Fall Protection for Construction

Training objectives Nature of fall hazards in the work area Subpart M of the construction regulations 1a

Training objectives Procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting fall protection systems 1b

Training objectives Use and operation of: guardrail systems personal fall arrest systems safety net systems warning line systems safety monitoring systems controlled access zones other protections to be used 1c

Training objectives Role of each employee when a safety monitoring system is used Role of employees in fall protection plans 1d

Training objectives Limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during roofing work on low-sloped roofs 1e

Training objectives Correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection 1f

Fall hazards in the work area Falls are one of the major causes of injuries to construction workers Working at the leading edge of floors, formwork, or roofs 2a

Fall hazards in the work area Leaning over for overhand bricklaying work Working near holes or openings Walking on elevated ramps or runways 2b

Standard applicability The OSHA standard requires construction employers to: identify and evaluate fall hazards provide fall protection train employees The requirements are performance-oriented 3a

Standard applicability The standard does not cover construction workers who are inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions: prior to the actual start of work; or after all work has been completed 3b

Standard applicability Other OSHA standards also contain fall protection requirements, but they may not outline specific rules for fall protection during all parts of the job 3c

Standard applicability Review: Subpart L - Scaffolds Subpart N - Cranes and derricks Subpart R - Steel erection Subpart S - Tunneling Subpart V - Electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment Subpart X - Stairways and ladders 3d

Fall protection measures All walking and working surfaces must be strong enough to safely support employees Employees must be protected from fall hazards whenever they are 6 feet or more above a lower level 4a

Fall protection measures Construction workers who are exposed to the hazard of falling onto or into dangerous equipment must be protected at any height All employees must be protected from falling objects 4b

Fall protection measures Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems Positioning device systems 4c

Fall protection measures Warning line systems Controlled access zones Safety monitoring systems Covers 4d

Terms Anchorage Body belt (safety belt) Body harness Controlled access zone (CAZ) 5a

Terms Dangerous equipment Deceleration device Deceleration distance Free fall 5b

Terms Free fall distance Guardrail system Lanyard Leading edge 5c

Terms Lifeline Low-slope roof Lower levels Mechanical equipment 5d

Terms Overhand bricklaying and related work Personal fall arrest system Positioning device system Roofing work 5e

Terms Safety-monitoring system Self-retracting lifeline/lanyard Steep roof 5f

Terms Unprotected sides and edges Walking/working surface Warning line system 5g

Guardrail systems The top edge height of top rails must be between 39 inches and 45 inches above the walking/ working level 6a

Guardrail systems Midrails, screens, mesh, or intermediate vertical members are needed when there is no wall or parapet wall at least 21-inches high 6b

Guardrail systems Guardrail systems must be able to withstand the forces specified in OSHA’s standard Steel or plastic banding cannot be used as top rails or midrails 6c

Guardrail systems Top rails and midrails must have a diameter of at least 1/4-inch If wire rope is used for top rails, it must be flagged with high-visibility material at least every 6 feet 6d

Guardrail systems Top rails or midrails made from manila, plastic or synthetic rope must be inspected frequently The guardrail’s surface must be smooth enough so it does not cause lacerations or other injuries, or snag clothing 6e

Guardrail systems The ends of top rails and midrails must not overhang the terminal posts to create a projection hazard 6f

Safety net systems Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working surface, but in no case more than 30 feet below the surface 7a

Safety net systems When nets are used on bridges, the potential fall area from the walking/working surface to the net must be unobstructed 7b

Safety net systems Safety nets are to extend outward from the work surface by a sufficient distance as specified in the standard Safety nets must have sufficient clearance under them 7c

Safety net systems Safety nets must be capable of absorbing an impact force equal to the standard’s specified drop test Defective nets must not be used 7d

Safety net systems Inspect safety nets at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration Safety nets must also be inspected after any occurrence that could affect the integrity of the safety net system 7e

Personal fall arrest systems Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system Connectors, dee-rings, and snaphooks must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 8a

Personal fall arrest systems Devices used to connect to a horizontal lifeline are to be capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline Lanyards and vertical lifelines must meet the standard’s minimum breaking strength requirements 8b

Personal fall arrest systems When vertical lifelines are used, each employee must be attached to a separate lifeline Lifelines must be protected from being cut or abraded 8c

Personal fall arrest systems Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards must meet the standard’s load requirements Anchorages used for personal fall arrest equipment must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms 8d

Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must Limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when used with a body harness Be rigged so that an employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet 8e

Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must Be rigged so that an employee will not contact any lower level Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit the employee’s maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet 8f

Personal fall arrest systems - when stopping a fall must Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the anticipated potential impact energy 8g

Positioning Device Systems Positioning devices are to be rigged so that an employee cannot free fall more than 2 feet 9a

Positioning Device Systems Positioning devices must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting: at least twice the potential impact load of an employee’s fall; or 3,000 pounds, whichever is greater 9b

Positioning Device Systems Connectors, dee-rings, and snaphooks must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 9c

Positioning Device Systems Positioning device systems must be inspected before each use for: wear damage deterioration defective components 9d

