29 CFR PART 1926 Subpart M FALL PROTECTION

29 CFR PART 1926 Subpart M FALL PROTECTION HGS

I. WHY FALL PROTECTION? • OSHA estimates that at least 68,000 injuries & 95 fatalities occur each year due to occu- pational related falls from elevations. • An OSHA study involving 100 fall related fatalities suggests that virtually all of those deaths could have been PREVENTED if a fall protection system had been in use. • Most frequently cited “serious violation” by OSHA in 1998 was unprotected sides and edges.

DID YOU KNOW? • Falls from more than 30 feet account for 58% of fatalities. • 22% between 21’ and 30’. • 20% from 20’ or less.

Recognizing that fall-related fatalities / serious injuries were a pertinent safety problem in the construction industry, OSHA revised the construction industry safety standards related to fall protection systems and procedures. • OSHA’s revision of subpart M was effective February 6, 1995.

The revised Fall Protection Standard covers the below human and equipment related issues: • The need to know when protection is required. • The types of fall protection equipment / systems to use to provide protection. • The proper training in selection, use and maintenance of fall protection systems.

II. WHEN IS FALL PROTECTION REQUIRED? • The employer must provide equipment and training to employees to protect them from falling off of, onto, or through working levels that are 6 FEET OR MORE above lower levels, and to protect them from falling objects. • Fall protection must be provided and installed BEFORE ALLOWING any employee to begin work or be exposed to a hazardous area that requires fall protection.

Scope / Application of Fall Protection Standard • Not all workplaces, conditions, operations and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided is covered by subpart M. • Fall protection requirements for employees working on scaffolds can be found in subpart L. • Fall protection requirements for employees working on certain cranes and derricks can be found in subpart N.

Scope / Application of Fall Protection Standard • Fall protection requirements for employees performing steel erection work in buildings can be found subpart R. • Fall protection requirements for employees working on certain types of equipment used in tunneling operations can be found in subpart S. • Fall protection requirements for employees working on stairways and ladders can be found in subpart X .

Scope / Application of Fall Protection Standard • The provisions of this subpart do not apply when employees are making an inspection, investigation or assessment of workplace conditions before the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed. • If certain employers can demonstrate that it’s infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use standard fall protection measures, they can develop & implement a written fall protection plan that meets the provisions of 29 CFR 1926.502 (k).

Scope / Application of Fall Protection Standard • This option is available only to employers with employees engaged in leading edge work , precast concrete erection work, and residential construction work. • The employer has the burden of proof that the plan they’re implementing is appropriate and that another means is infeasible. • Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for residential construction are currently under review, that would allow the option of using various non-standard fall protection measures, without the need to develop a written plan.

III. METHODS OF PROVIDING FALL PROTECTION ARE DESCRIBED BELOW: A. GUARDRAILS: • A guardrail is defined as a barrier installed to prevent falls to lower levels. • Guardrails are used to protect workers from falls from:- Unprotected sides and edges.- Through openings (floor, wall, roof).- Ramps, runways, and walkways.- Into excavations or onto dangerous equipment.

A. GUARDRAILS • Guardrails are required to have a toprail, midrail, and toeboards (if personnel are working underneath). • Toprail should be at least 1/4” diameter and be substantially installed between 39 -45” high (preferably 42”). • Toprails must be capable of withstanding a 200 lb. force.

A. GUARDRAILS • Midrails should be positioned roughly half way between floor and toprail (about 21” high) and be capable of withstanding a 150 lb. force. • Midrails must extend the entire distance of the top rail; steel or plastic banding cannot be used as top or midrail. • As warranted by pedestrian traffic or workers below, a standard 4” toeboard must be installed around the perimeter of the work area.

A. GUARDRAILS • If wire rope is used for toprails, it must be flagged at not more than 6’ intervals with high visibility tape. • If synthetic rope is used for top or midrails, it must be inspected frequently for strength. • When guardrails are used around holes, all unprotected sides / edges must be protected.

B. SAFETY NETS • Safety nets may be used as protection for:- Unprotected sides and wall openings.- Leading edge work.- Working on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel.- Precast concrete work.- Residential construction.- Bridge work.

B. SAFETY NETS • The requirements for the use of safety nets are:- The net must be installed as close as possible under where you’re working, but never more than 30’ below.- Safety nets must extend outward from the edge of your work area as noted on the following slide:

B. SAFETY NETS Minimum Distance Vertical Drop From Net Must Extend From Working SurfaceEdge of Work Area Up to 5 feet 8 feet >5 to 10 feet 10 feetMore than 10 feet 13 feet

B. SAFETY NETS • After safety nets are installed they must be drop tested or certified before use. • Safety nets must also be drop tested or certified whenever they’re relocated, repaired, and every 6 months if the net is in one location that long.

