Transcript Fall Protection in the Construction Industry

Fall Protection in the Construction
Industry
• 1926 Standards – Subpart M
• Who falls under the 1926 Standards?
– Based upon activity, not industry
Fall Distances
• Under Subpart M
• If exposed to a distance of 6 feet or greater
– Falls into hazardous operations or equipment,
impalement hazards
• Less than 6 feet above by guardrail systems or by
equipment guards
• Subpart M does not apply to ladders,
scaffolds, steel erection industry
Conventional Forms of Fall Protection
• Employers must examine the feasibility of
conventional forms of fall protection first
– Safety nets
– Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)
– Guardrails
• If the employer can show the conventional forms
are infeasible, then they can go with a safety
monitor and a fall protection plan
• Test for “Infeasibility”
– Places workers at a greater risk for a fall hazard
SAFETY NETS
• COMMON IN BRIDGE WORK AND STEEL
ERECTION
– MAXIMUM DISTANCE DOWN TO NET IS 30 FEET
– MINIMUM HORIZONTAL DISTANCE AWAY FROM
STRUCTURE
TEST SAFETY NETS
• DROP TEST
– AFTER INSTALLATION
– AFTER REPAIRS
– EVERY 6 MONTHS
• 400 POUND BAG OF SAND
• If testing is not feasible or practicable, certify, based on
information received from a qualified person, that the
net and net installation meet all specified criteria
• KEEP RECORDS
Low Sloped Roofs
• Low-slope roof means a roof having a slope
less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to
horizontal)
Low Sloped Roofs
• "Roofing work on Low-slope roofs
– Unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above
lower levels shall be protected from falling by
guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall
arrest systems, or a combination of warning line
system and guardrail system, warning line system
and safety net system, or warning line system and
personal fall arrest system, or warning line system
and safety monitoring system.
Steep Roofs
• Steep roof means a roof having a slope greater
than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).
Steep roofs
• Employees on a steep roof with unprotected
sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower
levels shall be protected from falling by
guardrail systems with toeboards, safety net
systems, or personal fall arrest systems
Residential Construction
• Employees engaged in residential construction
activities 6 feet or more above lower levels
shall be protected by guardrail systems, safety
net system, or personal fall arrest system
unless an alternative fall protection measure
applies.
Residential Construction
• When the employer can demonstrate that it is
infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use
these systems, the employer shall develop and
implement a fall protection plan which meets
1926.502.
Residential Construction Definition
• Framing materials: Wood (or equivalent coldformed sheet metal stud) framing, not steel or
concrete; wooden floor joists and roof
structures.
• Exterior wall structure: Wood (or equivalent
cold-formed sheet metal stud) framing or
masonry brick or block.
• Methods: Traditional wood frame construction
techniques.
Compliance Guidance for
Residential Construction
• STD 03-11-002: Compliance Guidance for
Residential Construction
• Defines “residential construction”
• Deletes previous compliance guidance
• Establishes OSHA citation policies
Precast Concrete Erection
• Employees engaged in the erection of precast
concrete members who are 6 feet or more
above lower levels shall be protected from
falling by guardrail systems, safety net
systems, or personal fall arrest systems, unless
an alternative fall protection measure is
allowed
• Infeasibility Exception applies. Fall protection
plan required.
What does “Infeasible” mean?
– There is a presumption that it is feasible and will
not create a greater hazard to implement at least
one of the above-listed fall protection systems.
– The employer has the burden of establishing that
it is appropriate to implement a fall protection
plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a
particular workplace situation, in lieu of
implementing any of those systems.
PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS
• COMMON IN ALL TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
• BODY HARNESS WITH D RING
– Body belts only used as positioning devices
• Must use equipment which meets ANSI
standards
PFAS System
PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS
• LANYARDS AND SAFETY LINES
– 5,000 LBS STRENGTH
• ANCHOR POINTS
– QUALIFIED PERSON MUST DETERMINE
– 5,000 LBS or safety factor of 2 if under supervision of
qualified person
• MAXIMUM FREE FALL DISTANCE WITH EQUIPMENT ON
IS 6 FEET
• Maximum deceleration distance with a lanyard is 3 ½
feet
• Self Retracting Lanyards
– Must catch within 2 feet or less
Determining Anchor Point Height
•
•
•
•
Height of the worker
6 feet - freefall distance
3 ½ feet - deceleration distance
3-4 feet - safety factor (According to
manufacturer)
• Sum of the distances tells you lowest anchor
point
– If fall protection is required at 6 feet, then how does a
PFAS system work then?