Fall Protection In Construction e m o c

Fall Protection In Construction e! m o c el W OR-OSHA 301 1004 OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 1

This presentation will discuss: • The importance of planning • When fall protection is required • What fall protection methods are available • Basic principals of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) • Rescue planning • Training OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 2

Planning and identifying needs • The most important element of construction worksite safety is planning. • Hazards must be identified based on the evaluation of the processes, and the worksite overall, before a plan can be developed. • If proper planning isn’t done, time and materials will be wasted and, consequently, costs will rise. • Planning makes the difference between the success or failure of any project. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 3

Before we can reduce or eliminate fall hazards in the construction industry, we must first become familiar with: 1. the characteristics of fall hazards, 2. what fall protection is, 3. what methods of protection are available, and 4. the basic planning requirements for any type of construction work where fall hazards exist. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 4

Plan the work before you work the plan • Evaluate the work site • Identify fall hazards • Identify who is exposed to fall hazards • Evaluate the process to be done and the needs to complete the task • Identify what method of fall protection will be used for each hazard identified OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 5

How much planning was done here? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 6

What is fall protection? prevent a person from falling A method to _____ distance of a fall to or by reducing the ______ limit physical damage. Conventional systems include guardrails, covers, safety nets, personal fall arrest, personal fall restraint, positioning devices, etc. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 7

Why is fall protection important? • Prevents or reduces personal injury • Prevents/reduces injury to others • Reduces $$$$$$ ü Direct costs from falls are generally between $16, 000 $34, 000! • Compliance with the regulations OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 8

Federal OSHA statistics show: Falls are the leading cause of work-related deaths among construction workers. Why would people have the equipment on and not use it? What factors contribute to falls? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 9

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 10

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 11

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 12

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 13

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 14

Hazard? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 15

The Requirements Although the use of personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) is the most widely used method of fall protection, there alternatives available that may better suit the work being performed and better protect the worker. Before we discuss the use of personal fall arrest systems, let’s discuss fall protection requirements and take a look at some other fall protection options. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 16

Div 3/Sub M OAR 437 -003 -1501 General Fall Protection states “…when employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 10 feet or more to a lower level, the employer must ensure that fall protection systems are provided, installed, and implemented according to the criteria in Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926. 502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices. ” OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 17

However… Fall protection must be provided when employees are exposed to the hazard of falling six feet or more…. . • through holes • through wall openings • from established floors, mezzanines, balconies, & walkways • into excavations OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 18

And… Every employee must be protected from falls into or onto dangerous equipment - regardless of height! OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 19

Fall Protection for the following areas is not covered in OR-OSHA Div 3/Sub M because they’re covered elsewhere: • • • Working on scaffolds - Div 3/Sub L Certain cranes and derricks - Div 3/Sub N Steel erection activities - Div 3/Sub R Certain equip in tunneling operations - Div 3/Sub S Construction of electrical transmission and distribution lines and equipment - in Div 3/Sub V • Working on stairways and ladders - Div 3/Sub X OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 20

A few other notes………. . The employer must determine the walking/working surfaces where employees will work are strong enough and have the structural integrity to support employees safely. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 21

Protection must be provided when there is a hazard of falling objects: • Hardhats and ü toeboards, screens, or guardrails systems ü canopy structure ü barricade area below and prohibit access OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 22

A quick look at other fall protection options Guardrail Systems • Toprail at 42” (+/- 3”) from working surface • Midrail approx. 21”, or screens/mesh from toprail to working surface • Capable of withstanding 200 lbs. of force (midrail must withstand 150 lbs. ) ü applied within two inches of the top edge OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 23

What’s missing? 1926. 501(c)(1) Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling from higher levels; or, OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 24

• Surfaced to prevent cuts, lacerations, and slivers • Ends must not extend over posts if it can pose a projection hazard • Flag every six feet when wire rope is used • When hoisting operations are not taking place ü chain, gate, or removable section must be installed across access opening • Erected along all open sides of a hole OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 25

A quick look at other fall protection options Covers • Capable of supporting, without failure, at least 2 X the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time • Must be secured to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees • Must be color coded or marked “HOLE” or “COVER” • Capable of supporting, without failure, at least 2 X the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross over OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 26

Safety Nets • Installed as close as possible under the walking/working surface • never more than 30 ft. below! • Must extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface: OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 27

Vertical distance from working level to horizontal plane of net Minimum required horizontal Up to 5 ft More than 5 ft. up to 10 ft More than 10 ft. 8 ft. 10 ft. 13 ft. A safety net is being used under the roof of this building as an acceptable fall protection system. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 28

