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Slide 1
Introduction to Fall Protection The University of Tennessee
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Slide 2
What is Fall Protection?
Slide 3
Fall Protection from an Historical Perspective When one falls,
it is not ones foot that is to blame. - Chinese proverb For
thousands of years man has used ropes and various knots to help or
secure objects against the forces of gravity. Some of the earlier
users could be found on sailing ships, in church steeple
construction and maintenance, and in tree- trimming trades. The use
of ropes and some type of body belt for restraint or work
positioning support found particular interest during stormy seas
and above the decks of ships. I have always been told, Its not the
fall that hurts you its that sudden stop.
Slide 4
Physics of a Fall A body in motion (free fall) can cover vast
distances in a short period of time. Consider this: A body in free
fall can travel 4 ft in 0.5 seconds A body in free fall can travel
16 ft. in 1 second A body in free fall can travel 64 ft. in 2
seconds
Slide 5
Physics of a Fall Think of it this way: a.We have a sports car
that can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 sec. b.You fall from an
elevation 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 sec. Guess what? YOU WIN! It takes an
average person of a second to react! In of a second you have fallen
10 feet. Now, are you ready for sky diving?
Slide 6
Slips, Trips and Falls on same Level and from Elevation
Slide 7
Slips, Trips and Falls Fall related injury reports related to
falls are commonly reported as a slips, trips and falls. These are
then divided into two groups: Falls on same level and falls from
elevation. Of all reported, falls from the same level are the most
common.
Slide 8
Statistics Falls 33% Struck By 18% Electrical 17% Caught In
18%
Slide 9
Statistics Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the
construction industry. 150-200 workers are killed each year and
more than 100,000 injured as a result of falls. Overall (including
general industry) falls are the number two biggest cause of
fatalities in the U.S. (motor vehicle accidents are number
one).
Slide 10
The highest mortality rate is falls from roofing followed by
structure and then catwalks with ladders a close fourth.
Slide 11
What can I do to prevent falls?
Slide 12
1.Take time to inspect the work area, note hazards and
eliminate if feasible. a.Engineering control redesign install
guards, rails, cover open holes. b.Maintain good housekeeping.
c.Establish a fall protection system. What can I do to prevent
falls?
Slide 13
General Requirements Housekeeping Workplaces must be kept
clean, orderly, and sanitary Workroom floors must be maintained as
clean and dry as possible
Slide 14
General Requirements Aisles and Passageways 1.Keep clear and
move obstructions that could create a hazard 2.Mark permanent
aisles and passageways 3.Aisles must be sufficiently wide where
mechanical handling equipment is used
Slide 15
General Requirements Covers and Guardrails Provide covers
and/or guardrails to protect workers from the hazards of open pits,
tanks, vats, ditches, and the like.
Slide 16
Floor Opening An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its
least dimension in a floor, platform, pavement, or yard, through
which persons may fall.
Slide 17
Floor Opening FLOOR OPEN MUST BE GUARDED! Standard railing.
Consists of top rail, mid rail, and posts. Height from the upper
surface of top rail to floor level is 42 inches. Mid rail height is
21 inches. Standard toeboard. 4 inches high, with not more than
-inch clearance above the floor.
Slide 18
Stairway Floor Openings Must be guarded by a standard railing
on all exposed sides (except at entrance).
Slide 19
Ladderway Floor Openings Guard with a standard railing with
toeboard on all exposed sides (except entrance) Guard the passage
through the railing with a swinging gate or offset it to prevent
someone from walking into the opening Example: Drywell access, pipe
chase, etc.
Slide 20
Floor Hole An opening measuring less than 12 in. but more than
1 in. in its least dimension, in a floor, platform, pavement or
yard, through which materials but not persons may fall.
Slide 21
Every floor hole into which persons can accidentally walk must
be guarded by either: 1.Standard railing with toeboard 2.Cover
Floor Hole
Slide 22
Opening at least 30 in. high and 18 in. wide, in a wall or
partition, through which persons may fall. Wall Openings In
addition: wall openings from which there is a drop of more than 4
feet must be guarded.
