IMPORTANCE OF FTS SOS PLAN FOR

SURPRISE FALLS

FTS PLAN A-TEAM (NOT EXPENDABLE)

OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND FATALITIES DUE TO FALLS ARE A PROFOUND CONCERN WITHIN U.S. INDUSTRIES WORKING AT HEIGHT IN FACT, THE NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL RESEARCH AGENDA (NORA) HAS MADE REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FALLS THEIR STRATEGIC GOAL #2 ON THE NATIONAL MANUFACTURING AGENDA (U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, 2010). THAT’S WHY FALL PROTECTION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SAFETY FOR WORKING AT HEIGHTS.

WORKING AT HEIGHTS (NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART]

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION………..AN APPRENTICE CARPENTER WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHEN HE FELL THROUGH A STAIRWELL OPENING AND LANDED ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR 37 FEET BELOW. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, A ROOFER UNHOOKED HIS LANYARD FROM THE LIFELINE AND THEN SLIPPED ON FROST, FALLING TO HIS DEATH, 53 FEET BELOW.EVERY YEAR WORKERS DIE OR ARE INJURED AS A RESULT OF FALLING FROM LADDERS, SCAFFOLDS, ROOFS OR OTHER ELEVATIONS. FALLING IS A RISK FACED BY CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, PAINTERS, SOLAR PANEL INSTALLERS, WINDOW WASHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, LIVE PERFORMANCE WORKERS, AND OTHERS WHO WORK AT HEIGHTS. IDEALLY IT WOULD BE SAFEST TO ELIMINATE THE RISK ALL TOGETHER BY ELIMINATING THE NEED TO WORK AT HEIGHTS, HOWEVER IN MANY OCCUPATIONS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER TRADES, THIS IS NOT PRACTICAL, AND WORKING AT HEIGHTS IS A PART OF THE JOB. THERE ARE HOWEVER, STEPS THAT EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS CAN TAKE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK, AND HELP PREVENT FALLS AND THE INJURIES THAT GO ALONG WITH THEM.

A POUND OF THE CURE.RISK ASSESSMENTANY WORK AT HEIGHTS SHOULD BE PROPERLY PLANNED, SUPERVISED, AND NOT CARRIED OUT IN DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS. CONDUCT A RISK ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS ANY HAZARDS RELATED TO THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED. THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP YOU SELECT THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB, AND TAKE ADEQUATE CONTROL MEASURES AND PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS AND OTHERS.

FALL PROTECTION PLAN LAWS VARY BY JURISDICTION, HOWEVER MOST REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO DEVELOP A WRITTEN, SITE-SPECIFIC FALL PROTECTION PLAN WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING OVER A CERTAIN VERTICAL HEIGHT (ANYWHERE FROM 3-7.5 METRES (10-25 FEET)) AND ARE NOT PROTECTED BY PERMANENT GUARDRAILS,. BE SURE TO CHECK THE APPLICABLE LEGISLATION FOR YOUR JURISDICTION. THE PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE THE FALL HAZARDS AND FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE IN EACH AREA, AND THE PROCEDURES FOR USING, MAINTAINING, FITTING AND INSPECTING FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT. THE PLAN SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE PROCEDURES FOR RESCUING A WORKER WHO HAS FALLEN, AND IS SUSPENDED BY A PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM OR SAFETY NET.

TRAINING AND SUPERVISIONPEOPLE WORKING AT HEIGHTS MUST BE TRAINED IN PRACTICAL FALL PREVENTION AND FALL ARREST TECHNIQUES. WHENEVER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS USED, THE EMPLOYER MUST ENSURE THAT WORKERS KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY SELECT, FIT, USE, INSPECT, AND MAINTAIN THE GEAR THEY WILL BE USING. THE EMPLOYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING APPROPRIATE TRAINING, AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT COMPLIES WITH SAFETY STANDARDS, AND ENSURING THAT WORKERS USE THE FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM PROVIDED AT ALL TIMES.

FALL PROTECTIONIF YOU ARE AT RISK FOR FALLING THREE METERS (TEN FEET) OR MORE, YOU SHOULD USE THE APPROPRIATE FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM WHEN WORKING. THERE ARE VARIOUS FALL PROTECTION METHODS AND DEVICES TO PROTECT WORKERS WHO ARE AT RISK OF FALLING. EACH HAS THEIR APPROPRIATE USES; DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, USE ONE OR MORE OF THESE FALL PROTECTION METHODS:GUARDRAILS SHOULD BE INSTALLED AT THE EDGES OF CONSTRUCTION SITES, ROOFS, AND SCAFFOLDINGS WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FALLS. STANDARDS FOR GUARDRAILS DIMENSIONS MAY VARY FROM PROVINCE TO PROVINCE.

