Fall Protection

1
Fall Protection
2
Types of falls

• Falls from same level
• Slips
• Trips
• High frequency rate
• Low injury severity rate

1a
3
Types of falls

• Falls from an elevation
• Relatively low frequency rate
• High injury severity rate
• Specific potential fall hazards

1b
4
Common fall protection systems

• Guardrail systems and toeboards
• Handrail and stair rail systems
• Designated areas

2a
5
Common fall protection systems

• Hole covers
• Safety net systems
• Ladder cages

2b
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Common fall protection systems

• Ramps and bridging devices
• Slip-resistant floors
• Effective housekeeping

2c
7
What happens during a fall?

• Person loses his/her balance
• Body unintentionally moves from an upright
  position to a prone, or semi-prone position

3a
8
What happens during a fall?

• Free-fall velocity at impact when falling 12 feet
  is nearly 20 M.P.H.
• Person hits the ground in less than one second
  from this distance

3b
9
Why falls are dangerous

• Falls are dangerous because of three primary
  elements
• The free-fall distance the worker falls
• The shock absorption at impact
• The body weight of the worker

4a
10
Free-fall distance

• The uncontrolled length of travel before a worker
  hits the floor, ground, or before fall arrest
  equipment activates
• Measured from the foot level before the fall, to
  the foot level after the fall

5a
11
Free-fall distance

• Free-fall distance should be limited to a few
  feet so as to prevent injury from
• collisions with grade level
• collisions with obstructions near the work site
• pendulum-like swings that result in collision
  with objects

5b
12
Shock absorption at impact

• Varies according to the types of fall protection
  equipment used
• Shock-absorbing lanyards reduce the probability
  of injury

6a
13
Body weight of the worker

• Falls have more severe impact on heavy workers
• The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
• Heavy workers may have larger waistlines,
  preventing fall arrest equipment from fitting
  properly

7a
14
Fall arrest systems

• Used when engineering controls are not feasible
  or sufficient to eliminate the risk of a fall
• Fall arrest systems should match the work
  situation

8a
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Fall arrest systems

• Fall arrest systems should
• prevent a worker from falling more than 6 feet
• prevent a worker from contacting any lower
  level during arrest of a fall

8b
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Fall arrest systems

• Fall arrest systems should
• limit the maximum arresting force on an employee
  to 1800 pounds when a worker uses a body harness
• bring a worker to a complete stop
• limit the deceleration distance a worker travels
  to 3 1/2 feet

8c
17
Fall arrest systems

• Fall arrest systems should
• have sufficient strength to withstand twice the
  potential energy impact of a worker falling a
  distance of 6 feet - or-
• have sufficient strength to withstand the
  free-fall distance permitted by the system,
  whichever is less

8d
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Personal fall protection

• Personal fall arrest systems
• Positioning device system
• Personal fall protection system for climbing
  activities

9a
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Training

• Equipment inspection
• Application limits
• Methods of use
• Donning, doffing, adjusting equipment

10a
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Training

• Anchoring and tie-off techniques
• Emergency rescue plans and implementation
• Maintenance procedures
• Storage techniques

10b
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Vendor/Supplier information

• Comprehensive instructions for fall arrest system
  use and application, provided by the supplier,
  should consist of

11a
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Vendor/Supplier information

• The force measured during the sample force test
• Maximum elongation measured for lanyards during
  the force test

11b
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Vendor/Supplier information

• Deceleration distance for deceleration devices
  measured during the force test
• Caution statements on critical-use limitations

11c
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Vendor/Supplier information

• Application limits
• Proper hook-ups

11d
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Vendor/Supplier information

• Anchoring tie-off techniques
• Proper climbing techniques

11e
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Vendor/Supplier information

• Methods of inspection, use, cleaning, storage
• Lifelines

11f
27
Reporting fall hazards

• Employees will not experience repercussions from
  reporting hazards
• Employees should report unsafe equipment,
  conditions, procedures

12a
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Reporting fall hazards

• Equipment repair receives top priority
• Under no circumstances will defective equipment
  be used

12b
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Reporting fall hazards

• When fall conditions exist
• Take short steps
• Keep toes pointed out
• Walk on the whole foot when crossing rough or
  slippery surfaces
• Avoid making sharp turns
• If you fall, protect your head and neck

12c
30
Reporting fall hazards

• Disciplinary actions for failure to use equipment

12d
31
Housekeeping

• Effective housekeeping prevents falls
• Keep high work areas free from
• Tools
• Materials
• Debris
• Liquids

13a