The Official Passport to Safe Work at Height

Transcription

1 The Official Passport to Safe Work at Height

2 Fall Protection Essentials Get a better view from up high! This guide, developed by Miller, aims to help you gain a better understanding of fall protection. It is designed to provide you with the correct information to improve your entire working at height thought process. It also contains specific information on: How to select the correct Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) for your application and understand how it works Fall protection equipment standards in Europe (ENs) A simple and clear approach to understand your needs in Fall Protection! Who are we? Honeywell Safety Products (HSP) is a leading global manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), including head, hearing, eye/face, respiratory, hand, footwear, clothing and fall protection. Honeywell has an unmatched portfolio of head-to-toe protection offerings as well as unprecedented scale and global reach. HSP is focused on delivering innovative safety solutions for high-risk environments, allowing workers in the manufacturing and services industries to perform their jobs with greater confidence. With its focus on innovation and continuous product evolution, it also helps businesses comply with emerging safety legislation and standards. Miller, part of the Honeywell Safety Products family of brands, provides safety at height products: personal fall protection equipment ; engineered fall arrest systems ; collective fall prevention/barrier solutions ; and professional services including training, audits, consulting, product inspection and repairs. For over 65 years, products labelled with the Miller brand have protected those working at height in a wide range of industries including : construction, oil and gas, telecommunications, wind energy, transportation, mining, general industry, utilities and more.

3 Our Support With sales offices and training centres throughout EMEA (Europe, Middle-East & Africa), the Miller brand is supported at a local level through our highly trained field sales force, a network of fall protection specialists and experienced customer service staff. Miller Service Points are conveniently located throughout the world for maintenance of your fall protection equipment. Sales Offices Training Centres Manufacturing plants Miller : Your Right Partner

4 Fall from Height Statistics Every day in Europe at least one person dies from a fall while working at height. Falls are one of the leading causes of deaths in the workplace. In most countries, falls from height account for around 50% of all fatal accidents with half of those being in construction or related activities. The majority of falls are between 2m and 3m. The number of major injuries caused by falls from height is around 75 times higher than the number of deaths *. These statistics illustrate humans instinctively take more care when the danger is obvious. Complacency and a willingness to take shortcuts increases as the apparent level of danger decreases. We must remember to take care in these situations. Where does the problem lie? Various factors contribute to the cause of accidents at height: Lack of personal fall protection equipment. Poor equipment management leading to out-of-date or unserviceable equipment being kept in use. Inadequate training for both the users of equipment and those managing the work at height. Gravity kills...watch out! * Source: Mr. Pat McLoughlin from the British Safety Services - Article from «Working at Height» in the HSME magazine, February 2008

5 2 steps before considering the use of Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) First step: AVOIDANCE Where at all possible, work at height must be avoided. This is easier said than done; however, sound reasoning is behind this approach, as many accidents (often fatal) occur at low levels where falling has not been considered a likely outcome. Second step: COLLECTIVE FALL PROTECTION Collective protection is designed to protect a group of people and must be given priority over personal protection measures. Consider the following options before a personal solution: Guardrails, Scaffolding, M.E.W.P.s, Safety nets, Air bags PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT Use personal PFPE as a last resort These protect only the person wearing the equipment at the time Reduce the potential of falling (Restraint / Fall Arrest) Reduce the effects of a fall - calculate fall clearance Select appropriate connecting devices: Self-retracting lifelines for low-level applications Shock-absorbing lanyards when suitable fall clearance is available WARNING These actions are crucial in creating a safe work environment. Bear in mind that even the highest quality products require regular inspection, especially when safety and well-being of the user are at stake. Falls from Height Statistics

6 Recommendations for Safe Working at Height Responsibilities of the employer & the employee European Directive 89/656 1-Employer Analyses and evaluates risks Provides PFPE Inspects and ensures equipment is compliant Ensures PFPE training Decides what PFPE is provided, how it is used, maintained and stored Manages PFPE periodical inspection and updates of safety registers 2-Employee Transmits information up Uses PFPE at their disposal Inspects PFPE before use Follows manufacturers instructions Follows PFPE training

7 Before any work at height, it is absolutely necessary to answer the following 3 questions: 1 How to access a high area safely? 2 How to move and work at height safely? 3 In case of problems, how to evacuate safely? Working at height Access Evacuation Training will help provide you with answers to these questions. Recommendations for Safe Working at Height

8 Understanding PFPE The ABC s Your Personal Fall Protection Equipment Personal fall protection equipment is used to protect a worker from falls from height. It consists of three parts: A Anchor Device B Full Body Harness C Connecting Device + Training A simple way of remembering the core components of a fall arrest system is the ABC of Fall Arrest Quite simply, without one part, the system does not work This equipment is designed to secure a person to an anchorage point in such a way that a fall from height is either totally prevented or safely arrested. The systems can only be used if a suitable anchorage point is located close to the work area.

