Office of Safety & Health Consultation Office of Safety & Health Consultation presents Focus Four Fall Protection in Construction Focus Four Fall Protection in Construction

Objectives In this course, we will discuss the following: Emphasis on fall protection Subpart M requirements Applying fall protection standards to construction sites

Subpart and Standard Number of Serious Violations – FY

Subpart M – Fall Protection Exception –Covers all fall hazards except specific requirements found in: Subpart L – Scaffolds Subpart R – Steel erection Subpart S – Tunneling operations Subpart V – Power transmission and distribution Subpart X – Stairways and ladders Subpart CC –Cranes and derricks

Subpart M – Fall Protection Exception –The provisions of this subpart do not apply when employees are making an inspection, investigation, or assessment of workplace conditions prior to the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed (a)(1)

Fall Exposure: Then and now Construction Est. fall exposure – Drip edge = 11′ – Roof peak = 16′ 2008 Construction Est. fall exposure – Drip edge = 23′ – Roof peak = 38′

General Industry Construction Sites Scaffolds Steel Erection 4’ 6’ 10’ 15’ Fall Protection Requirements

Duty to Have Fall Protection Employer required to provide fall protection systems. Employer shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely (a)

Should He Have Fall Protection?

Overhand bricklaying Low-slope roofs Steep roofs Pre-cast concrete erection Residential construction Wall openings Other walking and working surfaces Fall Protection Required Unprotected sides, edges Leading edges Hoist areas Holes Formwork, reinforcing steel Ramps, runways Excavations Dangerous equipment (b)(1)-(15)

Fall Protection Required Unprotected sides, edges (b)(1)

Fall Protection Required Leading edges (b)(2)

Fall Protection Required Hoist areas (b)(3)

Holes –Includes skylight floor openings Fall Protection Required (b)(4)

Fall Protection Required Formwork and reinforcing steel (b)(5)

Fall Protection Required Ramps, runways, other walkways (b)(6)

Fall Protection Required Excavations (b)(7)

Fall Protection Required Dangerous equipment (b)(8)

Fall Protection Required Overhand bricklaying (b)(9)

Fall Protection Required Low-slope roof –< 4/12 pitch Steep roof –> 4/12 pitch (b)(10) &(11)

Fall Protection Required Pre-cast concrete erection (b)(12)

Fall Protection Required Residential construction (b)(13)

Fall Protection Required Wall openings (b)(14)

Fall Protection Required Other walking/working surfaces (b)(15)

Fall Protection Is this correct?

Falling Objects Each exposed employee shall wear a hardhat. Employer must take steps to prevent employees from being hit by falling objects. –Erect toe boards, screens, or guardrail systems –Erect a canopy structure –Barricade the area (c)

Methods of Fall Protection Conventional methods –Safety nets –Guardrails –Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) Safety net (a)(1)

Guardrail System (b)

Top rail: 42′′ +3′′ Midrail: 21′′ +3′′ Guardrail System (b) Note: Toe boards are not part of a guardrail system for fall protection

Guardrails Job well done

Personal Fall Arrest System No slack

Lots of slack! Only one attachment point! Personal Fall Arrest System

Is this correct?

Anchorage Connectors Harness Personal Fall Arrest System (d)

D-Rings, snaphooks, lanyards, lifelines, anchorages 5,000 pounds No free fall more than 6′; nor contact any lower level; 3.5′ max deceleration Provide for prompt rescue Inspect prior to each use Personal Fall Arrest System (d)

Personal Fall Arrest System

Body belts not allowed for fall arrest but may be used as a positioning device Only locking type of snaphook can be used Personal Fall Arrest System

Allows an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface No more than 2 ′ freefall Inspected before each use Safety belts okay for use Positioning Device System (e)

Other acceptable methods –Used under certain circumstances Warning lines Control access zones (CAZ) Safety monitor Fall protection plan Methods of Fall Protection (f)

Used on low-sloped roofs < 4/12 Erect 6′ from all edges Need fall protection for last 6′ Used in combination with other systems Developed by competent person Warning Lines (f), 502(b)(10)