FALL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS SUCH AS WORK POSITIONING DEVICES THAT PREVENT WORKERS FROM TRAVELLING TO THE EDGE OF THE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE MUST BE PROVIDED IF THE USE OF GUARDRAILS ISN'T PRACTICABLE.

FALL ARREST SYSTEMS (FULL BODY HARNESSES AND SAFETY NETS) ARE USED TO STOP WORKERS IN MID-FALL TO PREVENT THEM FROM HITTING THE SURFACE BELOW. FULL BODY SAFETY HARNESSES ATTACHED TO SECURED LANYARDS ARE WIDELY USED, HOWEVER TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEY MUST BE FITTED PROPERLY TO EACH WORKER. ALTHOUGH A POORLY FITTING HARNESS WILL STOP A FALL, IT CAN INJURE THE WORKER WHO IS DANGLING IN MID-AIR IF THE STRAPS AND METAL SUPPORTS ARE NOT CONTOURED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S SHAPE.THE LANYARD, OR LINE THAT STOPS THE FALL, AND THE ANCHOR POINT FOR THE LANYARD ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE HARNESS. ANCHOR POINTS MUST BE CAREFULLY PLANNED, USUALLY IN CONSULTATION WITH AN ENGINEER, AND THE LENGTH OF THE LANYARD MUST ALLOW FOR THE STRETCH IN THE MATERIAL RESULTING FROM THE FALL. MANUFACTURERS CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO HELP YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT LENGTH AND AVOID CONTACT WITH THE GROUND OR OTHER OBJECTS. SAFETY NETTING CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY IN CONSTRUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL FRAMED BUILDINGS. TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE REQUIRED TO INSTALL, DISMANTLE AND INSPECT THE NETTING, AND NO WORKER SHOULD WORK ABOVE NETS WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.

GROUNDED: SHAKEN AND SHATTERED

CLINTON FORSYTH WITH THE REST OF THE STORY……..

USING FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT IS ONLY HALF OF THE ANSWER TO KEEPING WORKERS SAFE AT HEIGHTS. IF NOT RESCUED QUICKLY FOLLOWING A FALL, A WORKER HANGING FROM HIS HARNESS FACES SUSPENSION TRAUMA, WHICH CAN BE LIFE THREATENING – AND IN ONLY A MATTER OF MINUTES.

MANY SITUATIONS MIGHT ARISE WHERE RESCUE WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR WORKERS AT HEIGHTS. HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES:

•SLIPPING ON A PLATFORM OR LADDER

•AERIAL LIFT MALFUNCTION

•HEAT EXHAUSTION

•CRAMPING

•NAUSEA

•DIABETIC REACTIONS

•ELECTRICAL SHOCK

•BEE STINGS CAUSING ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK FALLS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ACCIDENTS IN THE WORKPLACE, SO GETTING AN INJURED WORKER OUT OF FALL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND DOWN TO THE GROUND IS IMPERATIVE.

SUSPENSION TRAUMA ( A CONSTRICTOR KILLER)

Suspension trauma is a real and serious concern – and it can happen in minutes. Research shows that suspension in a fall arrest device can result in unconsciousness, followed by death, in less than 30 minutes.

That is likely why OSHA requires that employers provide for “prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure that employees are able to rescue themselves” (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2004). This raises the importance for business to provide rescue equipment and fall rescue plans for employees working at height, above and beyond fall protection.

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE (NO FRAY ZONE)

FTS RESCUE MOTTO

OSHA ALSO REQUIRES PROMPT RESCUE. OHSA 1910.66 SUBPART F SECTION 1 (E) 8 STATES, THE EMPLOYER SHALL PROVIDE FOR PROMPT RESCUE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE EVENT OF A FALL OR SHALL ASSURE THE SELF-RESCUE OF CAPABILITY EMPLOYEES.” OHSA 1926.502 (D) (20) READS SIMILARLY. WITHIN ANSI Z359.2, THE RECOMMENDED CONTACT TIME, DEFINES AS COMMUNICATION OR PHYSICAL CONTACT, IS LESS THAN 6 MINUTES, BUT IT GIVES LEEWAY ON THE DEFINITION OF “PROMPT RESCUE” AS DEPENDENT ON THE SITUATION. MOST CONSULTANTS RECOMMEND FULL RESCUE WITHIN 5 MINUTES, AND NO LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES.

CLINTON’S WALL OF SEPARATION

CLINTON’S ONLY COLD CASE

YODER’S RESCUE PLAN FROM CATCALLS (IMPORTANCE OF BEING AMISH)

CLINTON’S AFRO-DISIAC METHOD FOR FALLING IN LOVE

CLINTON’S NON-PROFIT PROJECT (A.K.A. OUR FTS SAFETY SPONSORS]

FTS SAFETY SUPERHEROES (IN CASE OF FALLS)

REVENGE OF THE NERDS AT FAST TRACK FALLS

PRESENTED BY WHITE LIGHTNING