B. SAFETY NETS • Safety nets in use must be inspected at least once/week for wear, damage, and other deterioration. Defective nets or components must be replaced before use. • Materials, scrap, equipment, and tools which have fallen into the safety net must be removed as soon as possible and at least before the next work shift.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • Personal fall arrest equipment (body harness and lanyard) protects you from a fall / different level. • Personal fall arrest equipment will be used to protect employees from falls when working 6’ or higher when other means of fall protection are not feasible. • Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Equipment and its use are noted on the following slides.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • A horizontal lifeline must be designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person. • Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs. • Only one worker can attach to a vertical lifeline. • The lifeline must be inspected to check for cuts / abrasions before and during work.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • Rope straps (webbing) used must be made of synthetic fibers. • The attachment point of a full body harness must be in the center of the back near your shoulders. • A Personal Fall Arrest system, when stopping a fall, should be rigged so a worker:- Cannot free fall more than 6’, nor;- Cannot contact any lower level.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • A rescue plan must be worked out in case of a fall so the employee can be promptly rescued. • Fall arrest equipment must be inspected prior to each use for damage, wear or other deterioration; defective equipment must not be used. • Personal fall arrest equipment may not be attached to guardrails, hoists, or anchorages being used to support or suspend platforms.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 lbs. per employee attached. • Horizontal lifelines must be installed by a qualified person, as part of a personal fall arrest system, with a Safety Factor of at least TWO.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • COMMON OPERATIONS / AREAS REQUIRING TYING OFF INCLUDE: • Open sided floor and roof areas. • Floor and roof openings. • Scaffold erection. • Installation of guardrails. • Working on ladders near edges / openings. • Working near protruding reinforcing steel. • Working in elevator shafts, and on bridges.

C. PERSONAL FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT (PFAE) • Body harnesses / lanyards are to be used for fall protection for employee safety - and NOT FOR lifting loads, binding loads, etc. • D-rings and snaphooks shall have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 lbs. • Effective January 1, 1998 only “locking type” snaphooks shall be used. • Effective January 1, 1998 body belts not allowed for fall arrest.

D. SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM • A SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM is used in conjunction with warning lines and must include appointing a “competent person” safety monitor to observe, instruct and warn employees in the work area of fall hazards. • This method of fall protection is frequently used by commercial roofers on low sloped roofs (< or equal to 4 in 12 pitch). • A SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM may be used alone when working on a roof that is 50’ or less in width.

D . SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM • The person chosen as the safety monitor MUST:- Be competent to recognize fall hazards.- Warn the employee when the employee is unaware of a fall hazard or is acting in an unsafe manner.- Be positioned on the same working sur- face and within sight of the employees being monitored.

D . SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEM • The person chosen as the safety monitor MUST: (continued)- Be able to be heard by employees.- Have no other responsibilities that could affect the monitor’s attention. - Allow only qualified workers necessary to perform specific duties in the work area.

E. CONTROLLED ACCESS ZONES • Leading edge work. • Overhand brick laying. • Pre-cast concrete construction. • Must be segregated by a control line. • Accessible only to those qualified employees necessary to perform the work. • Must utilize “competent person” safety monitor and have a written fall protection plan.

F. COVERS • Covers must be placed over floor and roof openings, gaps and other holes 2” or more in their least dimension. • Covers must be secured to prevent dis- placement due to wind, equipment or workers. • Covers must be capable of supporting two times the imposed load of workers, eqt., tools, materials, etc. • Hole covers must be clearly marked “Hole” or “Cover” to provide hazard warning.

G. WARNING LINES • Warning lines are typically used in con-junction with a safety monitoring system, but can also be used with guardrails, safety nets, and/or PFAE. • Warning lines are set up near the edge of all open sides, at least 6’ from the edge. • Warning lines must be made of ropes, wires, or chains and supporting stan-chions, and must have a minimum tensile strength of 500 lbs.

G. WARNING LINES • Warning lines must be flagged at intervals of 6’ or less. • No employee shall be allowed in the area between an open roof edge and warning line unless the employee is performing roofing work in that area.

H. POSITIONING DEVICES • Positioning devices are typically used on the face of formwork and reinforcing steel structures, and other situations where the employee’s hands must be free to work. • Positioning device systems must be set up so that an employee cannot fall more than two feet. • Safety belts are OK for use.

I. PROTECTION FROM FALLING OBJECTS • Hard hats must be worn at all times to provide protection from falling objects. • Employees must also be protected from fall-ing objects by one or more of the following methods. • Toeboards installed along the edge of all unprotected sides / edges where there is a possibility of materials, equipment, or tools being dropped or falling onto workers below.

I. PROTECTION FROM FALLING OBJECTS • Guardrails that have openings small enough to prevent passage of potential falling objects. • Proper storage methods. • Canopies and barricades.

J. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS & AERIAL LIFTS - A key factor is whether the boom mounted platform can be positioned OUTSIDE THE WHEEL BASE; if it can (ie aerial lift) then a body harness system is required.- Otherwise it falls into the scissors lift category.

J. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS & AERIAL LIFTS - The reason for requiring a body harness when using an aerial lift is the possibility of being bounced out of a basket or off a platform.- They are also called extendible or articu- lating boom supported platforms, aerial ladders, or bucket trucks.

I. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS & AERIAL LIFTS - A body harness shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift.

I. FALL PROTECTION FROM SCISSORS & AERIAL LIFTS • Employees working on scissors lifts are not required by OSHA or ANSI standards to wear a body harness while on platforms equipped with guardrails, as long as the platform remains within the wheel base. • Hard hats must be worn at all times to provide protection from falling objects. • If the guardrails are removed or ineffective, then other means of fall protection must be provided.

IV. EMPLOYEE TRAINING • Employees are required to be trained in the proper selection and use of fall protection equipment by a competent person if they will be exposed to fall hazards. The training should include:- Recognition of fall hazards and how to minimize exposure.- Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and inspecting fall protection systems and equipment used.

IV. EMPLOYEE TRAINING - Proper use of fall protection equipment. - Understanding of OSHA fall protection standards. • All competent person and employee training needs to be documented. • Retraining will be conducted at least annually for “competent persons” and as needed for employees exposed to falls.

THE END

29 CFR PART 1926 Subpart M FALL PROTECTION