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At the end of this presentation you should know the difference between fall prevention, fall restraint, and fall arrest. We will review the hazards associated with fall protection and how to mitigate those hazards. We will discuss the requirements of EthosEnergy s fall protection program. 1
Notice where the person on/near the ladder appears to be tied off. Do you see any lanyard/tie-off for the person standing on the pipe on the right side of the picture. If he falls, what will happen to his left leg? 2
Fall protection is the process where measures are taken, such as guardrails, fall restraint, or personnel fall arrest systems, to ensure employees do not fall from elevations over four feet. 3
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Fall are unexpected and the time it takes to strike a lower level surface is frightfully fast. 5
Hierarchy of controls: eliminate the hazards, engineer them out (build guardrail systems, build working parts accessible to reach from the grade level). Administer out the hazard (do the work differently) PPE PFPS (Personal Fall Protection Systems) Positioning Restraint 6
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1910.23(c)(1)Every open-sided floor or platform 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing (or the equivalent as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. The railing shall be provided with a toeboard wherever, beneath the open sides, 8
Note that positioning / restraint may be tied off where you cannot reach the edge (zero foot), or tied off where you cannot fall more than 2 ) 9
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Zero fall distance is allowed for working around dangerous equipment. Dangerous equipment is defined as equipment (such as machinery, electrical equipment, and other units) which, as a result of form or function, may be hazardous to employees who fall onto or into such equipment. 11
What are we considering fall protection in this case? Handrails, restraint 12
Any walking/working surface on a construction site requires fall protection measures starting at six feet. 13
Use of portable extension ladders are not covered under the fall protection standard because they have their own standard in the OSHA General Industry and Construction Standards 14
Lets take a look at actual photographs to get a better understanding of controls and best practices for fall protection. 15
Fall hazards on working and walking surfaces can be open-sided floors, holes, and leading edges. How far can someone fall? What will they land on? Is there a ladder to access this work location? Is that a hazard? There are lots of questions, but the answer to this situation is, proper work planning was needed to eliminate the hazards. 16
Open sided floors should be protected by guardrails, as pictured on the right. If not feasible, fall restraint can be used as shown in the photograph on the left side. 17
When guardrails are used for fall prevention they must be forty-two inches high, plus or minus three inches, they must support 200 lbs in an outward or downward direction. Wood surfaces must be smooth and all posts cut flush to prevent injury. 18
The photograph on the left is not adequate because of gaps at end of rails and extension beyond posts. The right photograph shows a properly built guardrail. 19
Ladder access is sometimes required to lower levels and proper work planning can eliminate floor openings. The ladder way requires fall protection, with a maximum opening of eighteen inches to the side of the ladder, or an offset entry to minimize the hazard of employees stumbling into the opening 20
Holes in floors need to be guarded with railing or covered. Covers must be clearly marked, secured to prevent displacement, and capable of supporting twice the intended load. 21
When working in articulating and/or telescoping boom lifts or bucket trucks you are required to wear a personal fall arrest system. Make sure you use a fall restraint system that prevents you from leaving the work platform or bucket. When you tie off only use the manufacture s designated tie off point. Consult the manufacture s user manual if needed. 22
Proper work planning can eliminate most situations where a personal fall arrest system is required. Most likely you will experience some type of injury if you are involved in a fall event. Personal fall arrest systems should only be used when other fall prevention means cannot be used or are not feasible. 23
When using fall arrest equipment a person may not be subjected to more than 1800 lbs of force and this is achieved by using a body harness and an energy absorbing lanyard. You may not be exposed to a free fall of more than six feet and there must not be anything beneath you that you could strike. There are weight limitations for standard Fall Arrest Systems. The weight range for users of personal fall arrest systems is 130-310 pounds. 24
Free fall distance is the distance someone falls before the fall arrest equipment begins to engage. Deceleration distance is the distance someone falls once the fall arrest equipment engages to the point in which they come to a complete stop. Total fall distance is the sum of the free fall distance and the deceleration distance. 25
Persons using fall arrest equipment should always position their anchorage point above the D-ring to minimize the free fall distance. The illustration above demonstrates how minimizing the free fall distance can be achieved. The use of retractable lanyards is always preferred when using fall arrest equipment because the total fall distance is usually two feet or less. 26
This diagram shows the way to calculate the total fall distance. You add the length of the lanyard, plus the deceleration distance, plus the height of the worker (which generally is the height of the D ring and harness stretch), plus the safety factor. In the diagram the total fall distance would be calculated to eighteen and half feet. 27
