GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program FALL PROTECTION
INTRODUCTION This training information has been prepared by the Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program with the technical collaboration of Mr. Juán C. Rodriguez and under the sponsorship of OSHA. Its content may be copied and distributed for free. The Georgia Tech’s Safety and Health Consultation Program requests it be acknowledged as the source of this information. The authors believe that all information contained in this training is accurate; however, this is not an official OSHA publication and has not been revised or approved by OSHA. The user should be aware that the recommendations provided in this training do not replace any OSHA standard or regulation. Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program Georgia Tech Research Institute th Street, Fourth Floor Atlanta, GA Voice :(404) FAX :(404) Web Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
SUBPART M GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Effective Date: February 6th, 1995 GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Duty to have fall protection Protection required when working at 6 feet or higher Walking/working surfaces shall be inspected before employees begin work activities Employees shall be allowed to work only on those surfaces which have the requisite strength to withstand their weight GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Strong enough surfaces GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
SCOPE AND APPLICATION Subpart M sets forths criteria for all fall protection hazards, except: Section L - Scaffolds Section N – Cranes and derricks Section R – Steel erection work in buildings Section S – Tunneling operations Section V – Electric transmission and distribution lines Section X – Stairways and ladders GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection is required when… Unprotected (open) sides and edges Leading edge work Dangerous equipment Overhand bricklaying Steep-slope roofs Residential construction Holes Working/walking surfaces Formwork Excavations and wells Precast concrete erection Wall openings Low-steep roofs GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Sloping roof GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Hole GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Covered Holes GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Sloped Roof GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Protection from falling objects Each exposed employee shall wear a hard hat Employers must prevent objects from falling from higher levels (which could strike employees below) by using all necessary measures GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Hard hats GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Wearing hard hats GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (a) Guardrails Top edge height of top rails shall be between 39" and 45" Midrails shall be installed between the top edge of the guard rail and the walking/working surface Openings between rails shall not be more than 19" apart The top rail edge shall withstand a force of at least 200 pounds The midrail shall withstand a force of at least 150 pounds Wire rope shall be flagged and shall not deflect more than 3" Frequently inspect wire ropes No rail material smaller than 1/4" diameter shall be used GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Guardrails GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Wire Rope GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Flagged Wire Rope GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
2 x 4 Guardrails GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (b) Safety net systems Shall be installed as close as practicable, but in no case more than 30' (9. 1 m) below the working surface Shall be subjected to impact force tests or certified Without any defects Shall be inspected weekly and after any occurrence (impact) Debris that have fallen into the net must be removed before starting work Maximum size of each mesh opening shall not be longer than 6” and each opening will not exceed 36” square All border rope must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000 pounds GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (c) Personal fall arrest systems Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are authorized to be used only for positioning Dee-rings and snaphooks shall have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds Snaphooks shall be of the locking types Horizontal lifelines shall be installed by a qualified person and maintain a safety factor of at least 2 GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Body belts only for positioning Chain for positioning Fall protection GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (c) Cont.. Lanyards and vertical lifelines shall have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds A body harness shall withstand a force of 1,800 pounds Be mindful of the correct attachment point to the wearer’s body, plans for prompt rescue of the employee, and inspections of equipment prior to use GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (d) Positioning device systems Employee can not free fall more than 2' (0.61 m) Shall be inspected prior to each use Body belts and harnesses shall be used only for employee protection (e) Warning lines Shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (e) Cont. Mechanical equipment shall be placed not less than 6' (1.8 m) from the roof edge Access points shall be blocked when there is no work Warning lines shall be flagged with high-visibility materials The lowest point of the warning line is not less than 34" (0.9 m) and the highest point at not more than 39" (1 m) GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... (f) Controlled access zones Used in areas where leading edges change constantly In areas with overhand bricklaying work at edges When erecting precast concrete members Access permitted only to trained and qualified employees Written information (signs) at points of access GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Leading edges GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Fall Protection Systems: criteria and practices... Competent person as monitor At same visual level of that of employees Close enough to communicate orally Mechanical equipment shall not be stored in the monitoring area Only employees engaged in roofing work allowed Employees shall follow the monitor’s instructions Monitor shall not have other responsibilities or functions GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program (g) Safety monitoring systems
Monitor GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Warning line GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program