• Drop tests specified in Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926. 502(c)(4) • Inspect at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration ü inspect after any occurrence which could affect integrity • Materials, scrap, etc. , must be removed ASAP • Mesh openings must not exceed 36 sq. in. nor be longer than six inches on any side • Safety nets, and sections of it, must have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5000 lbs. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 29

A quick look at other fall protection options Slide Guard Systems • Installed under Competent Person supervision • Cannot be used on roofs with ground/eave height of 25 ft. or more • Cannot be used as fall protection on roofs with a slope less than 3: 12 nor greater than 8: 12 • Roofs with slopes greater than or equal to 3: 12 to and including 6: 12 ü minimum of one slide guard placed below the work area ü no closer than 6” from the eave OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 30

• Roofs with slopes greater than 6: 12 to and including 8: 12 ü multiple slide guards must be used ü spaced 8’ apart, vertically ü lower slide guard must be placed no closer than 6” from eave • Lowest slide guard must be 90 degrees to the roof surface • Upper slide guards cannot be less than 60 degrees to the roof surface OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 31

OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 32

Slide Guard Systems - Manufactured Roof Brackets • • Installed according to manufacturer’s specs Minimum 6” brackets must be used All brackets must bear on a solid surface Brackets must not be spaced greater than 8’ apart horizontally, or according to manufacturer’s specs (whichever is less) OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 33

• Nominal 2”X 6” material must be used for slide guards ü must be secured to the brackets or otherwise protected against cantilevering and failure due to material flex • Manufacturer’s specs must be available for review OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 34

Any problems here? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 35

A quick look at other fall protection options Safety Monitoring System • Only for roofing work on roof slopes of 2: 12 or less • A safety monitoring system alone can be the only fall protection for roofs 50’ wide or less • A safety monitor ü must be competent to recognize fall hazards ü must warn employees when it appears they are unaware of the fall hazard ü must be on the same surface and within visual distance of the employees ü must be close enough to communicate ü must not have other responsibilities which could take away their attention OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 36

Warning Line Systems • For roofing work ü must not be used as fall protection on slopes greater than 2: 12 ü employees performing roofing work between a roof edge and a warning line must be protected by guardrails, nets, PFAS, PFRS, or safety monitoring system • Must be erected around all open sides of the roof work area no less than 6’ from the roof edge OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 37

• When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line must be erected ü no less than 6’ from the roof edge which is parallel and no less than 10’ from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction of the mechanical equipment operation • Points of access and material handling areas must be connected to the work area by an access path formed by two warning lines ü close access/offset when not in use OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 38

• Warning lines must consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and ü flagged every 6’ w/ high-visibility material ü rigged and supported that its lowest point (including sag) is no less than 34” and its highest point is no more than 39” ü stanchions must be capable of resisting at least 16 lbs. of force ü warning line must have a minimum tensile strength of 500 lbs. • Employees are not allowed between the roof edge and warning line unless performing roofing work OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 39

OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 40

A quick look at other fall protection options Positioning Device System • Must be rigged to prevent a free fall of more than two feet • Must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of a fall or 3000 lbs. (whichever is greater) OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 41

• Connectors and connecting components must be in accordance with Div 3/Sub M 29 CFR 1926. 502(d). For example: ü must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or equivalent ü must have a corrosion-resistant finish and surfaces must be smooth ü proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3600 lbs. without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation ü snaphooks must be compatible with the member it connects to OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 42

Personal Fall Restraint System • Must be rigged to prevent the user from falling any distance! • Comprised of a full body harness, anchorage, and connectors (e. g. lanyard, snaphooks, etc. ) ü in accordance with Div 3/Sub. M 29 CFR 1926. 502(d) Courtesy of Superanchor. com OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 43

Personal Fall Restraint System • Anchorages used for attachment must be capable of supporting 3000 lbs. per employee attached, or ü be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall restraint system which maintains a safety factor of at least two ü under the supervision of a qualified person OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction Courtesy of Superanchor. com 44

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) • Reduces injury sustained in a fall by ü reducing the distance of the fall ü absorbing the arresting forces • Must limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1800 lbs. or less • Must be rigged such that an employee ü cannot free fall more than six feet ü not contact a lower level ü limit deceleration distance to 3. 5 ft OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 45

Personal Fall Arrest System • Anchorages used for attachment must be capable of supporting 5000 lbs. per employee attached, or ü be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two ü under the supervision of a qualified person • A rescue system must be in place when personal fall arrest systems are used ü provisions for prompt rescue ü assurance of self-rescue OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 46

The ABCs!…. er, and R Courtesy of Protecta International OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 47

Personal Fall Arrest System Anchorage An anchorage point is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, deceleration devices, or self retracting lanyards. Courtesy of DBI/SALA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 48

