FALL PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

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FALL PROTECTION AND PREVENTION

• OSHA REGULATION
• CFR 1926.500-503

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Disclaimer
The information presented in this presentation
has been compiled from sources believed to be
reliable and is intended to be a tool to assist
and guide you in building your own presentation.
This program may not address all the hazardous
conditions or unsafe acts that may exist. For
that reason, SPIN cautions users to confirm
accuracy and compliance with the latest standards
and best practices. Local, State/Provincial and
Federal regulations take precedence over this
material. Implementation of any practices
suggested by this program is at your sole
discretion, and SPIN will have no liability to
any party for any damages including, but not
limited to, direct, indirect, special or
consequential damages, arising out of or in
connection with the information provided or its
use.
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Guardrail Systems

• defined as a barrier erected to prevent workers
  from falling to lower levels.
• A guardrail system must be used
• on unprotected sides or edges of a ramp or
  runway.
• on unprotected sides or edges of holes.
• to restrict access to hoist areas when not used
  for hoisting.

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Guardrail Systems

• No openings can be more than 19 apart.
• When holes are used to pass materials, no more
  than two sides of the guardrail may be removed at
  a time.
• Never use a guardrail as a place to tie off!
• Guardrails must be inspected as often as needed

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Standard Guardrail System
Top Rail 2 x 4 material
Mid Rail 2 x 4 material
Toeboard
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/- 3

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Verticals - 8 foot max spacing
2 x 4 material
All guardrails must meet the following
criteria 1. It must resist a 200 force within
2 of the top edge in an outward or downward
direction at any location along the top rail. 2.
Midrails must resist a 150 force along any
point of the rail. 3. Toeboards must resist a 50
force along any point. 4. Guardrails may be
constructed of wood, pipe, roping or wire
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Guardrail Systems
Next floor or roof deck
Columns
Cable secured at
columns
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Wire rope 1/4

minimum dia. with
Floor or deck
flagging at 6 centers.
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Special Applications
Add additional top rail as needed for
workers on stilts or scaffolds where
guardrails do not exist.
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/- 3

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Floor and Roof Access Openings
Roof opening or
deck opening
Standard guardrail
system
Path of workers to
access ladder or
stairs
Path
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Wall Openings
Window openings
A
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minimum
A
Section A-A
Elevation
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Roof Systems With Parapet Walls
Parapet wall
Roof deck
39

minimum
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Safety Net Systems

• Safety net systems are used to catch people or
  tools, material or equipment.
• Safety nets must be installed as close as
  practical under the surface where employees are
  working.
• Note The safety nets must never be more than 30
  feet below the working surface.

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Safety net Requirements

• The safety net must be installed so that if
  something falls into the net, it will not touch
  structures or surfaces below.
• The fall area between the working surface and the
  net must be free of obstructions.
• Safety net must extend out as follows

Distance net should be extended
from edge of the working surface
Distance from working level to net
8 feet 10 feet 13 feet
Up to 5 feet Over 5 feet up to 10 feet Over 10
feet
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• Tools, scrap, or equipment that fall into a net
  must be removed as soon as possible,
• Mesh openings cannot be larger than 36 square
  inches, or longer than 6 on any side.
• The border rope of a safety net must have a
  minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs..
• Safety nets must be inspected
• weekly for wear, damage and other deterioration
• after any use that could affect the net

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Drop Testing

• Safety nets must be drop-tested, on site
• before use
• after any major repair to the system
• every six months if left in one place for
  extended periods of time.
• Drop-test is done by by dropping a 400 lb.
  sandbag, 28 to 32 in diameter, into the net.

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems

• A system used to protect an employee in a fall
  from a working level.
• It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body
  belt or body harness and may include a lanyard,
  deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable
  combinations of these.
• As of January 1, 1998 the use of a body belt for
  fall arrest is prohibited!
• Employers must plan the rescue of the worker

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Lanyard Device
1.) Free Fall Distance. Limited to
6 2.) Total Fall Distance. The sum of the
fall distance and deceleration distance.
3.) Deceleration distance. Must not exceed
3.5.
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Swing Fall Hazard
Anchorage's
Swing Fall Hazard
Correct
Incorrect
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Anchorage Connectors

• Anchorage point must be able to withstand a force
  of 3000 lbs.
• Must never use guardrails as a point of anchorage.

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POSSIBLE ANCHORAGE DESIGN
Wire rope diameter sized based
Eye bolt designed for load
on loading requirements
requirements
Slab or deck
Washer plates to
distribute the load
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Tag Line
EyeBolt
EyeBolt
Tag Lines
Snap Hook
Snap Hook

• First Pull down on tag line until cable is
  within reach.
• Second To test-pull sharply on cable to activate
  lock. To unlock relieve tension of cable.
• Third Attach eye of steel cable to harness with
  snap hook- then climb.

Snap Hook
Tag Line
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Positioning Devices

• The difference between fall arrest systems and
  positioning, is that fall arrest systems are
  designed to stop a fall while a positioning
  device is used to hold you in position while
  youre working.
• Note A positioning device does not protect you
  while youre moving!

