Fall Protection in Construction
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Transcript of Fall Protection in Construction
Fall Protectionin Construction
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Session ObjectivesYou will be able to:• Recognize fall hazards and identify when
fall protection is needed• Use basic fall protection systems• Prevent objects from falling• Inspect personal fall arrest systems• Rescue yourself and others from falls
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Fall Statistics• Leading cause of construction industry
fatalities• 700 workers killed each year• 100,000 workers injured each year• 40% of construction industry injuries are
related to falls
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Fall Protection Regulation29 CFR 1926.500 to 1926.503• Construction sites• All workers who might be exposed to fall
hazards• Recognize fall hazards and follow training
procedures to minimize fall hazard• Scaffolds, cranes and derricks, steel
erection, tunneling, electrical transmission, and ladders and stairways not covered here
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Employer Requirements• Assess site conditions• Select fall protection• Install fall protection
systems• Follow safe work
procedures• Train workers
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Recognize Free Fall Hazards• Edges• Sloping surfaces• Ladders• Holes or openings• Tools and equipment
Image credit: State of WA-WISHA Services
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When Is Fall Protection Needed?• 6 feet or more above a
lower level• Hazard of falling into
dangerous equipment• Specific areas or
activities• While walking and
working surfaces are being inspected
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Fall Hazards—Any Questions?• Do you understand the
hazards of falls and fall protection requirements?
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Fall Protection Systems• Fall prevention
(restraint) systems• Fall arrest systems
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Fall Prevention—Safe Work Practices• Keep area clean• Look• Listen• Use fall protection• Avoid dropping objects• Never run
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Fall Prevention Systems and Practices• Positioning device system—harness• Guardrails• Warning line systems• Safety monitoring systems• Controlled access zones (CAZs)• Covers• Protection from falling objects
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Positioning Device System—Harness• Harness connected by
a lanyard to an anchor as fall restraint
• Allows movement around worksite
• Prevents going over the edge
Image credit: State of WA-WISHA Services
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Guardrail Systems• Most common
protection to restrain workers from falls
• Top rail withstand 200-pound force
• Midrail withstand 150-pound force
• Toeboard withstand 50-pound force
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Guardrail Systems (cont.)
• Smooth, no projections• Fall arrest system
required when guardrails are removed
• Guards unprotected openings, excavations, and ramps
Image credit: State of WA-WISHA Services
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Warning Line System• Warns workers to stay
away from fall hazards• Consists of ropes,
wires, chains• Flagged every 6 feet• Must be 34-39 inches
above working surface• Erected around all
sides of roof work area at least 6 feet from edge
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Warning Line System (cont.)
• Stanchions must not tip over easily• Workers must be trained to stay out• Work outside the line requires another fall
arrest system
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Safety Monitor System• Monitors and warns
workers• Recognizes fall
hazards• Communicates with
workers• No other duties• Keeps unauthorized
workers away• Workers must comply
with safety monitorImage credit: State of WA-WISHA Services
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Controlled Access Zones• Regulated work areas without conventional
fall protection systems• Combination warning line and safety
monitor systems• Limited access to qualified employees• Allow leading edge work without fall
protection systems• Designated and clearly marked work areas• Lines run the length of the unprotected edge
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Hole Covers• Prevents worker or worker’s body part from
penetrating a walking or working surface• Required for all holes equal or greater than
2 inches wide• Twice the load of people or equipment• Secured to prevent accidental displacement• Color-coded, or marked with “HOLE” or
“COVER”
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Prevent Objects From Falling• Use screens or panels to prevent tools or
equipment from falling on workers• Store materials 4 feet from edge• For roofing work, store material 6 feet from
edge• Use canopies strong enough to prevent
collapse and prevent penetration• Keep areas barricaded where objects are
likely to fall
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Prevent Objects From Falling (cont.)
• Use toeboards• Keep tools, materials, and debris picked up• Don’t throw objects down to lower levels• Wear a hard hat
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Fall Prevention—Any Questions?• Do you understand
basic fall restraint systems: guardrails, harnesses, controlled access zones, warning lines, hole covers, safety monitoring, or preventing objects from falling?
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Fall Arrest—Safety Net System• Nets intended to catch falling workers• Installed under working surface• 30 feet or less below workers• Inspect regularly• Sufficient clearance • Remove fallen items
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Personal Fall Arrest System—Harness• Harness distributes
arresting forces • Harness for fall arrest,
positioning, or suspension
• Body belt is not part of a fall arrest system
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Effective Personal Fall Arrest System• Maximum arresting force of 1,800 lbs• Free fall no more than 6 feet• Avoid contact with a lower level• Max deceleration distance of 3.5 feet• Designed to withstand twice the impact
forces
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Fall Arrest System— Connectors • Connectors (snaphooks and rings) attach
the lanyard to the anchor and harness• Ensure that snaphooks lock in place• Non-locking snaphooks are prohibited
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Fall Arrest System— Connectors (cont.)
Snaphook don’ts:• Webbing or rope• Another snaphook• D-ring with another
snaphook attached• Horizontal lifeline• Object incompatible in
shape or dimension
Image credit: State of WA-WISHA Services
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Fall Arrest System— Lanyard• Flexible line with connector that connects
harness to the anchor• Often contains a deceleration device• No knots or wrapping
around sharp objects
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Fall Arrest System— Lifeline• Lifelines connect personal fall arrest
system to anchor• Vertical—hang from one anchor point• Horizontal—stretched between
two anchor points• Ropes and straps made of synthetic fibers• Protect against being cut or abraded
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Fall Arrest System— Deceleration Device• Dissipates energy
during fall arrest• Rip-stitch, tearing,
or stretching lanyard• Rope grab device• Retracting lifelines
or lanyards• Lanyard required
where there is no deceleration device
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Fall Arrest System— Anchors• Secure point of
attachment for lifeline, lanyard, or deceleration device
• Withstand 5,000 pound force per person
• Anchor point above you
• Ask if unsure about proper anchor points
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Inspect Personal Fall Arrest Systems• Inspect before each use• Check D-rings• Check ropes, straps, tongue-buckle• Ensure that parts move freely• Remove defective components
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Rescue Plan• Safely rescue worker in the shortest time
possible• Blood pulls in legs when suspended, leading
to fainting• If suspended in a harness
• Push legs against objects for blood flow
• Raise legs if possible
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Questions?• Do you understand the
information on fall arrest systems?
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What’s Wrong Here?• Identify the fall hazards• What fall protection is
missing?
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Key Points to Remember• Recognize fall hazards• Use and operate fall protection systems• Implement safe work practices• Inspect fall protection systems• Protect from falling objects• Rescue