29 CFR PART 1926 Subpart M FALL PROTECTION

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29 CFR PART 1926 Subpart M
FALL PROTECTION

• HGS

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I. WHY FALL PROTECTION?

• OSHA estimates that at least 68,000 injuries
  95 fatalities occur each year due to occu-
  pational related falls from elevations.
• An OSHA study involving 100 fall related
  fatalities suggests that virtually all of those
  deaths could have been PREVENTED if a fall
  protection system had been in use.
• Most frequently cited serious violation by
  OSHA in 1998 was unprotected sides and edges.

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DID YOU KNOW?

• Falls from more than 30 feet
• account for 58 of fatalities.
• 22 between 21 and 30.
• 20 from 20 or less.

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• Recognizing that fall-related fatalities /
  serious injuries were a pertinent safety problem
  in the construction industry, OSHA revised the
  construction industry safety standards related to
  fall protection systems and procedures.
• OSHAs revision of subpart M was effective
  February 6, 1995.

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The revised Fall Protection Standard covers
the below human and equipment related issues

• The need to know when protection is
  required.
• The types of fall protection equipment /
  systems to use to provide protection.
• The proper training in selection, use and
  maintenance of fall protection systems.

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II. WHEN IS FALL PROTECTION
REQUIRED?

• The employer must provide equipment and training
  to employees to protect them from falling off of,
  onto, or through working levels that are 6 FEET
  OR MORE above lower levels, and to protect them
  from falling objects.
• Fall protection must be provided and installed
  BEFORE ALLOWING any employee to begin work or be
  exposed to a hazardous area that requires fall
  protection.

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Scope / Application of Fall
Protection Standard

• Not all workplaces, conditions, operations and
  circumstances for which fall protection shall be
  provided is covered by subpart M.
• Fall protection requirements for employees
  working on scaffolds can be found in subpart L.
• Fall protection requirements for employees
  working on certain cranes and derricks can be
  found in subpart N.

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Scope / Application of Fall
Protection Standard

• Fall protection requirements for employees
  performing steel erection work in buildings can
  be found subpart R.
• Fall protection requirements for employees
  working on certain types of equipment used in
  tunneling operations can be found in subpart S.
• Fall protection requirements for employees
  working on stairways and ladders can be found in
  subpart X .

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Scope / Application of Fall
Protection Standard

• The provisions of this subpart do not apply when
  employees are making an inspection, investigation
  or assessment of workplace conditions before the
  actual start of construction work or after all
  construction work has been completed.
• If certain employers can demonstrate that its
  infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use
  standard fall protection measures, they can
  develop implement a written fall protection
  plan that meets the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.502
  (k).

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Scope / Application of Fall
Protection Standard

• This option is available only to employers with
  employees engaged in leading edge work , precast
  concrete erection work, and residential
  construction work.
• The employer has the burden of proof that the
  plan theyre implementing is appropriate and that
  another means is infeasible.
• Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for
  residential construction are currently under
  review, that would allow the option of using
  various non-standard fall protection measures,
  without the need to develop a written plan.

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III. METHODS OF PROVIDING
FALL PROTECTION ARE DESCRIBED
BELOW

• A. GUARDRAILS
• A guardrail is defined as a barrier installed to
  prevent falls to lower levels.
• Guardrails are used to protect workers from falls
  from- Unprotected sides and edges.- Through
  openings (floor, wall, roof).- Ramps, runways,
  and walkways.- Into excavations or onto
  dangerous equipment.

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A. GUARDRAILS

• Guardrails are required to have a toprail,
  midrail, and toeboards (if personnel are working
  underneath).
• Toprail should be at least 1/4 diameter and be
  substantially installed between 39 -45 high
  (preferably 42).
• Toprails must be capable of withstanding a 200
  lb. force.

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A. GUARDRAILS

• Midrails should be positioned roughly half way
  between floor and toprail (about 21 high) and be
  capable of withstanding a 150 lb. force.
• Midrails must extend the entire distance of the
  top rail steel or plastic banding cannot be used
  as top or midrail.
• As warranted by pedestrian traffic or workers
  below, a standard 4 toeboard must be installed
  around the perimeter of the work area.