When using retractable lanyards be aware of the hazard of swing falls. When the retractable lanyard is out, make sure you are not able to fall where the lanyard can not stop you from falling more the two feet. 28
The photograph shows the basic components of a personal fall arrest system. 29
A properly fitted harness is essential to minimize the shock to the body if you were exposed to a fall arrest. Harnesses have limitations, and if you are over three hundred ten pounds or under one hundred thirty pounds you will need specialized equipment. See your supervisor or your HSE representative for assistance if you do not fall within these parameters. 30
Deceleration devices, also known as shock absorbing or energy absorbing lanyards are designed to slow the free fall before coming to a stop thereby reducing the impact on the body. Even with these type of lanyards the force on the body can be up to eighteen hundred pounds. 31
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Retractable lifelines are devices designed to lock on the onset of a fall. A retractable lifeline works similarly to a vehicle safety belt in that it locks when the line is pulled at a rate faster than normal movement. The length of retractables vary so you must be aware of the potential swing fall hazards since you can have many feet of line extended out. Never use energy absorbing lanyards with this type of equipment. 34
The lifeline is used to connect a personal fall arrest system (consisting of a harness and deceleration lanyard) to an anchor point that cannot be reached by the short lanyard. The lanyard/lifeline connection point in a sense becomes the anchor point. The lifeline is not intended to stretch to add to the length of a fall. The lifeline can be made of a flexible line such as a rope or cable, or it can be made of a strap or webbing material. Lifelines can hang vertically from an anchor point and horizontally between two anchor points. 35
Positioning systems are design for use on vertical surfaces. It gives the worker the ability to work with both hands while be suspended with no free fall hazard. This application is used where vertical access is required. 36
If guardrails are not feasible then fall restraint is the next best way to work if you are exposed to a fall hazard. Restraint systems must be installed and used under the supervision of a competent person. Because no free fall hazard is possible in restraint systems, the anchorage point requirement is one thousand pounds. 37
This is how a fall restraint system should be designed. Picture from Slide share: https://www.slideshare.net/vtsiri/fall-protection-inconstuction 38
Here are two photographs of actual applications of a fall restraint system. 39
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Depending on the application and type of personal fall arrest system, the strength of the anchorage point can vary. When using fall arrest equipment where the is the potential to fall the anchorage point must withstand five thousand pounds of pull per employee. If two people are attached to the same anchorage point the strength must be at least ten thousand pounds. Anchorage point strengths for fall restraint is one thousand pounds, much less than the five thousand pounds required for fall arrest anchorage points. This is because when using fall restraint there in no danger of a fall. Remember, you can always contact your supervisor or an HSE representative for assistance in determining anchorage points. 42
Here are some pictures of different types of anchorage devices that may be installed for roof and deck applications. You can only install these devices if you are qualified. Remember, the definition of qualified persons as defined in fall protection systems, is a person who has a recognized degree or professional certificate and extensive knowledge and experience in the subject field who is capable of design, analysis, evaluation and specifications in the subject work, project, or product. 43
Eye bolts can be used for anchorage points but their design and application must be completed by a qualified person. 44
Manufactured anchorage rings or connectors are already designed and rated and can be used by anyone following the installation directions. 45
Here is another type of manufactured anchorage ring that is already designed and rated and can be used by anyone following the installation directions. 46
The structure or equipment you attach these type of connectors must be rated for five thousand pounds of static weight for fall arrest and one thousand pounds for fall restraint. Other things to consider are types of material and sharp edges that could create a hazard if a fall occurred. Over head locations are best for these connectors because it decreases the free fall distance. 47
A full body harness with a 2-foot lanyard works as restraint device preventing the user from being thrown from the bucket or basket area. 48
Body harnesses must be inspected by the user before use. A documented annual inspection by a competent person is required as well. 49
If you are suspended by your fall arrest equipment you must be aware of the potential hazards of orthostatic intolerance. Excessive pressure from the straps can cut off blood flow to the legs and cause permanent damage after hanging for fifteen minutes. Some harnesses are equipped with step in straps designed to relieve these pressure points if a worker is hanging. Be sure to know how to use this type of equipment if you have it. 50
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Whenever working at heights where there is a potential of hanging from a harness after a fall, a written hazard analysis is required. In the HA, there must be a rescue plan to retrieve someone hanging from a harness within a short period of time. 54
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If you are taking this class on line, you may contact your supervisor or anyone in the Safety Department with any questions or comments that you have. 58
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