9 B A A Anchor Device DEFINITION: Used to join the connecting device (work restraint, fall arrester) to the anchorage, commonly referred to as the tie-off point (I-beam, scaffolding or other structural point) ANCHOR DEVICE MAY BE ONE OF 2 TYPES: 1 Permanent anchor device (e.g. horizontal cable lifeline, C horizontal rail systems...) 2 Temporary anchor device (e.g. steel strops, scaffold hooks, webbing anchorage slings, beam grips and dead-weight anchor...) B Full Body Harness DEFINITION: Used to hold a worker after a fall Full body harness must be worn for Fall Arrest situations Work restraint belts cannot be used for Fall Arrest Understanding PFPE C Connecting Device DEFINITION: Used as intermediate attachment to connect the worker s harness to the anchor device (e.g. shock absorbing lanyard, self retracting lifeline, fall limiter, rope grab...) CONNECTING DEVICE MAY BE ONE OF 2 TYPES : 1 Fall Restraint: a fall restraint system prevents workers from reaching a hazard 2 Fall Arrest: a fall arrest system allows workers to reach a hazard and then protects them if they should fall

10 Working at Height Categories Your working at height environment reflects the equipment that must be used. The categories summarised below have been defined by European Standards and are used as the base for all high access operations. Fall Arrest Equipment used to prevent the operative from hitting the ground in the event of a fall. Typical fall arrest system consists of: Anchor device Full body harness Connecting device Work Positioning * Equipment holding an operator in their place of work Typical work positioning system consists of: Anchor device Full body harness with a positioning belt Connecting device (work-positioning lanyard) Work in Suspension * Designed to lower and support a worker which allows a hands-free work environment. Typical suspension system consists of: Anchor device Full body harness 2 ropes: equipped with a descender equipped with a rope grab * The positioning and suspension systems are not designed for Fall Arrest. A back-up Fall Arrest system must be used.

11 Work Restraint (Travel restraint) Equipment used to prevent the wearer from approaching a position from which they can fall. Typical work restraint system consists of: Anchor device Work restraint belt or full body harness Connecting device (restraint lanyard) Personal Fall Protection Equipment (PFPE) selection This table shows the minimum harness requirements for each work category. Some overlap occurs for the application of multi-function harnesses. Harness Type Work Positioning Belt Multifunction Full Body Harness European Standard EN 358 EN 358 EN 813 EN 361 Work Restraint Work Positioning ok ok Fall Arrest Full Body EN 361 Harness ok ok ok Full Body Harness for workpositioning EN 361 EN 358 ok ok ok ok ok ok Work in Suspension ok Rescue ok ok WARNING An energy absorber MUST be included in the system when using an EN361 harness for fall arrest purposes. Working at Height Categories

12 Anchor Device Possibly the most important part of the entire PFPE system, the anchor device must be 100% reliable. This should: Be located at a safe distance above any lower obstacles. Be as vertical as possible to the work station to avoid any pendulum effect. The anchorage point will form the basis of the whole system. Poor selection may result in a total system failure. Anchors Devices EN795 Standard defines 5 categories The anchor device may be one of 2 types: Temporary Permanent Temporary Anchor Devices Class B * Mobile anchorages A temporary transportable anchor device. (e.g. steel strops, scaffold hooks, webbing anchorage slings, tripod and beam grips). * Class B is PFPE Class E * Dead weight anchor A dead-weight anchor for use on horizontal surfaces. * Class E is PFPE

13 Permanent Anchor Devices Class A Fixed anchorages An anchor device designed to be secured to vertical, horizontal and inclined surfaces (e.g. anchor plate). It could be mounted on wall, inclined roofs, at ground level... Class C Horizontal cable lifeline An anchor device employing horizontal flexible anchor lines. Class D Horizontal rail systems An anchor device employing horizontal rigid anchor rails. WARNING All anchor devices are tested to hold a fall. Their minimum resistance is imposed by norms and depends on the recommendations of the manufacturer or installer. Anchor Devices

