Fall Protection for Construction A Survival Guide

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Fall Protection for ConstructionA Survival Guide
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Statistics

• Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in
  the construction industry.
• 150-200 workers are killed each year and more
  than 100,000 injured as a result of falls.
• Overall (including general industry) falls are
  the number two biggest cause of fatalities in the
  U.S. (motor vehicle accidents are number one).

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Statistics

• Falls 33
• Struck By 18
• Electrical 17
• Caught In 18

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Statistics

• 40 of the fatalities were from heights over 40
  feet
• Most falls occur on scaffolds or roofs
• 25 of fall fatalities were from heights of 11-20
  feet
• 25 of fall fatalities were from heights of 20-30
  feet

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Physics of a Fall

• A body in motion (free fall) can cover vast
  distances in a short period of time
• Consider this
• A body in free fall can travel 4 ft in 0.5
  seconds
• A body in free fall can travel 16 ft. in 1 second
• A body in free fall can travel 64 ft. in 2
  seconds

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Application of Regulations

• Subpart M (1926.500) applies to fall protection
  during construction activities
• There are a few exceptions from this rule for the
  following activities
• Inspection
• Investigation
• Assessing conditions prior to or after the work
  is performed

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Application of Regulations

• Other existing standards for fall protection are
  discussed in different standards (subpart M would
  not cover the following items)
• Scaffolds (Subpart L)
• Cranes (Subpart N)
• Steel Erection (Subpart R)
• Stairs and Ladders (Subpart X)
• Power Transmission (Subpart V)

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Contents of Subpart M Fall Protection

• 500 Scope, Application and definitions
• 501 Duty to have fall protection
• 502 Fall protection systems
• 503 Training Requirements

• Appendices
• A Roof widths
• B Guardrail systems
• C Fall arrest systems
• D Positioning device systems
• E Fall Protection Plan

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Duty to Have Fall Protection1926.501

• Fall protection is required when one or more
  employees have exposure to falls of six feet or
  greater to the lower level.
• Surfaces must be inspected before the work
  begins.
• Employees are only permitted to be on surfaces
  that are strong enough to support them.

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Duty to Have Fall Protection

• Unprotected sides and edges
• Above dangerous equipment (any height)
• Overhand brick laying
• Steep or low slope roofs
• Walking surfaces
• Form work and reinforcing steel
• Excavations, wells, pits
• Precast concrete

• The following areas require fall protection when
  employees are exposed to falls (six feet or
  greater)
• Leading edges
• Ramps/runways
• Residential construction
• Hoist areas
• Wall and floor openings

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Duty to have Fall ProtectionLow Slope Roofs

• Low slope roofs (under 50 feet in width)
• Fall protection systems or
• Safety monitor (with elements required in this
  subpart)

• Low slope roofs (50 feet width or greater)
• Fall protection systems (safety nets,
  guardrails, PFAS) or combination of
• Warning lines and safety monitor or
• Warning lines and guardrails or PFAS

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Protection from Falling Objects1926.501(c)

• Protection from falling objects is a requirement.
• Employee working in an area where there is a
  danger of falling objects must wear a hard hat.
• Employer must take steps to protect employees
  from hazards (establish barricades or build
  canopies).

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Types of Fall Protection

• Passive are protective systems that do not
  involve the actions of employees.
• Active includes systems and components that
  require manipulation by employees to make them
  effective in providing protection.

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Examples of Fall Protection

• Passive system include
• Guardrails
• Safety nets
• Covers
• Fences
• Barricades

• Active systems components (personal fall arrest
  system-PFAS) include
• Anchorage points
• Lanyard
• Snap hooks
• Life lines
• Body harness

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Active Systems

• Designed to operate in free fall situations.
• Must be connected to other systems/components or
  activated to provide protection.
• Active systems are designed to protect employees
  from the following items
• Falls
• Forces that can cause injury

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Guardrails 1926.502(b)

• Guardrails are the most common form of fall
  protection.
• May be made of wood, pipe, structural steel, or
  wire rope.
• Flags must be provided on wire rope to increase
  visibility.

