Selecting Fall Protection Anchorage Points

SELECTING ANCHORAGE POINTSLJB WEBINAR SERIES: MAY 2013

THOM KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. – LJB INC.

(937) 259-5120; [email protected]

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

Just because your anchorage won’t fail doesn’t mean it is

safe.

Our focus on what people tie off to needs to catch up with

our focus on getting workers to tie off.

ACTION PLAN

1. Use the worksheet to evaluate 5-10 anchorages that you

know are used in your organization

• Temporary and permanent

2. Identify 2-3 systems where you can use the worksheet to

plan systems

Anchorage Worksheet

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

AGENDA

Anchorages 101

Selection criteria

Exercise

Closing

ANCHORAGE TYPES

Fall arrest Work positioning Travel restraint

Horizontal lifeline Rescue

ANSI DEFINITIONS

Designed by a Qualified Person

Must be used for HLL

CertifiedDesignated by a Competent Person

Unquestionably strong elements

Non-Certified

CERTIFIED ANCHORAGES

Fall Arrest

Work Positioning

Travel Restraint

Horizontal Lifeline Rescue

2 x MAF2 x

foreseeable force

2 x foreseeable

force2 x cable tension

5 x applied

load

Designed by a qualified person

NON-CERTIFIED ANCHORAGES

Fall Arrest

Work Positioning

Travel Restraint

Horizontal Lifeline Rescue

5,000 lbs. 3,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. N/A 3,000 lbs.

Designated by a competent person

ANSI I-14.1 ANCHORAGE DESIGN LOADS

PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEM:

5,000 pounds per employee attached

Designed, installed and used as part of a complete

PFAS which maintains a safety factor of at least 2

EQUIPMENT TIEBACK:

Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds

AGENDA

Anchorages 101

Selection criteria

Exercise

Closing

CONSIDERATIONS

Hierarchy of control

＞ Is there another way?

Structural capacity

Fall clearance

Number of users

Environmental conditions

ANCHORAGE STRENGTH

ANCHORAGE DESIGN/SELECTION

UnquestionablyStrong

Everything in between

Clearly Inadequate

ANCHORAGE DESIGN/SELECTION

Unquestionably strong?

VARIABLES TO CONSIDER

Span and size of member

Material(s)

Additional loads

Supports

Deterioration and corrosion

Anchorage location and spacing ＞ Above dorsal D-ring

STRUCTURE OF ANCHORAGE

Existing members of a building structure are often used as anchorages

Existing members usually support existing loads＞ Beam

＞ Purlin

＞ Truss

STRUCTURE OF ANCHORAGE

Addition of a fall arrest load may constitute a change in use

Many jurisdictions require individuals to be professional engineers who design and evaluate physical structures

DESIGN LOADS

Permanent loads＞ Roofing＞ Piping＞ Mechanical equipment

Transient (temporary) loads＞ Occupancy＞ Storage＞ Wind＞ Snow

DESIGN LOADS

Conditional use＞ Incorporates an administrative control that allows certain

members to be used as an anchorage under specific conditions

＞ Applies to transient loads＞ Combines two methods identified within the fall protection

hierarchy – fall arrest and administrative controls＞ Existing building members used as conditional use

anchorages must be strictly controlled by a qualified person

SAFE ATTACHMENT LOCATIONS

Analysis may show that parts or all or none of the beam may be used for anchorage

Requires strict control by a qualified person

Beams

3 Foot Max. Safe Zone

SAFE ATTACHMENT LOCATIONS

Panel points – the intersection of horizontal, vertical and diagonal members (analysis required)

Individual members are usually not adequate

Trusses

FALL CLEARANCE

Rules of thumb

＞ Energy-absorbing lanyard – 13’

＞ Self-retracting lanyard – 7’

＞ Greater if determining

anchorage height

SWING FALL

Anchorage needs to be

maintained overhead

＞ Within 15º of vertical

NUMBER OF USERS

Anchorage designed to support specific load

Load for a certified system is determined by the qualified person

Based on number of users and maximum arresting force of energy-absorbing lanyard

NUMBER OF USERS

Procedures should include:

＞ Maximum number of permitted simultaneous users

＞ Maximum user weight

＞ Maximum arrest force of energy-absorbing lanyard

Location of anchorage directly affects fall clearance requirements

Clearances are calculated by qualified person

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

May affect longevity of permanently installed equipment

Components installed in these conditions should be fabricated from non-corrosive materials

Steelwork fabrications can be painted or galvanized

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Severe environmental conditions may warrant use of stainless steel

Take precautions to avoid bi-metallic corrosion which

occurs when dissimilar metals are placed in contact

with each other

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS

Consider anchorage connector location and framing of supporting anchorage before installing

Consider fall protection for the person installing the system

AGENDA

Anchorages 101

Selection criteria

Exercise

Closing

EXERCISES

Select new anchorage with existing structure

Select anchorage for new structure (PtD)

EXERCISE: EXISTING STRUCTURE

Anchorage Worksheet

EXERCISE: NEW STRUCTURE

Anchorage Worksheet

USE YOUR RESOURCES

ACTION PLAN

1. Use the worksheet to evaluate 5-10 anchorages that you

know are used in your organization

• Temporary and permanent

2. Identify 2-3 systems where you can use the worksheet to

plan systems

SELECTING ANCHORAGE POINTSLJB WEBINAR SERIES: MAY 2013

THOM KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. – LJB INC.

(937) 259-5120; [email protected]