The anchorage point can be a single attachment to a substantial structure above the surface from which the employee is walking/working on, or it can be one to two attachments used to anchor a vertical or horizontal lifeline. Courtesy of Superanchor. com OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 49

Anchorages used for personal fall arrest must be independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms (e. g. two point suspended scaffolds). Courtesy of DBI/SALA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 50

The anchorage point for fall arrest systems must be capable of supporting 5000 lb. for each worker attached to it or used as part of a complete PFAS which maintains a safety factor of at least two and under the supervision of a qualified person. Think of it this way - would you suspend your truck from this anchor point? If not, don’t use it! OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 51

Do we have a problem here? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 52

Personal Fall Arrest System Full body harness Must restrict the Maximum Arrest Force (MAF) to 1800 lbs. Courtesy of MSA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 53

MAF can be reduced through the use of deceleration devices, or by reducing the fall distance under the guidance of a qualified person. Courtesy of MSA Deceleration devices reduce arresting forces Reduce the fall distance whenever possible OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 54

The impact of the fall is imposed on the trunk of the body which distributes the MAF to a larger area than the safety belt, reducing the potential for damage to the body. The attachment point (D-Ring) must be located in the center of the wearer’s back near shoulder level. Inspect before use for wear, damage, deterioration, and defects. Must be removed from service if subjected to impact loading and not returned to use until a competent person determines no damage was done. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 55

Personal Fall Arrest System Connectors (Everything between your harness and anchor) Connector means a device which is used to connect parts of the PFAS and positioning devices together. It may be independent (e. g. carabiner) or may be an integral component (e. g. D-Ring sewn into a body harness or snaphooks sewn and spliced into lanyards). Courtesy of DBI/SALA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 56

Connectors include lanyards, snaphooks, carabiners, D-Rings, lifelines, and deceleration devices. A Lanyard is a device which connects the worker to the anchorage point. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 57

For positioning, it’s used to connect the two front DRings to the anchorage point. For fall arrest, it is secured at one end to the workers D-Ring on the harness between the shoulders and the other end to the anchorage point. Lanyards must be made from synthetic material and have a minimum breaking strength of 5000 lbs. Only locking-type snaphooks and carabiners can be used. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 58

The following connections are prohibited (unless the locking-type snaphook is designed for it): ü engaged directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope ü engaged to another snaphook ü engaged to a D-Ring to which another snaphook/carabiner is attached ü engaged to a horizontal lifeline ü engaged to any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned such that unintentional disengagement can occur (roll out) OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 59

Non-locking snaphooks can no longer be used primarily because of the hazard of “rollout”. Rollout can occur when a snaphook is connected to an incompatible member. As the worker moves around, the snaphook can turn and twist so that the gate to the hook is resting against the anchorage point. The gate may depress against the anchorage point inadvertently, opening and disconnecting from the anchorage allowing the worker to fall to the level below. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 60

Personal Fall Arrest System Connectors (con’t) Deceleration device means any mechanism which dissipates a substantial amount of energy imposed on an employee during fall arrest. Deceleration devices include rope grabs, rip-stitch/tearing lanyards, and self-retractable lanyards. Remember - maximum arresting forces on a employee during a fall arrest must be less than 1800 lbs. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 61

A lifeline is a flexible line which connects to an anchorage point at one end to hang vertically, or at both ends to stretch horizontally. Vertical lifelines are designed to be used: ü By only one person ü With a rope grab ü For vertical mobility Courtesy of Protecta International OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 62

Horizontal lifelines can be used only: As part of a complete PFAS which maintains a safety factor of at least two, and when designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person. Courtesy of DBI/SALA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 63

The Fall We have all heard the expression - it’s not the fall that’s hurts but the sudden stop at the end. Think of a fall as “…. a sudden, unanticipated descent in space driven by gravity”. Although this may not sound severe, the consequences are often disabling - or deadly. The free fall velocity at impact when falling 12 feet is nearly 20 mph. Put another way, a person will hit the ground in just under one second after falling this distance. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 64

free fall A ______ is defined as the act of falling before a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. When a fall is experienced using a PFAS, the fall is referred to as a free fall up until the begins system _______ to stop the fall (starts to arrest the fall). Think of a parachute pulling the rip cord stops the free fall and begins the fall arrest. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 65

When the fall does come to a complete stop the action is referred to as the fall arrest. Tremendous force is imposed on the body during the fall arrest. This force imposed during the arrest is known as the arrest force. Forces imposed in a fall greatly depends on the type of system you are using and the free fall distance. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 66