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A. GUARDRAILS

• If wire rope is used for toprails, it must be
  flagged at not more than 6 intervals with high
  visibility tape.
• If synthetic rope is used for top or midrails, it
  must be inspected frequently for strength.
• When guardrails are used around holes, all
  unprotected sides / edges must be protected.

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B. SAFETY NETS

• Safety nets may be used as protection for-
  Unprotected sides and wall openings.- Leading
  edge work.- Working on the face of formwork or
  reinforcing steel.- Precast concrete work.-
  Residential construction.- Bridge work.

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B. SAFETY NETS

• The requirements for the use of safety nets
  are- The net must be installed as close as
  possible under where youre working, but never
  more than 30 below.- Safety nets must extend
  outward from the edge of your work area as
  noted on the following slide

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B. SAFETY NETS

• Minimum
  Distance Vertical Drop From Net Must Extend
  From Working Surface Edge of Work Area
• Up to 5 feet 8 feet
  gt5 to 10 feet 10
  feetMore than 10 feet 13 feet
  

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B. SAFETY NETS

• After safety nets are installed they must be drop
  tested or certified before use.
• Safety nets must also be drop tested or certified
  whenever theyre relocated, repaired, and every 6
  months if the net is in one location that long.

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B. SAFETY NETS

• Safety nets in use must be inspected at least
  once/week for wear, damage, and other
  deterioration. Defective nets or components
  must be replaced before use.
• Materials, scrap, equipment, and tools which have
  fallen into the safety net must be removed as
  soon as possible and at least before the next
  work shift.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• Personal fall arrest equipment (body harness and
  lanyard) protects you from a fall / different
  level.
• Personal fall arrest equipment will be used to
  protect employees from falls when working 6 or
  higher when other means of fall protection are
  not feasible.
• Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Equipment
  and its use are noted on the following slides.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• A horizontal lifeline must be designed, installed
  and used under the supervision of a qualified
  person.
• Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a
  minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs.
• Only one worker can attach to a vertical
  lifeline.
• The lifeline must be inspected to check for cuts
  / abrasions before and during work.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• Rope straps (webbing) used must be made of
  synthetic fibers.
• The attachment point of a full body harness must
  be in the center of the back near your
  shoulders.
• A Personal Fall Arrest system, when stopping a
  fall, should be rigged so a worker- Cannot free
  fall more than 6, nor- Cannot contact any
  lower level.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• A rescue plan must be worked out in case of a
  fall so the employee can be promptly rescued.
• Fall arrest equipment must be inspected prior to
  each use for damage, wear or other deterioration
  defective equipment must not be used.
• Personal fall arrest equipment may not be
  attached to guardrails, hoists, or anchor- ages
  being used to support or suspend platforms.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall
  arrest equipment shall be capable of supporting
  at least 5,000 lbs. per employee attached.
• Horizontal lifelines must be installed by a
  qualified person, as part of a personal fall
  arrest system, with a Safety Factor of at least
  TWO.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• COMMON OPERATIONS / AREAS REQUIRING TYING OFF
  INCLUDE
• Open sided floor and roof areas.
• Floor and roof openings.
• Scaffold erection.
• Installation of guardrails.
• Working on ladders near edges / openings.
• Working near protruding reinforcing steel.
• Working in elevator shafts, and on bridges.

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C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST
EQUIPMENT (PFAE)

• Body harnesses / lanyards are to be used for fall
  protection for employee safety - and NOT FOR
  lifting loads, binding loads, etc.
• D-rings and snaphooks shall have a minimum
  tensile strength of 5,000 lbs.
• Effective January 1, 1998 only locking type
  snaphooks shall be used.
• Effective January 1, 1998 body belts not allowed
  for fall arrest.

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D. SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM

• A SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM is used in conjunction
  with warning lines and must include appointing a
  competent person safety monitor to observe,
  instruct and warn employees in the work area of
  fall hazards.
• This method of fall protection is frequently used
  by commercial roofers on low sloped roofs (lt or
  equal to 4 in 12 pitch).
• A SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM may be used alone when
  working on a roof that is 50 or less in width.

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D . SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM

• The person chosen as the safety monitor MUST-
  Be competent to recognize fall hazards.- Warn
  the employee when the employee is unaware of
  a fall hazard or is acting in an unsafe
  manner.- Be positioned on the same working
  sur- face and within sight of the employees
  being monitored.

