Step-by-step guide to prevent falls Module E - Other Specifications Part C-1-Fall Protection Requirements for Construction

Table of Contents Sections of the rule What’s in Part C-1? What’s the rule telling you to DO? Web links to useful documents If you have already seen the Overview slideshow, click the box to jump to the rule requirements.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Before continuing, print your own copy …of Part C-1; Keep it handy throughout the slideshow, as we will ask you to find specific requirements to make your job safer. Click here to download and print

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Sections of the rule  Scope and application  Definitions  General requirements  Fall protection required regardless of height  Fall protection required at 4 feet or more  Fall protection required at 10 feet or more  Fall arrest specifications  Fall restraint specifications  Positioning device system specifications  Other specifications  Training  Appendices A and B non mandatory guidelines

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Scope and Application Part C-1 requires employers to provide and enforce the use of fall protection for employees performing activities covered under chapter WAC, Safety Standards for Construction.chapter WAC, Safety Standards for Construction.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Fall restraint specifications  “Full body harness” is now being used throughout the rule.  Body belts are no longer allowed as an option for fall restraint.  “Standard guardrail system” is used for consistency throughout the rule.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Read and understand all definitions that apply to your work  All definitions are located in WAC  Here are a few… Affected area is the distance away from the edge of an excavation equal to the depth of the excavation up to a maximum distance of 15ft. For example, an excavation 10 ft. deep has an affected area extending 10 ft. from the edge of any side of the excavation. Affected area is the distance away from the edge of an excavation equal to the depth of the excavation up to a maximum distance of 15ft. For example, an excavation 10 ft. deep has an affected area extending 10 ft. from the edge of any side of the excavation. Catch platform is a type of fall arrest system that consists of a platform installed within four vertical feet of the fall hazard, is at least forty-five inches wide and is equipped with a standard guardrail system on all exposed sides. Equivalent means alternative designs, materials, or methods to protect against a hazard which the employer can demonstrate and will provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the methods, materials or designs specified in this standard. Equivalent means alternative designs, materials, or methods to protect against a hazard which the employer can demonstrate and will provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the methods, materials or designs specified in this standard. Floor hole is an opening measuring less than 12 in. but more than 1 in. in its least dimension in any floor, roof, platform, or surface through which materials but not persons may fall, such as a belt hole, pipe opening, or slot opening. Floor opening means an opening measuring 12 in. or more in its least dimension in any floor, roof, platform, or surface through which persons may fall. Hazardous slope is a slope where normal footing cannot be maintained without the use of devices due to the pitch of the surface, weather conditions, or surface material. Hazardous slope is a slope where normal footing cannot be maintained without the use of devices due to the pitch of the surface, weather conditions, or surface material. Safety watch system means a fall protection system as described in WAC (6), in which a competent person monitors one worker who is engaged in repair work or servicing equipment on low pitch roofs only. Walking/working surface means any area including, but not limited to, floors, a roof surface, bridge, the ground, and any other surfaces whose dimensions are forty-five inches or more in all directions, through which workers can pass or conduct work. A walking /working surface does not include vehicles or rolling stock on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Part C-1 covers these trigger heights Fall hazards can occur at any level. There are three threshold levels which have fall hazard concerns and requirements: 0 feet 4 feet 10 feet

WA State Requires Fall Protection at 4 ft. or more for Construction Exceptions to the 4 ft. rule (Based on certain hazards) Exemptions from the 4 ft. rule (Based on certain activities) Working above or adjacent to dangerous equipment Floor holes/openings into which persons can accidentally walk Impalement hazards Roofing work & leading edge work on a low pitch surface Working on any surface that does not meet the definition of a walking/working surface Trenching and Excavation (see note below) Employees engaged in these activities must be protected from falls of 10’ or more Employees exposed to these hazards must be protected from falls regardless of height Exception: fall protection is not required for persons directly involved in the excavation process (foreman; signal person; employee hooking on pipe or other material; grade person; state, county, or city inspectors; engineer or other professional conducting a QA inspection)

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Fall protection trigger heights requirements  Regardless of height is covered in module - A  4 ft. or more is covered in module - B  10 feet or more is covered on module - C  Fall protection systems specifications are presented in module - D  Other specifications are explained in this module - E

What’s the rule telling you to DO? Q&A to safer work: Other specifications. Have your Part C-1 section available.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Ramps, runways & inclined walkways Q. What are the specifications for ramps and runways? A. Guardrails must be installed along each open side when there is a fall of 4 ft. or more. Ramps must be at least 18 in. wide; not inclined more than 20 degrees; and be cleated or treated.  Find the answer in section WAC (1)

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Self-rescue devices Q. Are self-rescue devices required as part of a fall protection system? A. No. These are two different systems. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using self-rescue devices.  Find the answer in section WAC (2)

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Canopies Q. How must canopies be constructed when used for overhead protection? A. They must be strong enough to prevent collapse and penetration from falling objects.  Find the answer in section WAC (3)

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Roofing brackets Q. Are roofing brackets considered fall protection systems?  Find the answer in section WAC (4) A. No, but they can be used for staging materials on a roof. They must be constructed to fit the pitch of the roof and supported by nails or rope supports. The worker in this photo needs fall protection.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Crawling boards and chicken ladders Q. Are crawling boards and chicken ladders considered fall protection systems?  Find the answer in section WAC (5) A. No. If used for access, they must be at least 10 inches wide, one inch thick and secured to the roof using ridge hooks.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Hoisting materials Q. When guardrails are used at hoisting areas, how far do they have to extend?  Find the answer in section WAC (6) A. At least 4 ft. along each side of the access point through which materials are hoisted. A chain or gate shall be placed across the opening for protection when hoisting operations are not occurring.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Hoisting materials Q. Can I use the hoist as an anchor point for my fall protection system?  Find the answer in section WAC (6) A. No.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Roof edge material handling and storage Q. Can materials be stored within 6 ft. of the roof edge?  Find the answer in section WAC (6) A. Only if a standard guardrail system is installed along the roof edge.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Mechanical equipment Q. Can I use a safety monitor system in areas where mechanical equipment is used or stored?  Find the answer in section WAC (6)(d) A. No.

VPP: The Standard of Excellence in Workplace Safety and Health Click on any of these useful web links  Safety standards for construction work Safety standards for construction work  Fall Protection Part C-1 Fall Protection Part C-1  Accident prevention program »Click on the page …  Worksite housekeeping »Click on the page…  Fall Protection Basics publication Fall Protection Basics publication  Fall Protection Work Plan Template Fall Protection Work Plan Template

To view other Fall Protection modules, click on any link below: Module A Module A – Overview of Part C-1 Module B Module B – Fall protection required at 4 feet or more Module C Module C – Fall protection required at 10 feet or more Module D Module D – Fall protection systems specifications Module E Module E – Other specifications