• Must have top rail, mid rail, posts and toe
  board.
• System must be strong enough to support 200
  pounds of force applied to the top rail.
• Steel or plastic bands are not acceptable.

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Guardrails Design Criteria 1926.502(b)

• The top rail must be elevated above the surface
  39-45 inches and must be free of jagged edges.
• The mid rail must be located between the top rail
  and the walking surface.
• Posts must be spaced no greater than 8 feet.
• Toe boards must be made of a solid material with
  no openings greater than one inch and be 3.5
  inches high.
• Chains or movable rails must be used near hoists.

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Safety Net Systems1926.502(c)

• Placed beneath the working surface (not to exceed
  30 feet) to catch personnel or falling material.
• Must be placed as close to the hazard as
  possible.
• Equipment must be drop tested and certified.
• Must be inspected weekly and after impact.
• Openings can not exceed six inches.
• Defective equipment can not be used.
• Safety nets must extend outward from the outer
  most projection of the work surfaces.

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems 1926.502(d)

• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) shall not be
  tied to a guardrail system or hoists.
• All components of a fall arrest system must be
  inspected before each use and after impact.
• Action must be taken promptly to rescue fallen
  employees.

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems 1926.502(d)

• When stopping a fall, a PFAS must
• Limit the arresting force to 1800 pounds.
• Be rigid so that an employee can not fall more
  than 6 feet or contact a lower level.
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit
  maximum deceleration distance an employee travels
  to 3.5 feet.
• Strength to withstand 2X potential impact of
  employee falling 6 ft. or permitted fall distance.

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Inspecting Equipment1926.502(d)

• Equipment must be inspected before each use for
• Degradation due to ultraviolet light
• Any other condition that is not normal

• The following items must be inspected
• Tears or other wear
• Deformed eyelets, D rings or other parts
• Labels/placards
• Dirt, grease, and oil

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Harness)
1926.502(d)

• Harness systems consist of either nylon or
  polyester and the best system will encompass the
  entire body (full body harness).
• Body belts can not be used for fall protection.
• A full body harness will evenly distribute weight
  across the waist, pelvis, and thighs.

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Lanyard)
1926.502(d)

• Lanyards connect the harness to the anchorage
  point.
• Must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000
  pounds.
• Should be attached to a D ring between the
  shoulder blades above the employee.
• There are several types of lanyards that include
  synthetic webbing, synthetic rope and shock
  absorbing.

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Types of Lanyards

• Self retracting
• Eliminates excess slack in the lanyard (cable,
  rope, or web)
• Shock absorbing
• Device slows and eventually stops decent and
  absorbs the forces (i.e. rip stitch controlled
  tearing)
• Synthetic rope
• Absorbs some of the force by stretching
• Synthetic webbing
• Strong but not flexible (absorbs little force)

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Life Lines)
1926.502(d)

• Life lines consist of flexible material connected
  at one or both ends to an anchorage point.
• There are two types of life lines
• Vertical hangs vertically (5000 pound minimum
  breaking strength).
• Horizontal connects at both points to stretch
  horizontally (serves as connection point for
  other components of PFAS-total system must have
  safety factor of two).

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Snap Hooks)
1926.502(d)

• Used to connect lanyards to D rings on a body
  harness.
• D rings must be compatible. Must be connected to
  harness or anchorage point only.
• Snap hooks must have 5,000 tensile strength and
  be proof tested to 3600 pounds.
• When using snap hooks
• Use only one snap hook per D ring to prevent
  rollout.
• All snap hooks must have a locking mechanism.

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Personal Fall Arrest Systems (Anchorage Points)
1926.502(d)

• The anchorage point is most effective when it is
  above the employees head. Located as to not
  allow an employee fall more than 6 feet.
• All anchorage points must be a solid immovable
  object that is capable of supporting 5000 pounds.
  
