MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Fall Protection MIOSHA Part 45 OSHA 1926 Subpart M Personal Fall Arrest

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Falls in Construction Falls are the leading cause of death in construction Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious lost-time accidents and sometimes death Falls from 11 feet result in death 50% of the time Every worker on a job site is at risk of a fall

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Defining the Fall A free fall is defined as the act of falling before a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. When a fall is experienced using a PFAS, the fall is referred to as a free fall up until the deceleration device starts to arrest the fall. It’s similar to a parachute jumper pulling the ripcord to the parachute. The fall doesn’t stop, but the fall begins to stop once the rip cord is pulled. MIOSHA rules allow no more than a ________ foot free fall distance. Any additional distance the person falls beyond the free fall is added to the free fall distance and referred to as the total fall distance. This is the measurement of the fall from start to stop.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Nine Types of Fall Protection Guardrails Safety nets Personal fall arrest system Covers Conventional Fall Protection Systems Positioning device systems Warning line systems Controlled access zones leading edge, precast concrete, overhand bricklaying Safety monitoring Fall protection plans These 4 systems should be used for most situations The other 5 systems are for: Unique situations have unique fall protection methods When and if conventional fall protection is infeasible This slide show different types of fall protection. This presentation will focus on Guardrails.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 PFAS: Fall Distance How far can you fall? How far down will your feet touch? 5’ = Measurement from feet to D-ring on your back 6’ = Length of your lanyard + 3.5’ = Length of the deceleration device when deployed 14.5’ = minimum fall clearance If tied off at feet. There is equipment now that keeps the force under 900 lbs. Using a 6 foot lanyard tied off at your feet.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Fall Arrest Forces Free fall distance Force in pounds Data from Miller (millerfallprotection.com/smart-solutions/faqs/faqs) Using a web lanyard with a 220 lb weight. This graph explains the rationale for limiting falls to 6’ and using a shock absorber. When falls go from 6’ to 10’, the force goes from 870 to 1600 lbs (almost double!)

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Personal Fall Arrest Systems A system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. Anchorage Connectors Lifeline or Lanyard Deceleration device Body harness = PFAS +_____________

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Personal Fall Arrest System MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Personal Fall Arrest System Inspected prior to each use (daily) Must limit arresting force to 1800 lbs Designed for a maximum of 310 lb worker Removed from service if impact loaded Must provide for prompt rescue in event of a fall These are the rules applying to the entire PFAS.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Anchorage A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices The photos show many different means of creating anchor points.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Anchorage Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms Capable of supporting at least 5,000 lbs OR Shall be designed, installed, and used as follows: As part of a complete fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two Under the supervision of a qualified person The photos show many different means of creating anchor points.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Anchorage Cont. “As part of a complete fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two” “Under the supervision of a qualified person” USE THE ABOVE RULE VERY SPARINGLY! THIS DOES NOT NEGATE THE 5000lb RULE! The photos show many different means of creating anchor points.

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Harness Must fit snug: 2 fingers tight Must be worn properly chest strap across chest D – ring in center of back

Harness

MIOSHA Const - Part 45 Fall Protection Revised 05/11/09 Shock Absorbing Lanyard Single leg or double leg Need double for 100” tie-off Web, rope, or cable Deceleration device = 42” Limit arresting force to 900 lbs.

More Information MIOSHA Fact Sheets MIOSHA CSHD-COM-04-2R2