Unified Fall Protection Systems and Methods Module 4

Unified Fall Protection Systems and Methods – Module 4 Positioning Devices and Fall Arrest Systems March 2025

Positioning Devices and Fall Arrest Systems A positioning device system is a full body harness or positioning harness that is worn by an employee, and is rigged to allow an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical or inclined surface, such as a wall, pole or column and work with both hands free from the body support. Positioning devices must be rigged to prevent an employee from a free fall greater than two feet. Source: Oregon OSHA Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 2

Fall Protection Systems– Positioning Devices Positioning device systems and their use must conform to the following provisions: • A positioning device system is a full body • Positioning devices must be rigged to prevent an employee from a free fall greater than two feet. • Positioning devices must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an employee's fall or three thousand pounds (13. 3 k. N), whichever is greater. • Connectors must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 3

Fall Protection Systems– Positioning Devices Cont: • Connectors must have a corrosion-resistant finish, and all surfaces and edges must be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of this system. • Connecting assemblies must have a minimum breaking strength of five thousand pounds (22. 2 k. N). • D-rings and snap hooks must be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of three thousand six hundred pounds (16 k. N) without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation. • Snap hooks must be a locking type snap hook designed and used to prevent disengagement of the snap hook by the contact of the snap hook keeper by the connected member. • Unless the snap hook is designed for the following connections, snap hooks must not be engaged: Directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope; To each other; To a D-ring to which another snap hook or other connector is attached; To a horizontal lifeline; or • To any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the snap hook such that unintentional disengagement could occur by the connected object being able to depress the snap hook keeper and release itself. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 4

Fall Protection Systems • Connecting assemblies of the system must have a minimum tensile strength rating of 5, 000 • Connecting assembly components, such as Drings and snap hooks, must be proof-tested or rated at a minimum 3, 600 pounds without cracking, breaking or deforming • Only snap hooks which are of the locking type can be used to prevent disengagement of the snap hook Components of positioning systems (such as D-rings and snap hooks) are described further in Module 5. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 5

Fall Arrest Systems A fall arrest system does not prevent a fall from occurring, but is designed to catch a person who has already fallen. It must be strong enough to catch the weight of a falling body without causing serious injury. Types of fall arrest systems include: • Safety net • Catch platform • Personal fall arrest system (full body harness) Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 6

Fall Arrest Systems – Safety Nets Safety net systems consist of mesh nets, panels, and connecting components. They are typically used as protection for those who work 25 feet or more above lower levels on bridges and at building construction sites. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 7

Fall Arrest Systems – Safety Nets Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the surface on which employees are working, but in no case more than thirty feet (9. 1 m) below such level unless specifically approved in writing by the manufacturer. The potential fall area to the net must be unobstructed. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 8

Fall Arrest Systems – Safety Nets The edge of a safety net must extend outward a minimum distance, depending on how far the net is below the working surface: Horizontal and vertical safety net distances from a working surface Vertical distance below the working surface Horizontal distance of outer edge of net beyond edge of working surface (minimum) Up to 5 feet 8 feet More than 5 feet up to 10 feet More than 10 feet 13 feet Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 9

Fall Arrest Systems – Safety Nets An installed net must withstand a drop test consisting of a four hundred pound (180 kg) bag of sand, thirty plus or minus two inches (76 plus or minus 5 cm) in diameter dropped into the net from the highest walking/working surface at which employees are exposed to fall hazards, but not from less than forty-two inches (1. 1 m) above that level. The net must be able to withstand the impact without touching anything below it. Each safety net (or section of it) must have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5, 000 pounds. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 10

Fall Arrest Systems – Catch Platform If a catch platform is used, it must be installed within four vertical feet of the work area. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 11

Fall Arrest Systems – Catch Platform (Cont’d) A type of fall arrest system that consists of a platform installed within four vertical feet of the fall hazard, is at least forty-five inches wide and is equipped with a standard guardrail system on all exposed sides. Note: Catch platforms must meet the strength and stability requirements of supported scaffolds in chapter 296 -874 WAC, Scaffolds. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 12

Fall Arrest Systems – Catch Platform A scaffold system which meets these requirements may be considered a catch platform. However, if stored materials on the platform make the guardrail ineffective, then remove the materials or construct a higher guardrail. Toeboard missing and too much stored material Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 13

Fall Arrest Systems – Personal Fall Arrest Personal fall arrest system (full body harness) Personal fall arrest systems are covered in module 5. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 14

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 1 A positioning device system holds a worker close to a vertical or steeply-sloped structure and limits a fall to 3 feet or less. True False Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 15

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 1 - Answer A positioning device system holds a worker close to a vertical or steeply-sloped structure and limits a fall to 3 feet or less. True False Positioning devices must be rigged to prevent an employee from a free fall greater than two feet. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 16

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 2 A fall arrest system must be strong enough to catch the weight of a falling body without causing serious injury. True False Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 17

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 2 – Answer A fall arrest system must be strong enough to catch the weight of a falling body without causing serious injury. True False A fall arrest system must not only be able to catch a worker who has fallen, but also minimize potential injuries resulting from the catch. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 18

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 3 When using safety nets for fall arrest: Remove materials, debris, equipment and tools that fall into the net as soon as possible and no later than the start of the next work shift. Inspect safety nets at least monthly for wear, damage and deterioration Safety nets must be installed as close as possible below working surfaces, but not more than 40 feet. All of the above Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 19

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 3 When using safety nets for fall arrest: Remove materials, debris, equipment and tools that fall into the net as soon as possible and no later than the start of the next work shift. Inspect safety nets at least monthly for wear, damage and deterioration Safety nets must be installed as close as possible below working surfaces, but not more than 40 feet. All of the above A worker can get injured by falling directly onto materials left in the net or by materials getting bounced up. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 20

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 4 A scaffold system may be used as a catch platform if: It is within 4 vertical feet of the work area. It has standard guardrails installed on all open sides The width of the platform is at least equal to the distance of the fall, at least 45 inches wide. All of the above Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 21

Fall Protection Systems and Methods Question 4 A scaffold system may be used as a catch platform if: It is within 4 vertical feet of the work area. It has standard guardrails installed on all open sides The width of the platform is at least equal to the distance of the fall, at least 45 inches wide. All of the above are true. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 22