Slide 23
Open-Sided Floors and Platforms Open-sided floors or platforms
4 feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level must be guarded
by a standard railing (or equivalent) on all open sides, except
where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed
ladder
Slide 24
Open-Sided Floors and Platforms A toeboard is required when,
beneath the open sides: a person can pass; there is moving
machinery, or there is equipment with which falling materials could
create a hazard. Regardless of height, a standard railing and
toeboard must be used to guard: - open-sided floors - walkways -
platforms, or - runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment,
pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar
hazards.
Slide 25
Stairways Flights of stairs with four or more risers must have
standard stair railings or handrails.
Slide 26
Portable Ladders 1.Ladders used to gain access to a roof or
other area must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support.
2.Withdraw defective ladders from service and tag or mark
"Dangerous, Do Not Use 3.Never use ladders in a horizontal position
as scaffolds or work platforms 4.Never use metal ladders near
electrical equipment
Slide 27
Ladder Angle Portable Rung and Cleat Ladders Use at angle where
the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the
ladder is the working length of the ladder (length along ladder
between the foot and top support).
Slide 28
Fixed Ladders Permanently attached to a structure, building or
equipment 1.Cages or wells required if longer than 20 ft. to a
maximum unbroken length of 30 ft. 2.Ladder safety devices may be
used on tower, water tank and chimney ladders over 20 ft. in
unbroken length instead of cage protection (example: Intramural
lights).
Slide 29
Scaffolding General Requirements 1.Must be capable of
supporting four times the maximum intended load 2.Do not alter or
move while in use 3.Protect workers on scaffolds from overhead
hazards 4.If higher than 10 ft., use guardrails, midrails and
toeboards 5.Use wire mesh between the toeboard and guardrail if
people work or pass underneath 6.Must be equipped with access
ladder or equivalent
Slide 30
Fall Protection Systems Fall protection systems can consist of
devices that arrest a free fall or devices that restrain a worker
in a position to prevent a fall from occurring. 1.Fall protection
is required when one or more employees have exposure to falls of
six feet or greater to the lower level. 4-ft. in General Industry
and 10-ft. from Scaffolding. 2.Surfaces must be inspected before
the work begins. 3.Employees are only permitted to be on surfaces
that are strong enough to support them.
Slide 31
A Fall Arrest System
Slide 32
Full-body Harnesses and Belts Full-body harnesses wrap around
the waist, shoulders and legs. A D-ring located in the center of
the back provides a connecting point for lanyards or other fall
arrest connection devices. Belts are used in positioning system
applications. These belts have two side D-rings, and are used only
for restraining a worker in position.
Slide 33
Attachment Location OSHA Standard: 1926.502(d)(17) The
attachment of the body harness must be located in the center of the
wearer's back, near the shoulder level, or above the head.
Slide 34
Body Harness Never use a body harness to hoist materials. Body
harnesses are designed to minimize stress forces on an employee's
body in the event of a fall, while providing sufficient freedom of
movement to allow work to be performed.
Slide 35
Body Harnesses OSHA Standard: 1926.502(d)(18) Never use for
personal fall arrest As of January 1, 1998, body belts are not
acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system, because they
impose a danger of internal injuries when stopping a fall.
Slide 36
Administrative Rules and Fall Arrest Maintenance When fall
protection of any kind is provided, the projects competent person
must teach workers the limitations to that systems effectiveness.
All employees exposed to fall hazards must receive training by a
competent person that addresses: The nature of fall hazards in the
work area Procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and
inspecting fall arrest equipment Use and operation of fall arrest
equipment
Slide 37
NIOSH ALERT! Scene of a skylight accident where a worker fell
to his death Fatal falls may result from failure to provide
appropriate guarding and fall protection for work around skylights,
Skylight openings, and other roof openings.
Slide 38
Quiz To complete the Introduction To Fall Protection Training
Module, please click here for the quizclick here