1. SMARCA Roy Brown, Safety Director
Fall Protection
SMARCA
Roy Brown, Safety Director

2. He walked off the roof A deadly walk It’s an ordinary day for Jerry
He just needed to measure a couple of places
It would only take a minute
Jerry focused on his measuring
He walked off the roof

3. A Huge Cost Over 900 workers die each year in falls
Over 150,000 injured
550 injuries a day (5 day work week)

4. It’s Not Optional OSHA required fall protection if you’re working:
4 feet or higher (general industry)
6 feet or higher (construction industry)

5. Where Fall Protection is Required
Unprotected Sides / Edges
Hoist Areas
Hole / Openings
Ramps, Runways, Walkways
Excavations
Sloped Roofs
Scaffold / Aerial Lifts

6. Who’s Responsible for What?
Employers Must
Assess work site
Provide fall protection as needed
Maintain a written program
Provide fall protection training
Employee Must
Use fall protection as needed
Inspect before using
Follow safe work practices
Report any fall hazard immediately and correct (if possible)

7. How Fast You Fall 2 seconds: = 3 seconds: = 1 second: = 64 feet 45 mph
DOES IT MATTER

8. Types of Fall Protection
Fall Prevention System
Guardrails
Fences
Barricades
Fall Arrest System
Body Harnesses
Lanyard
Connector / Anchor
What / When to use?

9. Guardrails

10. Guardrails: Advantages/Disadvantages
Low cost and easy to install
Well known purpose
Passive system - provides real barrier between worker and fall hazard
May interfere with work
Easily removed and often not reinstalled
Guardrails are a good choice for fall prevention. They are part of 100 percent fall protection in most work environments.

11. Used only on low-sloped roofs.
Warning Lines
Barrier on roof to warn workers approaching the edge.
Used only on low-sloped roofs.
Defines area where mechanical work can be done without conventional fall protection.
Used only on low-sloped roofs.
Consists of ropes, wires, or chains, and stanchions erected around all sides of the roof.
Placed no closed than 15 feet from the edge of the working surface.
High-visibility flags not more than 6 feet apart.
Line is no more than 39” and no less than 34” from surface.

12. Safety Monitoring System
When other systems can not be used or create a greater hazard (last option).
Must have a written Site Specific Safety Plan.
Unauthorized work are not allowed in the monitoring area
Monitor’s Duties
Trained to recognize fall hazards
At the same level as workers
Closed enough to be heard

13. Fall Arrest System Stop falls in progress Elements Body Harness
Lanyard
Anchor

14. Total 18.5’ below anchorage point Total 9.5’ below anchorage point
Fall Clearance
6’ Lanyard Length
3.5’ Deceleration Device
5’ From D-Ring to Worker’s Feet
3’ Safety Factor (stretch, bounce, etc.)
Total 18.5’ below anchorage point
Note: All distances are approximate and shown for illustration only. This is why it is critical to maintain the safety factor distance.
Total 9.5’ below anchorage point

15. The Body Harness Connector Snap-hook Harness should fit snugly
Body belt can not be used
Body Belt
Back Pad
Shoulder Pad
Reflective
Sleeve
D-Ring

16. Body Harness Inspection
Inspect before every use
Check for:
Cracking and deformation
Hooks and buckles working properly
Damaged, defective, overstretched and worn lanyards or straps
Other defects or irregulars
Remove from use if any defects are found

17. Positioning/Restraint
The Lanyard
Links the body harness to the anchor point
Shock-Absorbing
Lanyard
Tie-Back Lanyard
Personal Fall
Limiter
Self-Retracting
Lifeline
Rope Grab
Positioning/Restraint

18. Protecting the Lanyard
No knots
Keep away from:
Sharp objects
Flames / excess heat
Wet conditions

19. Lanyards are useless if they are not anchored
Always Stay Connected
Lanyards are useless if they are not anchored

20. Choosing an Anchor Point
An anchor point must be:
Structurally sound
Capable of supporting 5000 pounds as fall arrest / 1000 pounds as a positioning device
Free from sharp or jagged edges
Bad anchor points:
Electrical conduits
Water / gas lines
Guardrails
Scaffold

21. Anchor Point Positioning
Keep the drop zone clear
Look for anchor points at shoulder height
Not attached to guardrails or scaffold

22. Positioning Device Limits your travel distance to edge of work surface
Elements
Body Harness
Retractable Lanyard
Rope with Rope Grab
Anchor
Determine proper length before beginning work

23. Self-Retracting Lifeline
Do not hook lanyards to retractable:
The retractable should be attached directly to the D-ring.
Various anchorage connectors
Load indicator – indicates when unit must be removed from service and repaired
Internal shock absorber:
consistently reduces fall forces to 900 lbs./f (4kN) or less

24. Limit free falls to 2 ft. (.61 m) or less and
Self-Retracting Lifeline
Limit free falls to 2 ft. (.61 m) or less and
shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 lbs. (13.3 kN) applied to the device in the fully extended position.

25. Hole Covers Any opening in a working surface greater than 2 inches.
Must be:
Secure
Identified as a “hole”
Able to withstand twice the intended load

26. Lift Equipment Aerial Lifts Must:
Wear Personal Fall Arrest and secured to the aerial lift so no contact with the ground occurs if you fall
No ladders or other elevation equipment allowed
Both feet must be keep on the floor of the lift

27. Lift Equipment Scissor Lifts Must:
No ladders or other elevation equipment allowed
Keep both feet on the floor of the lift
If guardrail are down you need to wear Personal Fall Arrest and secured to the scissor lift so no contact with the ground occurs if you fall

28. If You Fall If someone fall, the clock is ticking
Push your legs against an object
Raise your legs if possible
Use leg straps if possible
The Risk --- Suspension Trauma
Pooling of blood in the legs, limiting blood flow to the brain
If attempting rescue, you must be trained

29. Summary Fall protection is needed is your work surface is: You must:
4 feet for general industry
6 feet for construction industry
You must:
Take personal responsibility
Report all fall or near falls
Always use proper fall protection
Inspect worksite / Personal fall arrest before beginning work
Remain tied off at all times
Never take shortcuts

30. IT’S UP TO YOU
QUESTIONS
THANK YOU