Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc1 Module 2 Fall Hazards Did you know? Falls from elevation account for one third of all deaths in construction.

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc2 The training is to teach you:  How to recognize hazards  How to minimize hazards The training must cover:  Fall hazards  Fall protection systems  Use of fall protection devices Training Employers must provide fall protection training

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc3 In 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 1,224 construction workers died on the job, with 36 percent of those fatalities resulting from falls. Falls may result from a number of factors, including unstable working surfaces, misuse of fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers, and travel restriction systems can prevent many of the deaths and injuries that result from falls

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc4 These are real fatal incidents “An employee fell approximately 12 feet while setting trusses on a new home…” “An employee fell 20 feet from a steel structure…” “An employee fell while trying to climb down the side of a home under construction…” “An employee fell from a stepladder and was impaled on a 33” high steel stanchion…” The people talked about here did not make it home the day of the accident.

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc5 Top Fall Protection Citations (FY 2005) Fall protection training Fall Protection Scope Ladders Manually propelled scaffolds - Lifts Scaffolding General Citation statistics from Federal OSHA data for OSHA fiscal year 2005

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc6 Causes of Fall-Related Fatalities Unprotected sides, edges and holes Improperly constructed walking/working surfaces Improper use of access equipment Failure to properly use PFAS Slips,Trips & Falls (housekeeping)

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc7 Case study A steel erection worker, working approximately 51' above the surface below, fell causing fatal injuries. The worker was sitting (straddling) an I- beam, using the pointed end of a spud wrench to align bolt holes of two beams that where to be bolted together. The worker was wearing a full body harness, along with a tether line and a 5/8" steel safety line. The steel safety line and tether were not attached to a tie off point and/or to the beam. The worker was not tied off. During the work process of aligning the bolt holes the worker dropped his spud wrench. The worker then used a "sleeving" bar to finish the alignment work. The bar slipped out of the bolt hole as the worker placed pressure on to it. When the bar slipped, the worker lost his balance and fell.

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc8 Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. Most fatalities occur when employees fall from open-sided floors and through floor openings. Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious lost-time injuries and sometimes death. Open-sided floors and platforms 6 feet or more in height must be guarded. Falls in Construction

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc9 Other challenges of fall protection Working in a manufacturing facility brings a different set of challenges to fall protection. Most of the work performed in an existing facility requires workers to perform on cat walks, above existing production tools, and in the immediate vicinity of various types of dangerous chemicals and gases. The problem of providing fall protection is amplified by the danger of falling on, and perhaps breaking, the piping systems that carry them.

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc10

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc11 Fall Protection Hierarchy in order of effectiveness ELIMINATION PREVENTION FALL ARREST WARNING LINES SAFETY - MONITORING ADMINISTRATION

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc12 Duty to Have Fall Protection (b) Protection is required for: –Unprotected sides & edges –Leading edges –Ramps, runways, other walkways –Steep roofs –Residential construction –Roofing work –Excavations, wells, pits & shafts

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc13 SUBPART M - Fall Protection Major Points Open sided floors require guardrails at 6 feet. Guard wall openings if the inside bottom edge is less than 39 inches above the walking/working surface Floor openings and holes are to be covered at all times. Floor covers must withstand twice the anticipated load. Fall protection is required if the worker may fall on dangerous equipment

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc14 In residential construction, you must be protected if you can fall more than 6 feet Fall Protection - Residential Construction

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc15 Holes more than 6 feet high must be protected This opening could be made safe by using a guardrail, or strong cover Sky Lights and Other Openings “An employee servicing an evaporative cooler fell through an unprotected skylight, 30 feet to the concrete floor ”

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc16 Cover completely and securely If no cover, can guard with a guardrail Twice the anticipated load Floor Holes Improperly Covered “An employee fell approximately 17 feet during roof deck installation…”

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc17 Good Work Practices Perform work at ground level if possible Example: building prefab roofs on the ground and lifting into place with a crane Tether or restrain workers so they can't reach the edge Designate and use safety monitors( This is the least desirable of all the systems ) Use conventional fall protection

Harwood Grant #46J6-HT13Southwest Safety Training Alliance Inc18 Summary If you can fall more than 6 feet, you must be protected Use fall protection on:  walkways & ramps, open sides & edges, holes, concrete forms & rebar, excavations, roofs, wall openings, bricklaying, residential construction Protective measures include guardrails, covers, safety nets, and Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)