FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE Trainer

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACETrainers Guide

• Presented by
• Regional Safety Manager
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• 200 World Trade Center
• Norfolk VA 23510
• 757-441-6448

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• FALLS CAN BE FATAL
• In the blink of an eye we can hit the ground
  hard.
• Consequences of ignoring fall protection is
  obvious
• Falls on the job kill 11,000 people and cause
  more than 200,000 disabling injuries per year

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• FALLS CAN BE FROM
• Ladders Scaffolds Buckets
• Towers Work Platforms
• OR
• From any other off ground situation
• Give examples of each possible situation

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• A SAFETY MINDSET
• Inspect equipment before use Show equipment if
  possible
• Get faulty equipment repaired before using it
  (unless it has been loaded, then replace)
• Follow safe work practices in all off-the-ground
  situations
• (4 feet or more off-the-ground and 6 feet or more
  off-the-ground in construction industry)

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• LADDERS
• Are the rungs in good condition? (Are they
  cracked, broken?)
• Use a three point climb (2 feet and 1 hand or 2
  hands and 1 foot) (This means three limbs on
  ladder at all times, show example)
• Always face the front of the ladder
• Keep hands on side rails at all times
• Keep weight centered

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• LADDERS
• Are you using the belt buckle rule (belt buckle
  between rails of ladder at all times)?
• DONT RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• GUARD RAILS
• Designed to keep people from falling
• Around platforms or walkways
• May be temporary or permanent (Give examples of
  temporary or permanent I.e. around a pit until it
  is filled in)
• Rails must be able to support 200 lbs
• Rails must be 39 to 45 inches above surface

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• SAFETY NETS
• Used where guard rails are impractical or
  impossible to install
• Personal nets are intended to catch people
• Debris nets are intended to catch tools and
  debris
• Must be inspected regularly, generally weekly
  (Recommend keeping a log of inspection to prove
  it is done)

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEM
• Used only when other types of fall protection
  cannot be used
• Designed to tether a worker to an anchor point
• Used to protect workers climbing vertical
  distances
• Used to protect workers on horizontal surfaces
  high above the ground.

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEM
• Contains the following components
• FULL BODY HARNESS (show example of the harness)
• CONNECTING DEVICE (show example of connecting
  device)
• ANCHOR POINT (support 5,000 lbs) (expound on this
  weight requirement)

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FALL PROTECTION IN THE WORKPLACE

• PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEM
• Inspection and Maintenance
• Frayed or broken harness straps (if frayed or
  broken, remove from service and replace)
• D-ring securely attached and not bent
• Tears, missing stitches or damaged hardware
  (remove from service and replace
• Recommend keeping a log book of inspection to
  ensure it is being done especially if equipment
  is used by more than one person

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FALL PROTECTION QUIZ

• Circle TRUE or FALSE for each of the statements
  below
• 1. TRUE Falls cause about 11,000 on-the-job
  deaths each year and disable more than 200,000
  people.
• 2. FALSE A three point climb means three of
  your limbs must be in contact with the ladder at
  all times (Two feet and one hand or two hands
  and one foot)
• 3. TRUE Netting on a guard rail prevents people
  and items from falling
• 4. FALSE Personal fall protection systems
  include three items a full body harness, a
  connecting device and an anchor point.
• 5. TRUE Personal fall protection systems vary
  depending on the work being done but all include
  a full body harness.
• 6. FALSE Fall protection systems must be
  connected to an anchor point that will support
  5,000 pounds of weight per person connected.
  Water or sewer lines or electrical conduits will
  not support this much weight and should never be
  used.
• Now wrap up the class, collect the tests, ensure
  everyone has signed in and remind everyone to get
  refresher training one time per year.