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Requirements

• The positioning device must be rigged so that a
  worker cannot free fall more than 2.
• Anchorage's must be able to support two times the
  potential impact of a workers fall or 3,000
  lbs., whichever is greater.
• Connectors must be
• drop forged, pressed or formed steel
• corrosion resistant with smooth edges
• Snap hooks must be of the double locking type to
  prevent unintentional opening.

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Making Connections
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Warning Line Systems

• A warning line system is used in areas where work
  conditions make it impossible or would create a
  greater hazard to use other means of fall
  protection.
• It is defined as a barrier erected on a roof to
  alert workers to the fact that they are
  approaching an unprotected roof side or edge.

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Additional Requirements

• Rope, wire or chain can be used.
• The line must be marked every 6 with a highly
  visible material.
• The line must be between 34-39 inches from the
  working surface.
• The post that support the line must be able to
  withstand at least 16 lbs. of pressure without
  tipping over.
• The line must be firmly attached to the posts so
  that if its pulled in one area it doesnt take
  up the slack in another.

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Warning Lines around Mechanical Equipment

• Defined as all motor or human propelled wheeled
  equipment used for roofing work, except
  wheelbarrows and mop carts.
• When mechanical equipment is used or stored, the
  warning line must be no less than 6 from the
  roof edge

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Warning Lines around Mechanical Equipment
Parallel
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Warning Line
Note Mechanical equipment can only be used or
stored where a warning line, guardrail, or
personal fall arrest system is in place.
Mechanical Equipment
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Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)

• CAZ restrict entry to bricklaying and leading
  edge work areas when conventional fall protection
  systems (guardrails, safety nets, etc.,) cannot
  be used or may create a greater hazard.
• In order to use a CAZ for overhand bricklaying,
  workers must not reach more than ten inches below
  the working level to do the work.

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Requirements

• The CAZ uses a control line to restrict access to
  leading edges.
• Control line must
• Run the full length of the leading edge and
  connect on each side to a guardrail or wall.
• Be made of rope, wire, tape or equivalent
  material and be supported by posts.
• Be marked at least every 6 with a highly visible
  material.

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Additional Requirements

• The control line must have at least a 200 lb.
  breaking strength.
• The control line must also be between 39 and 45
  inches from the working surface, including the
  highest and the lowest points.
• Exception For overhand bricklaying areas where
  the highest point can be 50.
• Note Only workers who are doing overhand
  bricklaying or leading edge work are permitted in
  this area.

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Controlled Access Zone (CAZ)
25 feet maximum
6 minimum
Standard Guardrail System in
from edge of structure
Leading edge
Progress of work
Warning Line
Control Access Zone
(CAZ)
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Safety Monitoring Systems

• This system is used to protect workers on
  low-sloped roofs, in leading edge operation, and
  in pre-cast concrete.
• The safety monitor consist of a competent person
  who is responsible for recognizing fall hazards.
  
• A competent person not only understands the
  hazards but has the authority to take actions to
  eliminate them.

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Requirements

• The safety monitor must
• have no other responsibilities that would
  interfere with the monitoring function.
• be on the same working level as the workers
• When using the safety monitoring system
• no mechanical equipment may be used or stored on
  low-sloped roof areas
• only workers covered by the plan may enter area
• all workers in area must comply with monitors
  warnings

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Fall Protection Covers

• Covers are used to prevent workers from falling
  through holes in floors, roofs or other working
  surfaces.
• A hole is defined as any gap or void 2 or more
  in its least dimension.

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Requirements

• Roadway covers must support, without failure, at
  least two times the maximum axle load of the
  largest vehicle that may cross the cover.
• Other covers must support, without failure, at
  least two times the weight of workers, equipment
  and materials.
• All covers must be secured so they cannot be
  displaced by wind, equipment or workers.
• All covers must be color coded coded or marked
  with the word hole or cover.

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Protection From Falling Objects

• Protection from falling objects lists the
  requirements for toe-boards, guardrail, and
  canopies that are used to protect workers below
  from being struck by falling objects.

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Requirements

• Toe-boards must be
• at least 3-1/2 high
• placed no more than 1/4 above the working
  surface
• able to withstand a 50lb. force from a downward
  and outward direction.
• When tools or materials are piled higher than the
  toe-board, paneling or screening must be added
  between the toe-board and the mid-rail.

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Additional Requirements

• Where roofing operations are underway
• materials and equipment may not be stored within
  6 of the edge, unless a guardrail system is in
  place.
• material stacked near a roof edge must be stable
  and self-supporting.
• Canopies used to protect workers must be strong
  enough to prevent collapse or penetration of any
  items that fall on it.

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Fall Protection Plan

• When an employer can prove that its not feasible
  or may create an even greater hazard to use a
  conventional fall protection system, a fall
  protection plan may be used.
• This option is only available to those working in
  leading edge or pre-cast concrete.

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Requirements

• Be designed for each specific work site, by a
  qualified person.
• It must be kept on site, with any changes noted.
• State why other systems can not be used.
• Must also show how workers will be protected.
• Identify the workers in CAZ.
• Be under the direction of a competent person.

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Inspection Maintenance

• Equipment may not be modified in any way
• Must be inspected before and after each use
• Must be taken out of service if any defects are
  found

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Inspection Maintenance
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