Positioning Device Systems Body belts and components must only be used as part of a positioning device system—they cannot be used to hoist materials 9e

Fall protection systems Employers have a duty to anticipate fall hazards, and to plan work activities accordingly Careful planning and preparation lay the necessary groundwork for an accident-free workplace 10a

Fall protection systems Limit work activities to walking/working surfaces that have the strength and structural integrity to safely support employees 10b

Fall protection systems The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: unprotected sides and edges hoist areas holes wall openings formwork and reinforcing steel 10c

Fall protection systems The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: ramps, runways, and other walkways excavations (protection from falling into excavations greater that 6-feet deep only) 10d

Fall protection systems The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: dangerous equipment overhand bricklaying and related work 10e

Fall protection systems The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: roofing work leading edge work precast concrete erection 10f

Fall protection systems The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to: residential construction other walking and working surfaces 10g

Fall protection systems Employers need to: give instructions to prevent exposure to unsafe conditions ensure employees follow the procedures and understand the training be aware of the safety methods being used by specialty subcontractors 10h

Unprotected sides and edges Employees must be protected when they are exposed to falls from unprotected sides and edges of walking/ working surfaces 6 feet or more above lower levels 11a

Unprotected sides and edges Fall protection options include: Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems 11b

Protecting hoist areas Employees in a hoist area must be protected from falling 6 feet or more Fall protection options include: guardrail systems personal fall arrest systems 12a

Protecting hoist areas When guardrail systems are used at hoisting areas, a chain, gate, or removable guardrail section must be placed across the access opening when hoisting operations are not taking place 12b

Protection for holes Employees must be protected from: falling into or through holes tripping in, or stepping into or through holes objects falling through holes 13a

Protection for holes Covers located where there is vehicular traffic must be able to support at least twice the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross over the cover 13b

Protection for holes All other covers must be able to support at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may cross over the cover at any one time 13c

Protection for holes Covers must be secured in place Covers must be color coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide a warning 13d

Protecting wall openings Employees must be protected from falling out or or through wall openings Fall protection options include: guardrail systems safety net systems personal fall arrest systems 14a

Formwork and reinforcing steel Employees working on formwork and reinforcing steel 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by one of the following: Personal fall arrest system Safety net system Positioning device system 15a

Formwork and reinforcing steel Fall protection is not required while employees are moving vertically and/or horizontally on the vertical face of rebar assemblies built in place 15b

Ramps, runways, and walkways Ramps, runways, and other walkways have guardrails along each unprotected side or edge when employees could fall 6 feet or more 16a

Excavations If the excavation depth is 6 feet or more, edges of excavations must be protected by: guardrail systems fences barricades 17a

Falls into dangerous equipment Employees working 6 feet or more above dangerous equipment must be protected from falling by one of the following systems: Guardrail systems Personal fall arrest systems Safety net systems 18a

Falls into dangerous equipment Where the walking/working surface is less than 6 feet above the dangerous equipment hazards, guardrails or equipment guards must shield employees from the hazard 18b

Overhand bricklaying Each employee performing overhand bricklaying and related work 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by one of the following systems: 19a

Overhand bricklaying Guardrail systems Personal fall arrest systems Safety net systems Controlled access zones 19b

Overhand bricklaying The controlled access zone: is defined by a control line erected between 10 feet and 15 feet from the working edge 19c

Overhand bricklaying The controlled access zone: must extend far enough to enclose all employees performing overhand bricklaying and related work at the working edge 19d

Overhand bricklaying The controlled access zone: needs additional control lines erected at each end to enclose the controlled access zone allows only employees engaged in overhand bricklaying or related work in the controlled access zone 19e

Overhand bricklaying Control lines consist of ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials, and supporting stanchions as follows: Each line is flagged or otherwise clearly marked with high-visibility material at intervals of at least 6 feet 19f

Overhand bricklaying Control lines consist of ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials, and supporting stanchions as follows: 19f

Overhand bricklaying Each line is rigged and supported so that: its lowest point is at least 39 inches from the walking/working surface its highest point is not more than 50 inches from the walking/working surface Each line must have a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds 19g

Overhand bricklaying All employees reaching more than 10 inches below the level of a walking/working surface must be protected from falling 19h

Overhand bricklaying Fall protection options include: guardrails personal fall arrest systems safety nets 19i

Overhand bricklaying To provide for falling object protection during overhand bricklaying and related work: no materials or equipment except masonry and mortar can be stored within 4 feet of the working edge 19j

Overhand bricklaying To provide for falling object protection during overhand bricklaying and related work: excess mortar, broken or scattered masonry units, and all other materials and debris must be removed at regular intervals 19k

Roofing on low-slope roofs Employees engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by one of the following methods: 20a

Roofing on low-slope roofs Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems 20b

Roofing on low-slope roofs A combination of warning line and guardrail systems A combination of warning line and safety net systems A combination of warning line and personal fall arrest systems 20c

Roofing on low-slope roofs A combination of warning line and safety monitoring systems On roofs 50 feet or less in width, the use of a safety monitoring system alone 20d