• Must not be used to support anything else.

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Positioning Device Systems1926.502(e)

• Allows employee to be supported from a vertical
  surface (i.e. wall or telephone pole) and use
  both hands.
• Must be inspected before each use for defects.
• Must be rigid for no more than a 2 foot free
  fall.
• Not a fall arrest system!
• The anchorage point must be capable of
  withstanding twice the fall load impact of 13000
  pounds, whichever is greater.

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Warning Line System 1926.502(f)

• Rope, wire, or chains are used to warn employees
  of an unprotected edge.
• Used mainly on roofs , where PFAS- impractical.
• Established not less than six feet from the edge.
• Materials must have sufficient strength and
  complete structure must withstand 16 pound
  tipping force.

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Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)1926.502(g)

• Only qualified personnel involved in the
  operation are allowed to enter the zone.
• Ropes, wires, or chains are used to designate the
  area.
• Must be erected not less than six feet nor more
  than twenty five feet away from edge.
• Shall be connected on each side to wall.

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Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)1926.502(g)

• CAZ must be defined by a control line (strength
  of 200 pounds) erected 10-15 feet from the edge.
• Lines must be flagged at six foot intervals.

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Safety Monitoring System1926.502(h)

• Uses a monitor (competent person) to patrol the
  area and warn employees of the dangers
• All safety monitors must comply with the
  following criteria
• Be on the same level the work is being performed
• Be close enough to orally communicate
• Have no other assigned duties

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Safety Monitoring System1926.502(h)

• Employees must comply with all instructions from
  the monitor.
• The full attention of the monitor must focus on
  protecting the employees.
• It is recommended that you have a written plan
  for using the safety monitoring system to
  address
• Identification of the monitor.
• Roles of employees in a monitoring system.
• Training for using the monitoring system.

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Covers 1926.502(i)

• Used to protect personnel from falling through
  holes in walking surfaces.
• Covers must be secured in place and the word
  Hole must be written on the cover.
• Covers must have sufficient strength to support
• Twice the weight to be imposed upon it for
  pedestrians.
• Twice the largest axle weight of vehicle traffic.

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Falling Objects 1926.502(j)

• Employers are required to protect their employees
  from falling objects.
• Some methods that might have to be used (when
  necessary) consist of
• Installation of toe boards (at least 3.5 inches
  wide).
• Building barricade and restricting entrance
• Installation of screens.

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Fall Protection Plan 1926.502(k)

• Fall protection plans are allowed for the
  following operations
• Residential construction
• Leading edge construction
• Precast concrete erection
• The plan should be strictly enforced.
• The employer must demonstrate that it is
  impractical to use fall protection before a fall
  protection plan can be used as an alternative.

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Fall Protection Plan 1926.502(k)

• Plan must be developed by qualified person and
  made specific for each site (also must be up to
  date).
• Only as qualified person can make changes to a
  plan.
• A copy of the plan must be maintained at the
  site.

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Elements of a Fall Protection Plan

• Statement of Policy
• Fall Protection Systems to be Used
• Implementation of Plan
• Enforcement
• Accident Investigation
• Changes to the Plan

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Training 1926.503

• All employees exposed to fall hazards must
  receive training by a competent person that
  addresses
• The nature of fall hazards in the work area
• Procedures for erecting, maintaining,
  disassembling and inspecting fall arrest
  equipment
• Use and operation of fall arrest equipment

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Training 1926.503

• Training elements
• Role of employee in a safety monitoring system
  (when used)
• Limitations on the use of mechanical equipment
  for low slope roofs
• Role of employees in fall protection plans
• Standards contained in 1926.500-503
• Procedure for handling and storage of equipment

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Training 1926.503

• Fall protection training must be certified by the
  employer through a written record.
• The latest training certificate must be
  maintained.
• Retraining is required when
• There are changes in the work place.
• Changes in the type of fall protection used.
• There are inadequacies in employees skills.