Used in: –Leading edge work –Overhand bricklaying –Pre-cast concrete Only authorized persons Controlled Access Zones (g)

Used on low-sloped roofs < 4/12 With roof widths < 50’, can use alone Monitor must be competent person –No other responsibilities Safety Monitor System (h)

Only for specific area or jobs –Leading edge work –Precast concrete erection work –Residential construction work Used when conventional fall protection equipment is infeasible or creates a greater hazard Designed by qualified person Supervised by competent person Fall Protection Plan (k)

Covers shall: –Withstand two times weight of expected load –Secured to prevent displacement –Marked “hole” or “cover” or color-coded Covers for Holes (i)

Protection from Falling Objects Toeboards –When used as falling object protection, shall be erected along the edge of the overhead walking/working surface –Withstand force of at least 50 pounds –Toeboards shall be a minimum of 3 ½ inches in vertical height (j)

The employer shall: –Provide training program –Assure each employee has been trained –Provide written certification –Retrain where necessary Training Requirements

Now let’s test what you have learned…

Personal Fall Arrest Systems Is this correct?

Personal Fall Arrest Systems Is this correct?

Personal Fall Arrest Systems Is this correct?

Personal Fall Arrest Systems Is this correct?

Personal Fall Arrest Systems Is this correct?

Covers Is this correct?

Guardrails Is this correct?

Guardrails Is this correct?

Guardrails Is this correct?

Summary In this course, we discussed: Emphasis on fall protection Subpart M requirements Applying fall protection standards to construction sites Fall Protection

59 Is This a Fall Hazard?

60 YESYES Workers could fall while climbing on the shoring structure to set it up and remove it. Ladders and lifts must be provided.

61 Any Fall Hazard Here?

62 YESYES Workers are exposed to a fall hazard greater than 6 feet, while working near stairwell opening. Workers must be protected from falls over 6 feet.

63 Is This a Fall Hazard?

64 YESYES Unprotected open-sided floors 6 feet or more above ground level. Guardrail systems, safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems are required.

65 Any Fall Hazard Here?

66 YESYES Workers are installing a new metal roof without fall protection. NOTE: Remember that ladders must extend 3 feet above the landing area.

67 Is This a Fall Hazard?

68 YESYES The photo shows a mid-rail and toeboard are missing on an open-sided floor of a building. This could expose workers to a 12 foot fall. Toeboards are required to protect workers below from falling objects.

69 Can You Identify the Fall Hazard?

70 YESYES Lack of fall protection for workers on fabricated frame scaffolds. The workers are exposed to a 35-foot fall hazard from a scaffold while stacking blocks prior to overhand bricklaying operations. Planks appear to be overloaded and there is no safe access for workers.

71 Can You Identify the Fall Hazard?

72 YESYES Ladder to work platform is not of sufficient length. It must extend 3 feet above the working surface.

73 Is This a Fall Hazard?

74 YESYES Worker is working off of the top of a step ladder. The top of a stepladder shall not be used as a step.

75 Can You Identify the Fall Hazards?

76 YESYES A worker is working from a carpenters' scaffold that has no guardrail, extends too far beyond either end, and is not wide enough. The worker also does not have proper access to the scaffold. The worker inside of the window is not provided with fall protection as there is no standard guardrail for the window. The worker working below is exposed to the struck-by hazards of tools and equipment falling from the employees working above. NOTE: A competent person must supervise as scaffolds are erected, moved and taken apart.

77 Any Fall Hazard Here?

78 YESYES Workers working on balcony of structure exposed to fall hazard due to unprotected side/edge.

79 Is This a Fall Hazard?

80 YESYES Worker working on an 8:12 pitch roof with only the lifeline tied to his waist as fall protection. Employer must provide full body harnesses.

81 Is This a Fall Hazard?

82 YESYES Scaffold was not erected with guardrails in areas where workers were working at heights greater than 10 feet.

Your Questions?