Roofing on low-slope roofs: safety monitoring system When a safety monitoring system is used: A designated competent person must monitor employee safety The safety monitor cannot have other responsibilities that could distract him/her from the monitoring function 20e

Roofing on low-slope roofs: safety monitoring system Mechanical equipment must not be used or stored in areas where safety monitoring systems are being used 20f

Roofing on low-slope roofs: safety monitoring system No employee, other than an employee engaged in roofing work, or an employee covered by a fall protection plan, can be allowed in an area where an employee is being protected by a safety monitoring system 20g

Roofing on low-slope roofs: safety monitoring system Each employee working in a controlled access zone must comply with fall hazard warnings from safety monitors 20h

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system When warning line systems are used: Warning line systems are to be erected around all sides of the roof work area 20i

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system The warning line must be at least 6 feet from the roof edge when mechanical equipment is not being used 20j

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system The warning line must be farther from the roof edge when mechanical equipment is being used 20k

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system Two warning lines must form an access path to connect points of access, materials handling areas, storage areas, and hoisting areas to the work area 20l

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system When a point of access is not in use, a rope, wire, chain, or other barricade, must be placed across the path 20m

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system Warning line ropes, wires, chains, and supporting stanchions must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 20n

Roofing on low-slope roofs: warning line system No employee is allowed in the area between a roof edge and a warning line unless the employee is performing roofing work in that area 20o

Roofing on low-slope roofs To provide for falling object protection during roofing work: materials and equipment must not be stored within 6 feet of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge materials that are piled, grouped, or stacked near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting 20p

Roofing on steep roofs Each employee engaged in roofing activities on steep roofs with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected from falling 21a

Roofing on steep roofs A steep roof has slopes greater than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal) 21b

Roofing on steep roofs Fall protection options include: Guardrail systems with toeboards Personal fall arrest systems Safety net systems 21c

Leading edge work Leading edge work 6 feet or more above lower levels requires one of the following fall protection methods: Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems 22a

Leading edge work If these conventional systems cannot be used, a fall protection plan must be in place 22b

Leading edge work When used to control access to areas where leading edge and other operations are taking place, the controlled access zone is defined by a control line that restricts access 22c

Leading edge work When control lines are used, they are to be between 6 feet and 25 feet from the unprotected or leading edge, except when erecting precast concrete members 22d

Leading edge work The control line must extend along the entire length of the unprotected or leading edge Each side of the control line is to be connected to a guardrail system or wall 22e

Leading edge work - control lines Control lines consist of ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials, and supporting stanchions as follows: 22f

Leading edge work - control lines Each line must be flagged or otherwise clearly marked with high-visibility material at intervals of at least 6 feet 22g

Leading edge work - control lines Each line is to be rigged and supported so that its: lowest point is at least 39 inches from the walking/working surface highest point is not more than 45 inches Each line must have a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds 22h

Precast concrete erection Erecting precast concrete members 6 feet or more above a lower level requires one of the following fall protection methods: Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems 23a

Precast concrete erection If these conventional systems cannot be used, a fall protection plan must be in place 23b

Precast concrete erection A controlled access zone may be used to control access to areas where leading edge and other operations are taking place 23c

Precast concrete erection The controlled access zone is defined by a control line (or other means) that restricts access 23d

Precast concrete erection When erecting precast concrete members, the control line is to be: between 6 feet and 60 feet; or half the length of the member being erected, whichever is less, from the leading edge 23e

Precast concrete erection The control line must extend along the entire length of the unprotected or leading edge Each side of the control line is to be connected to a guardrail system or wall 23f

Precast concrete erection - control lines Control lines consist of ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials, and supporting stanchions as follows: 23g

Precast concrete erection - control lines Each line is to be flagged or otherwise clearly marked with high-visibility material at intervals of at least 6 feet 23h

Precast concrete erection - control lines Each line is to be rigged and supported so that its: lowest point is at least 39 inches from the walking/working surface highest point is not more than 45 inches Each line must have a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds 23i

Residential construction Employers engaged in residential construction must protect employees from falls of 6 feet or more to lower levels by the use of one of these fall protection systems: Guardrail systems Safety net systems Personal fall arrest systems 24a

Residential construction If it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to implement these conventional systems, a fall protection plan can be used instead 24b

Fall protection plans The use of a fall protection plan is available only to employees engaged in: leading edge work precast concrete erection work residential construction work 25a

Fall protection plans Fall protection plans must developed by a competent person 25b

Other walking/working surfaces All employees exposed to falls of 6 feet or more to lower levels must be protected by a: guardrail system safety net system personal fall arrest system 26a

Protection from falling objects Employees who may be exposed to falling objects are required to wear hard hats 27a

Protection from falling objects Employers must also do one of the following: Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling from higher levels Erect a canopy structure and keep potential falling objects far enough from the edge of the higher level 27b

Protection from falling objects Employers must also do one of the following: Barricade the area to which objects could fall, and keep employees out of thearea Keep objects far enough away from the edge of a higher level 27c

Protection from falling objects Falling object protection must meet the standard’s design and strength requirements 27d