For example: A 220 lb. worker……. • free falling 6 in. using a wire rope lanyard (without a deceleration device) 3917 lbs. • free falling 4 ft. using a nylon rope lanyard (without a deceleration device) 2140 lbs. • free falling 6 ft. using a synthetic web lanyard (with a deceleration device) <900 lbs. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 67

OR-OSHA Div 3/Sub M sets limits on the Maximum Arrest Force (MAF). The law prohibits the use of a safety belt for fall arrest and allows a maximum of 1800 lbs. when using a full body harness. ARREST FORCE = The force imposed when the stop occurs. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 68

A fall starts from the moment your feet leave the surface you were working on. When using PFAS, the fall distance is measured from your shoulder (D-Ring location) to the working surface and any distance below the surface. When anchored above your shoulder, the fall is measured from the anchorage point to the end of the lanyard when the fall is completely stopped. Any additional distance the person falls beyond the free fall is added to the free fall distance and referred to as the total fall distance. This is the measurement of the fall from start to stop. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 69

Let’s calculate the fall distance using a six foot, shock absorbing lanyard, when the anchorage is at shoulder (DRing) height. 5’ 1 __’ Distance from the anchorage/D-Ring to the working surface = 5’ Distance below the working surface until the free fall stops 1 and fall arrest begins = __’ 6 Free fall distance = __’ OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 70

5’ from the anchorage/D-Ring to the working surface + __’ 1 below the working surface = 6 __’ free fall + 3. 5’ from shock absorber elongation 5 - you came down + __’ too! = 14. 5 ft. Total Fall Distance OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 71

The Fall Remember: The free fall is the distance you fall before the fall arrest system begins to stop (arrest) the fall. OR-OSHA Div 3/Sub M requires a maximum free fall 6 distance of ______ feet. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 72

If the anchorage is at shoulder/D-Ring level, as in the previous diagrams, the free fall includes the distance from the D-Ring location between the shoulders to the surface (5 ft. ), plus the remaining one foot of lanyard below the surface, for a total free fall distance of six feet. The worker would maintain the maximum allowable free fall of six feet in this case. If the anchorage were two feet above the shoulder level, the free fall would only be four feet. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 73

Any additional distance the worker falls beyond the free fall is added to the free fall distance and referred to as the total fall distance. When the anchorage is at your feet, as in the following diagrams, the free fall still includes the area from the D-Ring location between the shoulders to the surface (5 ft. ), plus the remaining length of lanyard below the surface. And remember - the additional distance the worker falls beyond the free fall is added to the free fall distance and referred to as the total fall distance. Let’s take a look OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 74

Let’s calculate the fall distance using a six foot, shock absorbing lanyard, when the anchorage is at your feet. 5’ 6 __’ Distance from the DRing to the working surface = 5’ Distance below the working surface until the free fall stops 6 and fall arrest begins = __’ 11 Free fall distance = ____’ OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 75

5’ from the anchorage/D-Ring to the working surface + __’ 6 below the working surface = 11 __’ free fall + 3. 5’ from shock absorber elongation 5 - you came down + __’ too! = 19. 5 ______ft. Total Fall Distance OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 76

Rescue Employers must provide for prompt rescue in the event of a fall or must assure that employees are able to rescue themselves. Don’t always assume the Fire Dept. will be available and/or equipped OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 77

What does “prompt” rescue mean? What can be used to rescue a person? Why will the method of rescue vary at each site? How can you assure self rescue? OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 78

Rescue when using PFAS comes down to planning and preparing. Some important points to consider: ü Train your rescuers in rescue techniques and practice rescue attempts ü Ensure equipment is readily available ü Arrange and communicate with other contractors on site ü Arrange and communicate with outside services, if available ü Designate someone to summon them upon arrival ü Don’t always assume the Fire Dept. will be available and or equipped ü Plan a route and establish lines of communication OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 79

Training A training program must be provided for all employees who might be exposed to fall hazards. Fall hazards include: A Competent Person must provide the training. A Competent Person is someone who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are hazardous or dangerous to employees, and has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 80

Training Content • Nature of fall hazards in work area • Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems • Use and operation of guardrail systems, PFAS, safety nets, warning lines, safety monitoring, PFRS, slide guards, positioning devices, and other protection used • The role each employee has in the safety monitoring system (if used) OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 81

Training Content • Limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the performance of roofing work • Correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection • All other requirements of the safety standard OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 82

Why do new employees with prior experience need training? What is documented on the training certification? When is retraining required? Courtesy of DBI/SALA OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction What’s missing? 83

That’s it! Be safe… you never know when someone is watching. OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 84

Be Safe! OR-OSHA 301 - Fall Protection in Construction 85