14 Full Body Harness Selecting the Right Harness Fall Arrest Anchorage EN361 Rear Anchorage: The rear D-ring on a harness is the basic attachment point for fall arrest. It is suitable for standard site work where the worker only needs to be attached for safety and does not need to work in suspension. Front D-Rings and Front Anchorage Loops: Used for a comfortable, fall arrest anchorage point, usually in conjunction with a guided type fall arrester. Used for a variety of confined space, rescue, climbing. Side D-rings EN358 Side D-Rings on belt: A work-positioning lanyard is attached to the side D-rings to enable the operator to work with his hands free. These are not suitable for fall arrest. Work in Suspension EN813 Used to suspend an operator into a work-station. Adjustment buckles Mating Buckle: To connect the mating buckle, push the centre bar buckle completely through the square link and allow it to fall into place. Pull web end to tighten. Quick-Connect Buckle: Belt and leg straps interlock similar to a seat belt for easy donning and feature a dual-tab release mechanism to prevent accidental opening. Cam Buckle: The locking tabs of the cam buckle trap the webbing to prevent unintentional slippage. Lift the locking tab for easy, one-hand adjustment/release.

15 How to put on a harness? 6 easy steps that can save your life 1 2 Hold harness by back D-ring. Shake harness to allow all straps to fall in place. If chest, leg and/or waist straps are buckled, release straps and unbuckle them. 3 4 Slip straps over shoulders so D-ring is located in middle of back between shoulder blades. Pull leg strap between legs and connect to opposite end. Repeat with second leg strap. If belted harness, connect waist strap after leg straps. 5 6 Connect chest strap and position in midchest area. Tighten to keep shoulder straps taut. If harness has black elastic strap, thread strap through final slot to secure it. After all straps have been buckled, tighten all straps so that harness fits snug but allows full range of movement. Pass excess strap through loop keepers. Full Body Harness

16 Connecting Devices Shock-absorbing lanyards Maximum length 2 metres. For work requiring limited movement and where there is a sufficient potential fall distance. Shock-absorbing lanyards A portable connection between a worker at height and an anchor point. Ideally attached above the shoulder. Up to 2.0m in length. Fall arrest lanyards must incorporate an energy absorber. Twin lanyards Used to ensure connection to an anchorage at all times when climbing on and around an open structure. The unused leg of the twin lanyard must be stowed on a designated detachable point on the harness. Keeping the live lanyard as high as possible minimises fall clearance, reducing the effects of a fall by stopping impact with structures or the ground when working at low levels. Two single energy-absorbing lanyards should never be used together. NO NO YES Restraint and work-positioning lanyards Rope, wire rope and web lanyards are recommended for work positioning and restraint only. Self-retracting lifelines 1.75m - 54m. Self-retracting lifelines are viable alternative connecting devices to shock-absorbing lanyards. For workers who need to move relatively quickly up and down on a worksite.

17 The automatic braking system arrests a fall in seconds, making this especially suitable for low-level work. These are available with webbing or cable. Webbing retracting lifelines Cable retracting lifelines Rope Rope Grabs Commonly found on access ladders. The rope grab is your lifeline. Make sure it is attached to an upper attachment point on your harness and DO NOT let it pull the rope up as you climb. This will not protect you if you fall. WARNING: Check the user manual to ensure the rope and rope grap are compatible. Fall Arresters on Rigid Lines & Rails Shuttle for cable systems For a safe and smooth climbing on a cable based Fall Arrest System. Shuttle for rigid rail systems For a comfortable and ergonomic climbing on rigid rail Fall Arrest System. Permanently installed climbing systems are tested and certified as a complete system. Make sure the different components of the system are compatible. Edge Tested Connecting Devices There are specific products specially dedicated and tested for use near edges. Edge Tested Always follow the manufacturer s instructions when using connecting devices Connecting Devices 9 10

18 Fall Clearance The basics of fall factors how to reduce the risks? The fall clearance distance is the maximum vertical distance that a worker could potentially fall and still avoid contact with a lower level. Fall distances Absorber elongation FALL CLEARANCE Height of the person Ground and dangerous osbacle VERTICAL CLEARANCE Length of the connector (lanyard) Best Length of the connector (lanyard) Absorber elongation FALL CLEARANCE Safety distance Factor 2 Height of the person Ground and dangerous osbacle Safety distance Length of the connector (lanyard) Height of the person FALL CLEARANCE Factor 1 Ground and dangerous osbacle Safety distance VERTICAL CLEARANCE Good VERTICAL CLEARANCE Ok (only with an energy absorber) Factor 0 Calculating Fall Clearance When using a shock-absorbing lanyard it is important to understand how to calculate the potential fall distance to avoid contact with the lower level. The calculation below gives the minimum vertical clearance required between the anchorage point of the lanyard and the lower level. Length of lanyard + Fully activated energy absorber + Body height from feet to harness attachment + Additional safety clearance Length of the connector (lanyard) Absorber elongation FALL CLEARANCE Height of the person Ground and dangerous osbacle Safety distance VERTICAL CLEARANCE Examples of calculations using the following length lanyards are as follows: 2m lanyard: 2m (lanyard length) m (energy absorber) + 2m (body height) + 1m safety = 6.75m 1.5m lanyard: 1.5m (lanyard length) + 1.5m (energy absorber) + 2m(body height) + 1m safety = 6m A personal fall limiter limits the fall distance making it an ideal solution when working at low levels or when fall clearance is critical The Pendulum Effect If the lifeline is not anchored vertically over the working place, the worker will swing laterally in the event of a fall, and may get injured. Alternatively two anchorage points either side of the worker can be used to prevent any swing. Anchor

