Fall Protection in the Construction Industry

1
Fall Protection in the Construction Industry

• 1926 Standards Subpart M
• Who falls under the 1926 Standards?
• Based upon activity, not industry

2
Fall Distances

• Under Subpart M
• If exposed to a distance of 6 feet or greater
• Falls into hazardous operations or equipment,
  impalement hazards
• Less than 6 feet above by guardrail systems or by
  equipment guards
• Subpart M does not apply to ladders, scaffolds,
  steel erection industry

3
Conventional Forms of Fall Protection

• Employers must examine the feasibility of
  conventional forms of fall protection first
• Safety nets
• Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)
• Guardrails
• If the employer can show the conventional forms
  are infeasible, then they can go with a safety
  monitor and a fall protection plan
• Test for Infeasibility
• Places workers at a greater risk for a fall hazard

4
SAFETY NETS

• COMMON IN BRIDGE WORK AND STEEL ERECTION
• MAXIMUM DISTANCE DOWN TO NET IS 30 FEET
• MINIMUM HORIZONTAL DISTANCE AWAY FROM STRUCTURE

5
TEST SAFETY NETS

• DROP TEST
• AFTER INSTALLATION
• AFTER REPAIRS
• EVERY 6 MONTHS
• 400 POUND BAG OF SAND
• If testing is not feasible or practicable,
  certify, based on information received from a
  qualified person, that the net and net
  installation meet all specified criteria
• KEEP RECORDS

6
Low Sloped Roofs

• Low-slope roof means a roof having a slope less
  than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal)

7
Low Sloped Roofs

• "Roofing work on Low-slope roofs
• Unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above
  lower levels shall be protected from falling by
  guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal
  fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning
  line system and guardrail system, warning line
  system and safety net system, or warning line
  system and personal fall arrest system, or
  warning line system and safety monitoring system.

8
Steep Roofs

• Steep roof means a roof having a slope greater
  than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).

9
Steep roofs

• Employees on a steep roof with unprotected sides
  and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels shall
  be protected from falling by guardrail systems
  with toeboards, safety net systems, or personal
  fall arrest systems

10
Residential Construction

• Employees engaged in residential construction
  activities 6 feet or more above lower levels
  shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety
  net system, or personal fall arrest system unless
  an alternative fall protection measure applies.

11
Residential Construction

• When the employer can demonstrate that it is
  infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use
  these systems, the employer shall develop and
  implement a fall protection plan which meets
  1926.502.

12
Residential Construction Definition

• Framing materials Wood (or equivalent
  cold-formed sheet metal stud) framing, not steel
  or concrete wooden floor joists and roof
  structures.
• Exterior wall structure Wood (or equivalent
  cold-formed sheet metal stud) framing or masonry
  brick or block.
• Methods Traditional wood frame construction
  techniques.

13
Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction

• STD 03-11-002 Compliance Guidance for
  Residential Construction
• Defines residential construction
• Deletes previous compliance guidance
• Establishes OSHA citation policies

14
Precast Concrete Erection

• Employees engaged in the erection of precast
  concrete members who are 6 feet or more above
  lower levels shall be protected from falling by
  guardrail systems, safety net systems, or
  personal fall arrest systems, unless an
  alternative fall protection measure is allowed
• Infeasibility Exception applies. Fall protection
  plan required.

15
What does Infeasible mean?

• There is a presumption that it is feasible and
  will not create a greater hazard to implement at
  least one of the above-listed fall protection
  systems.
• The employer has the burden of establishing that
  it is appropriate to implement a fall protection
  plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a
  particular workplace situation, in lieu of
  implementing any of those systems.

16
PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

• COMMON IN ALL TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
• BODY HARNESS WITH D RING
• Body belts only used as positioning devices
• Must use equipment which meets ANSI standards

17
PFAS System
18
PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS

• LANYARDS AND SAFETY LINES
• 5,000 LBS STRENGTH
• ANCHOR POINTS
• QUALIFIED PERSON MUST DETERMINE
• 5,000 LBS or safety factor of 2 if under
  supervision of qualified person
• MAXIMUM FREE FALL DISTANCE WITH EQUIPMENT ON IS 6
  FEET
• Maximum deceleration distance with a lanyard is
  3 ½ feet
• Self Retracting Lanyards
• Must catch within 2 feet or less

19
Determining Anchor Point Height

• Height of the worker
• 6 feet - freefall distance
• 3 ½ feet - deceleration distance
• 3-4 feet - safety factor (According to
  manufacturer)
• Sum of the distances tells you lowest anchor
  point
• If fall protection is required at 6 feet, then
  how does a PFAS system work then?