,participantscantakeIHSA’sWAH Recertificationcourse.

Workplace-specific trainingInadditiontoclassroom-basedWAHtraining,employersmusttrainallworkersonthefallhazardsspecifictotheirjobsiteandonthetypesoffallprotectionequipmenttheywilluse.

Thistrainingmustcovertheexactharness,lanyard,energyabsorber,ropegrab,lifeline,andanchorseachworkerwillrelyon,aswellasthesituationsinwhichtheequipmentwillbeused.

Visit ihsa.ca/wah for training dates and locations

Intheexamplebelow,theworker’sconnectionpointtotheanchorneedstobeatleast5.5 m (18.2 ft)fromthegroundorbottomlevel.

LengthofLanyard

LengthofDeployed

EnergyAbsorber

HeightofWorker

SafetyFactor

Fall Clearance Distance

+ + + =

FallClearanceDistance=5.5m(18.2ft)

LengthofLanyard=0.9m(3ft)

LengthofDeployedEnergyAbsorber=1.7m(5.7ft)

HeightofWorker=2m(6.5ft)

SafetyFactor=0.9m(3ft)