19 Understanding Regulations and Standards We all know that nothing in life can be 100% safe. We strive to make things as safe as possible by conducting a risk assessment, considering the dangers and applying suitable controls. Understanding these requirements is key to ensuring a safe work environment Fall arrest equipment legislation An important European Directive relates to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): Directive 89/656/CEE: Specifically targets the use of PPE at work. This directive examines the correct usage conditions for PPE, and its role in improving health and safety conditions in the work place. Referred to in this directive, PPE is defined as: «...all equipment designed to be worn or held by the worker with a view to protecting him/her from one or more risks that are liable to threaten his safety or his health in the workplace...» This directive is the one which regulates Miller Safety at Height products. Standard Heading * EN12841/C EN 341 EN EN EN 354 EN 355 EN 358 EN 360 EN 361 EN 362 EN 363 EN 795 Rope Access Systems: Back-up Devices Descender Devices (like AG10 & RG9) Guided Type Fall Arresters - Rigid Anchorage Line & Rails Guided Type Fall Arresters - Flexible Anchorage Line Lanyards Energy absorbers Work Positioning Systems Retractable Type Fall Arresters (Self-Retracting Lifelines) Full Body Harnesses Connectors Fall Arrest Systems Anchorage Devices - Types a-e. EN 813 Sit Harnesses *Contact Honeywell for any further information The personal protective equipment manufactured by Honeywell includes Fall Protection Systems designed to save the life of the worker. (Category 3 PPE against mortal or serious and irreversible danger). Each product conforms to the harmonised European Standards. Fall Clearance & Standards 10

20 Care & Maintenance of PFPE Care and maintenance of our PFPE is essential for the safe system of work. Cuts, abrasions, burns and other faults will affect its safety. Multiple cuts have led to energy absorbing lanyards failing before the energy absorber has activated. These accidents could have been prevented by effective pre-use inspections. Inspection procedure Textile equipment Inspect visually for: Cuts: A 2mm edge-cut will reduce the webbing strength by as much as 40%. Abrasion: Abrasion across this piece of textile acts in the same way as a cut when it breaks through the webbing threads. Burns: Either from a heat source or from contact with corrosive chemicals or materials. In particular, polyamide is susceptible to damage from acids and polyester from alkalis. Ultra-violet degradation: The main causes are through sources such as welding. Inspect for signs of heavily faded webbing. Stitching: Inspect for loose, cut, missing or worn threads. Comfort pads: Inspect for any signs of rips or wear. Mechanical Devices (e.g. rope grab, self-retracting lifelines) Correct operation Any wear Loose components Cleaning Basic care of all safety equipment will prolong their durable lifetime and contribute toward the performance of its vital safety function: Proper storage (clean, dry and free of exposure to fumes, corrosive elements or UV). Cleansing the equipment of dirt, corrosives or contaminants. Please refer to user manual to correctly clean your PFPE. Mandatory annual inspection Distortion Corrosion To maintain proper service life and high performance, PFPE must be inspected annually by a competent person.

21 Requirements for Rescue Why do we need to have rescue procedures when working at height? The planning for rescue and emergencies is a legal requirement as part of the European Temporary Work at Height Directive (2001/45/EEC). Suspension Trauma Suspension trauma refers to the physiological effects of hanging after a fall (often referred to as Post- Fall ) in a harness, usually a full body harness. It is a relatively infrequent occurrence, and the effects can be minimised and managed with an efficient rescue procedure followed by immediate first aid plus the correct actions by paramedics - as long as they are informed of the potential problems. This could be you on their attendance to a rescue site, or part of their own training. RESCUE KIT SELECTION GUIDE Emergency Evacuation Scaffolder Construction Fork lift Warehouse Horizontal lifeline Lift to release lanyard / PFL Lift to safety Evacuate to ground No harness? Climber out-of-reach? Operator competency - AVERAGE Operator competency : LOW INDY Miller Rescue Mighty Reach Rope SafEscape sling Evac Pole grab Elite triangle Low technicality Average technicality Care & Maintenance of PFPE Rescue