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D . SAFETY MONITORING
SYSTEM

• The person chosen as the safety monitor MUST
  (continued)- Be able to be heard by
  employees.- Have no other responsibilities that
  could affect the monitors attention. - Allow
  only qualified workers necessary to perform
  specific duties in the work area.

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E. CONTROLLED ACCESS ZONES

• Leading edge work.
• Overhand brick laying.
• Pre-cast concrete construction.
• Must be segregated by a control line.
• Accessible only to those qualified employees
  necessary to perform the work.
• Must utilize competent person safety monitor
  and have a written fall protection plan.

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F. COVERS

• Covers must be placed over floor and roof
  openings, gaps and other holes 2 or more in
  their least dimension.
• Covers must be secured to prevent dis- placement
  due to wind, equipment or workers.
• Covers must be capable of supporting two times
  the imposed load of workers, eqt., tools,
  materials, etc.
• Hole covers must be clearly marked Hole or
  Cover to provide hazard warning.

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G. WARNING LINES

• Warning lines are typically used in con-junction
  with a safety monitoring system, but can also be
  used with guardrails, safety nets, and/or PFAE.
• Warning lines are set up near the edge of all
  open sides, at least 6 from the edge.
• Warning lines must be made of ropes, wires, or
  chains and supporting stan-chions, and must have
  a minimum tensile strength of 500 lbs.

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G. WARNING LINES

• Warning lines must be flagged at intervals of 6
  or less.
• No employee shall be allowed in the area between
  an open roof edge and warning line unless the
  employee is performing roofing work in that area.
  

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H. POSITIONING DEVICES

• Positioning devices are typically used on the
  face of formwork and reinforcing steel
  structures, and other situations where the
  employees hands must be free to work.
• Positioning device systems must be set up so that
  an employee cannot fall more than two feet.
• Safety belts are OK for use.

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I. PROTECTION FROM
FALLING OBJECTS

• Hard hats must be worn at all times to provide
  protection from falling objects.
• Employees must also be protected from fall-ing
  objects by one or more of the following methods.
• Toeboards installed along the edge of all
  unprotected sides / edges where there is a
  possibility of materials, equipment, or tools
  being dropped or falling onto workers below.

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I. PROTECTION FROM
FALLING OBJECTS

• Guardrails that have openings small enough to
  prevent passage of potential falling objects.
• Proper storage methods.
• Canopies and barricades.

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J. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS
AERIAL LIFTS

• - A key factor is whether the boom mounted
  platform can be positioned OUTSIDE THE WHEEL
  BASE if it can (ie aerial lift) then a body
  harness system is required.- Otherwise it
  falls into the scissors lift category.

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J. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS
AERIAL LIFTS

• - The reason for requiring a body harness when
  using an aerial lift is the possibility of being
  bounced out of a basket or off a platform.-
  They are also called extendible or articu- lating
  boom supported platforms, aerial ladders, or
  bucket trucks.

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I. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS
AERIAL LIFTS

• - A body harness shall be worn and a lanyard
  attached to the boom or basket when working from
  an aerial lift.

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I. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS AERIAL
LIFTS

• Employees working on scissors lifts are not
  required by OSHA or ANSI standards to wear a body
  harness while on platforms equipped with
  guardrails, as long as the platform remains
  within the wheel base.
• Hard hats must be worn at all times to provide
  protection from falling objects.
• If the guardrails are removed or ineffective,
  then other means of fall protection must be
  provided.

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IV. EMPLOYEE TRAINING

• Employees are required to be trained in the
  proper selection and use of fall protection
  equipment by a competent person if they will be
  exposed to fall hazards. The training should
  include- Recognition of fall hazards and how
  to minimize exposure.- Correct procedures
  for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and
  inspecting fall protection systems and
  equipment used.

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IV. EMPLOYEE TRAINING

• - Proper use of fall protection equipment. -
  Understanding of OSHA fall protection
  standards.
• All competent person and employee training
  needs to be documented.
• Retraining will be conducted at least annually
  for competent persons and as needed for
  employees exposed to falls.

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• THE END