Fall Protection Refresher Orientation

1. Fall Protection Refresher Orientation

2. Course Objectives • Understand the definitions of fall prevention, fall restraint, and fall arrest. • Understand the requirements of fall protection. • Recognize the hazards associated with fall protection. • Know where to seek help and advice for fall protection (FESHM Chapter 5066)

3. Course Objectives • Know how to inspect and wear personal fall arrest system equipment (PFAS). • Know the requirements for anchorage points and how to tie off to them.

4. What is Fall Protection? • A series of reasonable steps taken to cause elimination or control of the injurious effects of an unintentional fall while accessing or working at height

5. Fall Statistics • Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. • An average of 362 fatal falls occurred each year from 1995 to 1999, with the trend on the increase. • The cost of care for injuries related to falls is a financial burden for the entire construction industry

6. Where Do Fatal Falls Occur?

7. Where Do Non-Fatal Falls Occur?

8. Anatomy of a Fall • It takes most people about 1/3 of a second to become aware. • It takes another 1/3 of a second for the body to react. • A body can fall up to 7 feet in 2/3 of a second. .33sec./2 feet .67 sec./7 feet 1 sec./16 feet 2 sec./64 feet

9. Planning for Fall Protection • Best practice dictates that fall protection becomes an integral part of the work planning process, from constructability, to systems installation, to use and maintenance • The workplace cannot be truly safe unless fall protection is incorporated into every phase of the process • Planning will keep workers safe and minimize fall exposures

10. The Steps of Fall Protection? • Is this the correct order?

11. Controlling Fall Exposures • General industry regulations (paraphrased) • Every open-sided floor, platform, wall opening, or hole 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded by a standard railing, or the equivalent, on all open sides except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder. • Construction industry regulations (paraphrased) • Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side, edge, or hole which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

12. Controlling Fall Exposures • FESHM Chapter 5066 – Fall Protection Program • Any worker, visiting scientist, or subcontractor involved in work activities and exposed to a fall hazard at or greater that 4’ will require fall protection if fall prevention methods cannot be used. • 29 CFR 1910 and 29 CFR 1926 shall be followed when the work involves hazards that require fall protection.  There are requirements that apply to all general work as well as specific requirements based upon the work activity that is being performed.  Exceptions to fall protection requirements, as provided in 1926.500, are ONLY for construction-related activities.  There are no fall protection exemptions for maintenance or operations work.

13. Using Fall Protection Systems • Select fall protection systems appropriate for given situations. • Use proper construction and installation of safety systems. • Supervise employees properly. • Use safe work procedures. • Train workers in the proper selection, use, and maintenance of fall protection systems. • Evaluate the effectiveness of all steps

14. Fall Protection Methods • Fall Prevention- A system that will prevent a person from falling to a lower level. Example: Railings • Work Positioning or Fall Restraint- A system that will allow the worker to approach a fall hazard and work but will not allow the worker to fall to a lower level. • Fall Arrest- A system that will protect a person from crashing on to a lower level after a fall. Example: Fall Arrest Harness/lanyard

15. Competent Person • One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

16. Qualified Person • One with 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.

17. When Is Fall Protection Required? • What are the fall distances that trigger guardrails and fall protection?

18. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall prevention is required for falls onto dangerous equipment. Zero fall distance is allowed.

19. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall protection is required for work on forms or steel reinforcing over 6’ in height

20. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall protection is required for scaffolding over 6’ in height. OSHA allows up to 10’ but the Lab rule is 6’.

21. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall protection required for walking / working surfaces over 4’ in height in general industry

22. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall protection required for walking / working surfaces over 6’ in height in construction

23. When Is Fall Protection Required? • Fall protection is required for vertical ladders without cages over 24’

24. When Is Fall Protection Required? • No fall protection is required for portable extension ladders

25. Hazard Recognition • What are the allowable controls and best practices?

26. Walking & Working Surfaces • Hazards with working/walking surfaces • Open-sided floors • Holes • Leading edges

27. Open Sided Floors • Guardrails • Restraint Devices

28. Wood Guardrail Construction Proper Height Midrails Toeboards Adequate Strength

29. Guardrail Construction Bad Better

30. Cable Guardrail Construction • Proper height • Cannot deflect below 39” • Marked every 6’ • Terminations and attachments • Maintenance

31. Accessways/Ladderways Bad Better

32. Holes • Secured indentified covers • Guardrails

33. Skylights Must be protected

34. Aerial Work Platforms • A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is required whenever you are working in an Articulating and/or telescoping boom lifts and bucket trucks • Use the manufacture’s designated anchorage points.

35. Personal Fall Arrest Systems • Should only be used when other fall prevention means can not be used or are not feasible.

36. Personal Fall Arrest Systems • Used to protect an employee from hitting a lower level once they have fallen. • Components include: • An anchorage point • Body harness • Deceleration devices • Connectors – lanyards, rope grabs, anchorage connectors

37. Personal Fall Arrest Systems • When using personal fall arrest systems: • If you fall, the impact force to the body has to be less than 1800 pounds, achieved by using shock absorbing lanyards and a harness • Minimize fall distance, the maximum free fall distance can only be 6 feet • There can not be any structures below in you fall distance • Maximum weight of an individual w/tools is 310 pounds

38. Fall Distances • Free Fall Distance • The vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee's harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. • Deceleration Distance • The distance between the location of an body harness attachment point at the moment of activation of the deceleration device during a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.

39. Extended Lanyard Length Plus maximum 2’ extension (usually within inches) 6’ Lanyard Length 3.5’ Deceleration Device Minimizing Free Fall Distance Tie to anchor above the D-ring Or use a retractable Using an anchorage above the D-ring and a standard lanyard may still allow an employee to fall a distance that may be difficult to rescue from. Using a retractable minimizes forces on the body, and may make rescue easier (and therefore more timely)

40. Calculating Total Fall Distance

41. Watch Swing Falls • This worker is tied off using a retractable lifeline. • There is a major swing fall potential if he fell to either side. Swing Fall

42. Personal Fall Arrest Systems • Anchorage • Body • Connector Caribiners Harnesses Rope Grabs Beam Wraps Lanyards Positioning

43. Anchorages • Fall arrest anchor points must support 5000 lbs per employee attached • Fall restraint anchor points must support at least 1000 lbs per employee attached • Ask your supervisor, Senior Safety Officer, or the ESH–Section safety representatives if you need assistance in determining an adequate anchorage point

44. Roof & Deck Anchors Wood Roof Anchor Permanent Anchors Metal Roof Anchor

45. Use of Eye Bolts • Rated for loading parallel to the bolt axis. • If wall mounted, the rating perpendicular to the axis must be good for 5,000 lbs. per employee Rated Needed

46. Girder Grip Anchorage Rings • These attachments can be mounted through bolt holes on steel members. • They are rated at 5,000 lbs. in all directions

47. Removable Concrete Anchors • These attachments can be mounted in holes of concrete. • They are rated at 5,000 lbs. in all directions

48. Anchorage Connectors • These type of connectors enable you to tie off to various types of anchorage points

49. Beam Clamps Beam clamps can make an effective anchorage when used properly, and with the correct lanyard TIGHT BEAM CLAMP PIN SET Be sure pin is inserted full length and clamp is tight.

50. Horizontal Life Lines • Provide maneuverability • Must be designed, installed and used under the guidance of a qualified person • This could be interpreted as requiring the use of manufactured systems, which is recommended