2013 574 workplace fatalities involving falls to a lower level Fall related fatalities make up 16% of workplace fatalities Bureau of Labor Statistics
Passive Fall Prevention Fall Arrest Fall Restraint Inspection/Maintenance
1910.23 Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes 1910.66 Powered Platforms, Manlifts and Vehicle Mounted Work Platforms 1926.500 Fall Protection 1926.501 Duty to Have Fall Protection 1926.502 Fall Protection Systems and Criteria 1926.503 Training Requirements
Evaluate the workplace for fall hazards and plan accordingly Focus on: The presence of fall hazards Structural integrity issues Types of fall arrest or restraint methods to be used Situations where fall arrest or restraint will be difficult to utilize Protection for persons working under or passing below overhead work Situations where passive forms of fall protection can be used
Addressing the Hazard
Best example Guardrail Once a guardrail is installed it doesn t need to be altered to prevent access to the leading edge Rights Reserved
Eliminates the hazard all together 4 foot General Industry The Forty-Eight Inch Rule Rights Reserved
Top-rails must be 42 inches above the walking/working surface Intermediate rails 21 inches Must be capable of withstanding 200 lbs. in any direction Rights Reserved
All excavations should be marked with caution tape, reflective pylons, traffic cones, etc. Excavations six feet or greater must be protected by a guardrail, fence, barricade or properly rated cover.
Floor Opening - An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension, in any floor, platform, pavement, or yard through which persons may fall; such as a hatchway, stair or ladder opening, pit, or large manhole. Rights Reserved
Need to be guarded: Standard Railing Permanent or temporary Hinged floor opening cover Manhole cover Rights Reserved
Floor Openings
Preventing Fall Related Injuries
Must be protected from falling six feet or more: Maintenance Activities Use of Boom Articulating Lifts Use of cranes Others??? Rights Reserved
Designed to stop a fall once it has already begun Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit deceleration distance: 3.5 feet with a traditional energy absorbing lanyard 24 inches for Self- Retracting Lifeline Rights Reserved
Anchorage Full-Body Harness Connector Rights Reserved
Activates upon a fall Stops Fall May prevent serious injury Rights Reserved
Distance a body falls before the fall arrest system activates Must not exceed 6 feet or contact w/lower level or obstruction Rights Reserved
When stopping a fall the system shall: Limit maximum arresting forces to 1,800 lbs. when used with a body harness Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet Shall have sufficient strength to withstand the potential impact energy of a person free falling a distance of 6 feet or the distance permitted by the system
Support 5000 lbs. static load per person This is often difficult to achieve without a engineered anchor point Rights Reserved
When possible choose an anchor point above the head If not positioned overhead a pendulum effect will occur Rights Reserved
Disperses forces of fall arrest over the chest, thighs, pelvis and shoulders Connected to anchorage by a lanyard (Dorsal D- Ring Rights Reserved
Shock absorbing Self retracting lifelines (SRL) All must have double action locking hooks w/tensile strength of 5,000 lbs. Rights Reserved
Do not connect two snap hooks together (roll out) Be aware of sharp edges. Guard sharp edges with a protective materials Never use two lanyards attached to a dorsal d-ring in place of a dual legged lanyard
Full Body Harness Attached @ D-Ring Anchorage Connector (Lanyard)
Personal fall arrest systems must limit arresting forces to 1800 lbs. when used with a full body harness Shock absorbing mechanisms should be used for fall arrest
Free Fall Distance = 6 ft. + Deceleration Distance = 3.5 ft. = Total Fall Distance = 9.5 ft. + Height of the Worker = 6 ft. + Safety Factor = 3 ft. = Required Clearance = 18.5 ft. Assume: 6 foot shock absorbing lanyard anchored above the head
Do Bungee Jumpers Calculate Total Fall/Clearance Distance?
Travel Freely Automatically locks to arrest a fall Example: Rope Grab Rights Reserved
Rated for correct number of persons Used accessing rolling stock (i.e. railcars, tops of tankers, etc.) Rights Reserved
Crane Basket Required Boom Articulating Lift Required Scissor Lifts Not required unless railing is removed Scaffolding Not required unless railings are not being utilized (10 ft.) Rights Reserved
Employer shall provide prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or ensure that employees are able to rescue themselves. In-house Equipment Local First Responders Rights Reserved
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Additionally, it would not be appropriate to use the personal protection equipment standard, 29 CFR 1910.132(d), to cite exposure to fall hazards from the tops of rolling stock, unless employees are working atop stock that is positioned inside of or contiguous to a building or other structure where the installation of fall protection is feasible. In such cases, fall protection systems often can be and, in fact, are used in many facilities in the industry.
Perform all work under fall protection if feasible, if not possible: Blue-flag/isolate tracks to ensure cars are not moved with workers on top Prohibit employees from working on top of railcars in inclement weather (snow/ice/high winds) Train employees on proper ways to climb on to cars (three-point control) Require all work to be done from railcar catwalk
Document a PPE Hazard assessment Train and enforce Rights Reserved
Eliminate the Fall
A tie off system that restrains the employee from falling Does not allow the worker to access the fall hazard Rights Reserved
Consists of an anchorage point 1,000 lbs. (ANSI Z359) Full-Body Harness Connector Adjustable Lanyard Preferred Rights Reserved
Must keep ample distance from the leading edge (i.e. 6 feet) Must not allow for fall potential Rights Reserved
Does not allow a person to be exposed to a fall Anchorage point requirements of 1,000 lbs. (ANSI 359) No fall, no rescue! Rights Reserved
Fall Arrest or Fall Restraint?
Caring for and inspecting equipment
Before each use (after) inspect lanyards, SRL and harnesses: Cuts Frays Damage Cracks Burns Impact indicator Rights Reserved
Annually by a competent person (ANSI Z359) Rights Reserved
Personal fall protection systems and components subjected to impact loading need to be taken out of service until: Inspected by a competent person Determined to be undamaged and suitable for use If equipment is not useable, make it unusable
SRL According to manufacturer frequency requirements Rights Reserved
Clean full body harness with water and mild soap solution Do not use bleach or bleach solutions Air Dry Store full body harness in a cool, dry, clean environment, out of direct sunlight Many factors can damage a harness: Chemicals Extreme heat Sunlight
Train employees on: Nature of hazards in the work area The correct procedures for maintaining, erecting and inspecting fall protection systems Document all training: Name of employee trained Date Signature of person who conducted the training
Required when: Changes in the workplace Changes in the types of fall protection systems or equipment used Determined that the employee does not have requisite understanding or skills
Supervisor Talking Points Quiz OSHA.gov etool - Falls
Joe.mlynek@progressivesafety.us joe@safetymadesimple.com