WalkingWorking Surfaces and Fall Protection Training Subpart D

Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Training Subpart D

Introduction n Slips, trips and falls cause: the majority of general industry accidents n 15 percent of all accidental deaths n more fatalities than all other causes but motor vehicles n n OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed 2

General Requirements Housekeeping Workplaces must be kept clean, orderly, and sanitary n Workroom floors must be maintained as clean and dry as possible n 3

General Requirements Aisles and Passageways n Keep clear and move obstructions that could create a hazard n Mark permanent aisles and passageways n Aisles must be sufficiently wide where mechanical handling equipment is used n Never block aisles, exit routes, doorways, and access to emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, emergency eyewash/showers, simplex fire control stations, etc) by materials or equipment (i. e. ladders). n Never store materials or equipment in exit passageways or stairwells 4

General Requirements Covers and Guardrails Provide covers and/or guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits, tanks, vats, ditches, and the like. 5

General Requirements Floor Loading Protection Load ratings must be marked on plates and be conspicuously posted n Do not exceed the load rating limit n 6

Floor Opening An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through which persons may fall. n n Always guard temporary floor holes or openings to protect persons from accidentally walking or falling into the hole. These situations can be protected by the use of standard guardrail barrier systems or secured coverings with the word “Floor Hole/ Opening” clearly marked, per OSHA regulations 7

Guarding Floor Openings Definitions n n Standard railing. Consists of top rail, mid rail, and posts. Height from the upper surface of top rail to floor level is 42 inches. Mid rail height is 21 inches. Standard toeboard. 4 inches high, with not more than ¼-inch clearance above the floor. 8

Stairway Floor Openings Must be guarded by a standard railing on all exposed sides (except at entrance). 9

Ladderway Floor Openings Guard with a standard railing with toeboard on all exposed sides (except entrance) n Guard the passage through the railing with a swinging gate or offset it to prevent someone from walking into the opening n 10

Floor Hole n n An opening measuring less than 12 in. but more than 1 in. in its least dimension, in a floor, platform, pavement or yard, through which materials but not persons may fall Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk must be guarded by either: standard railing with toeboard n cover n 11

Wall Openings Opening at least 30 in. high and 18 in. wide, in a wall or partition, through which persons may fall n Wall openings from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet must be guarded n 12

Open-Sided Floors and Platforms n n Open-sided floors or platforms 4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level must be guarded by a standard railing (or equivalent) on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder A toeboard is required when, Unguarded Platform beneath the open sides: n n n persons can pass, there is moving machinery, or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard 13

Open-Sided Floors, Walkways, Platforms, and Runways Regardless of height, a standard railing and toeboard must be used to guard: - open-sided floors - walkways - platforms, or - runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards. 14

Stairways Flights of stairs with four or more risers must have standard stair railings or handrails. 15

Fixed Industrial Stairs Treads must be slip resistant with uniform rise height and tread width n Must be able to carry 5 times expected load; minimum of 1000 pounds n Minimum width of 22 inches n Violation here – several steps bent and damaged 16

Portable Ladders n n Ladders used to gain access to a roof or other area must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support Withdraw defective ladders from service and tag or mark "Dangerous, Do Not Use“ Never use ladders in a horizontal position as scaffolds or work platforms Never use metal ladders near electrical equipment 17

Ladder Angle Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders Use at angle where the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is ¼ the working length of the ladder (length along ladder between the foot and top support). 18

Fixed Ladders n n n Permanently attached to a structure, building or equipment Cages or wells required if longer than 20 ft. to a maximum unbroken length of 30 ft. Ladder safety devices may be used on tower, water tank and chimney ladders over 20 ft. in unbroken length instead of cage protection 19

Scaffolding General Requirements n n n Must be capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load Do not alter or move while in use Protect workers on scaffolds from overhead hazards If higher than 10 ft. , use guardrails, midrails and toeboards Use wire mesh between the toeboard and guardrail if people work or pass underneath Must be equipped with access ladder or equivalent 20

n Comply with all posted instructions such as caution, warning, and restricted area signs CAUTION 21

n Do not cross any barriers and barricades such as portable yellow barricades, red danger or yellow caution tape, or similar barriers for any reason unless given proper authorization by those performing the work inside of the restricted area. 22

Preventing Problems: Employee Responsibilities Follow instructions and policies n Perform pre-use inspection n Know the equipment’s capabilities and limitations n Follow safe work practices n 23

Fall Protection Employers must provide fall protection training • How to recognize hazards • How to minimize hazards • Fall protection systems • Use of fall protection devices 24

Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. Most fatalities occur when employees fall from opensided floors and through floor openings. Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious lost -time accidents and sometimes death. Open-sided floors and platforms 4 feet or more in height must be guarded. 25

Fall Protection Options Guardrails Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Safety Net 26

Fall Protection Planning Lanyards and PFAS in use Fall protection systems and work practices must be in place before you start work. 27

Guardrails Top Rail Mid- Rail Toeboard n n Top rails between 39 and 45 inches tall Toeboards at least 3 1/2 inches high 28

Personal Fall Arrest Systems • You must be trained how to properly use PFAS = anchorage, lifeline and body harness. 29

Safety Line Anchorages Must be independent of any platform anchorage and capable of supporting at least 5, 000 lbs. per worker 30

Safety Nets Place as close as possible, but no more than 30 feet below where employees work 31

Fall protection is needed: Walkways and ramps, Guard ramps, runways, and other walkways 32

Unprotected sides & edges, Unprotected edge Unprotected sides and edges must have guardrails or equivalent 33

Sides & Edges - Improper Guarding This 1/4" nylon rope alone is not a proper way to guard this open floor 34

Floor Holes Improperly Covered • Cover completely and securely • If no cover, can guard with a guardrail 35

Excavations Guard excavations more than 6 feet deep when they are not readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barriers In addition to needing guarding, this excavation is not properly shored 36

Wall Openings Wall opening If you work near wall openings 4 feet or more above lower levels you must be protected from falling 37

Good Work Practices n Perform work at ground level if possible Example: building prefab roofs on the ground and lifting into place with a crane Tether or restrain workers so they can't reach the edge n Designate and use safety monitors (This is less desirable of all the systems) n Use conventional fall protection n 38