Why are our workers still falling? Fall Prevention and Protection Steve Johnson Steve Johnson

Session Objectives Who is STACS and what do we do? Understand why our workers are still falling… 2 Key Objectives…

S S T T A A C C S S CONSULTING SAFETY TRAINING AND SERVICES Who is STACS?

We’ve been in the position to witness many different fall protection solutions! Client Base

ABC Photos Human Nature in Action!!

supplying more and better equipment each year Equipment Manufacturers Why are our workers still falling? Employers Are conducting more training than ever before Yet we’re still killing 2 people every week of the year!!

Many simply supply a harness and lanyard People argue it’s better than nothing… It’s the same as nothing can you still fall … die? The Traditional Approach

Safety Nets Warning Lines Guardrails Fall Restraint Positioning Fall Arrest Re-design Task Fall Prevention Fall Protection Safety Monitors The Hierarchy of Controls careful!!

Fall arrest gets complicated in a hurry! The Traditional Approach

I always ask a potential client… They typically tell me: we showed the video!!! How is your fall protection training going? Here’s a tool you can use to measure the quality of their knowledge FREE TAKE AWAY!

ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS…. If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die? If I fall, how far am I going to go? What does my anchor need to hold? 3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS

ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS…. If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die? If I fall, how far am I going to go? What does my anchor need to hold? If your folks don’t know, they need to stay on the ground! 3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS

#1. If I fall, how far am I going to go? 3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS

A basic consideration is “free fall” Maximum allowable free fall is? The maximum free fall allowed is 6 feet How do you achieve a 6 foot free fall? #1. If I fall, how far will I go?

What happens when you fall? What is this? How much can it elongate? The maximum elongation is 3.5 feet according to ANSI #1. If I fall, how far will I go?

how high does my anchor have to be located? Using a 6 foot shock absorbing lanyard…. Your anchor must be at least 18.5 feet high… … OR YOU’LL HIT THE GROUND!! #1. If I fall, how far will I go? or you’ll hit the ground!

What if I’m closer to the ground than 18.5 feet? Use a retractable! #1. If I fall, how far will I go?

Let’s learn how to calculate Calculating Fall Clearance We’ll review 3 examples

’ Permanent D Ring Anchor Point 6 FOOT LANYARD 3.5 FOOT DECELERATION 6 FOOT WORKER 3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR Fall Clearance Calculation

’ CROSS ARM STRAP ANCHOR 2 FOOT EXTENSION 6 FOOT LANYARD 3.5 FOOT DECELERATION 6 FOOT WORKER 3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR That’s 2 stories high!! Fall Clearance Calculation

15.5’ USING A RETRACTABLE 21 2 FOOT HOUSING 4.5 FOOT FALL ARREST DISTANCE 6 FOOT WORKER 3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR Fall Clearance Calculation

Employee was working 11.5 feet off the ground Employee chokes lanyard around diagonal Fall Clearance Mishap

1 standard lanyard To gain mobility, a second lanyard was connected in series Fall Clearance Mishap 1 shock absorbing lanyard

The snap hook was measured 26” from the floor Both ankles and legs were fractured Why didn’t the anchor break? Fall Clearance Mishap

#2. If I don’t hit the ground, can I still die? 3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS

Too much force can be lethal… Maximum Arrest Force: 1,800 lbs! How much is too much? #2. If I don’t hit the ground…

Remember this? The purpose….? Most SAL’s limit fall forces to 900lbs* (ANSI) #2. If I don’t hit the ground…

Impossible to maintain the MAF… …a 6 foot free fall or greater Must use a shock absorber >220lb working weight When can’t I use a shock absorbing lanyard? #2. If I don’t hit the ground…

It’s not just the weight of the person… What else adds weight? #2. If I don’t hit the ground… The maximum working weight in a standard system is 310lbs (OSHA)

Rope lanyard: no shock absorber

Cable lanyard: no shock absorber

Cable lanyard: with shock absorber

#3. What’s my anchor need to hold? 3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS

Remember the videos, how much force can you potentially generate? What’s the maximum allowable force you’re permitted to generate? #3. What’s my anchor need to hold?

5,000 lbs per worker attached 2 x MAF (1800lbs)… OR … if you’re using an engineered system designed by a qualified person… #3. What’s my anchor need to hold?

Connecting the snap hook onto the lanyard 1. Lanyard can break 2. Snaphook gate can break Courtesy of Clarke Phillips Choking the lanyard Common Mistakes

Problem? 1. Sprinkler line for an anchor 2. Choking the lanyard 3. Fall clearance Common Mistakes

Problem? 1. Guardrail for an anchor 2. Choking the lanyard 3. Condition of the lanyard Common Mistakes

Ask the 3 Training QC Questions If I fall, how far will I go? If I fall and don’t hit the ground, can I still die? What’s my anchor need to hold? Session Summary