22 Rescue Units - Operation This section describes how to operate various Miller rescue units. Some are evacuation systems; others allow the retrieval of a worker who has fallen. Please note, these are simple systems to operate and any training should include the use of a back-up system, when using a live casualty. Indy Rescue - Self evacuation 1. Check harness is fitted correctly/don rescue harness and chose appropriate fastening loops. 2. Attach anchor sling around anchorage and/or connect karabiner to anchor point and rope to karabiner. 3. Connect Indy karabiner to harness. 4. Drop rope bag to ground (unless it could become snagged and impede your descent). 5. Hold spare rope end with one hand and Indy with the other. 6. Position your feet shoulder-width apart and weight the system by bending your knees. 7. Squeeze the Indy descent handle and descend to the ground. The Indy will stop if you press too hard. Miller SafEscape ELITE rescue & evacuation 1. Make contact with the fallen climber. 2. Identify an anchor point to attach the rescue unit. 3. The Hub B model is supplied with a ladder mount. Attach this about 3-4 rungs above the incapacitated climber. 4. Extend the rope from the unit and attach it to the fallen climbers harness - try to attach it to the point which the person is suspended from. It ensures body position remains stable (unless there is good reason to use a different point). 5. Pull any slack rope through the unit and place the spare end through the pig s tail. Locate it securely back through the locking cleat. 6. Raise the climber until their fall arrest connection (lanyard / PFL/ SRL, etc) is able to be released from the anchor point. This will generally take handle turns. Stop every 3-4 turns to pull the developing slack rope through the cleat. 7. Stabilise the Hub A unit by placing your spare hand on the device as you wind. 8. Remove the fall arrest connection device from the anchor and re-attach it loosely to the rescue rope, ensuring it cannot snag during the descent. 9. Hold the spare rope tightly and remove from the locking cleat. 10. Release your grip and begin to evacuate the climber from the fall zone. MightyEvac - Fall arrest/emergency evacuation 1. This device operates as a self-retracting lifeline. It becomes a rescue device once a fall has occurred. 2. Release the black arm from the fastening and extend the handle. 3. Pull out plunger to activate winch mechanism. 4. Winch casualty up or down as required. 5. Reset unit by pulling plunger and pressing against base of the handle at the same time. 6. Ensure cable is free-running and fall indicator has not been activated before re-using. Return to local service point if either is not the case.

23 Rescue Scenario Help Rescue from Horizontal Lifeline: 1. Locate rescue kit (Miller SafEscape ELITE) and attach to lifeline - either directly with karabiner or additional sling around lifeline. 2. Attach live rope to fallen worker (may require addition of reach pole to facilitate this). 3. Lift climber until their lanyard becomes loose. 4. Continue lifting if being brought back up. Two extra personnel will be required to assist lifting fallen worker over the edge. The additional personnel must be restrained from falling. 5. Remove lanyard connection from lifeline. 6. Lower to ground. Key Planning Factors Observe the following to provide maximum protection levels at height: Warnings Always read all instructions and warnings contained on the product and packaging before using any fall protection equipment. Inspection All fall protection equipment must be inspected prior to each use. Training All HSE managers and workers should be trained by a competent person to prevent falls from height and in the proper use of fall protection products. Rescue planning Minimizing the time between a fall occurring, rescue and first aid treatment is vitally important. Product preferences If there are any doubts about which Fall Protection products to use, call Miller Technical Support directly. System components Only components that are fully compatible with one another should be used. Fall arrest systems are designed and tested as complete systems and should be used in this way. What to do after a fall After a fall occurs, all components of the fall arrest system must be removed from service to be inspected. WARNING This document provides an overview of Fall Protection. It does not provide important product warnings and instructions. Miller recommends all users of fall protection equipment undergo thorough training and that all warnings and instructions provided with the products be thoroughly read and understood prior to use. Failure to read and follow all product warnings and instructions could result in serious injury or death.

24 TECHNISERV: Phone: +49 (0) or +49 (0) Honeywell Safety Products United Kingdom: Phone: +44 (0) International: Phone: +33 (0) Dubai: Phone: hsp-meai@honeywell.com India: Phone: / hsp-india@honeywell.com DOC / Honeywell International Inc Lead them to safety Build an enduring culture of safety through comprehensive education, innovative technologies, and comfortable, high-performance products that inspire workers to make safer choices on their own.