1. OFFERED BY: CH BULL CO SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
BASIC FALL PROTECTION
OFFERED BY:
CH BULL CO
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA

2. Your Instructors
ANDY BULL
President
C. H. Bull Company

3. Falls Kill
Unrestrained falls from 10’ kill or disable 4 out of 5 victims
Unrestrained falls from 11’ kill 4 out of 5

4. PHYSICS OF A FALL Elapsed Distance Velocity Speed MPH Force at
Time of fall Ft. per second impact
Ft Lbs
Ft Lbs
Ft Lbs
Ft Lbs
Ft Lbs
Ft ,000 Lbs
Ft ,000 Lbs
Ft ,600 Lbs
*calculations based upon a 200 pound worker including tools.

5. Construction In 1995 1,048 people died on the job
32% of fatal accidents involved falls

6. Key Areas of Concern Falls from heights Confined spaces Lift equipment
Scaffolds

7. Eliminating the Risk Don’t go there Build a work platform
Implement a personal fall arrest system
Use alternative means

8. Fall Protection
A series of steps taken to reasonably lessen or eliminate the risk of falling in the work place

9. What Is Fall Protection?
Equipment?
Planning?
A culture change?
It is all of the above

10. Key Fall Exposures, Concerns
At heights
When positioned
Confined spaces
Lift devices

11. The Regulatory Environment
Employers have the GENERAL DUTY to provide a safe, healthy workplace

12. Hierarchy of Regulation
State or federal standards
Minimum acceptable
Manufacturer notices, warnings, instructions
Employer safety policy

13. Generally Speaking the Regs Require
Fed OSHA limits free falls to 6’ or less
Cal/OSHA limits free fall to 30” or more
Special criteria for confined space work
Fall protection in lift devices
Scaffold builders to be “tied off”

14. Specific Regulations 29CFR1910 29CFR1926 Multiple state regulations
CAL/OSHA of Regulations, Title 8
Subchapter 7

15. Two Types of Personnel Are Described
Competent
Qualified

16. Competent Persons Know application limits Regulations
Able to “solve and resolve” problems
Have authority to take necessary actions

17. Qualified Persons Degree or certificate of competency Vast experience
Skill necessary to “solve and resolve” technical problems

18. Personal Fall Arrest Systems
Must be in place when the risk is present
Must limit impact loads on the victim
Must ACTUALLY work in the environment in which they are used

19. At Heights Maximum free fall Minimum anchor strength
Maximum impact loads
Adequate clear space for use
Fall protection is 10% equipment; 90% rigging

20. When Positioned A fall of NO MORE THAN 2 FEET A minimum 3,000# anchor
All other hardware must meet PFAS requirements

21. Confined Space Fall Protection and Retrieval Needs
Holes
Excavations
Ship maintenance & construction
Tanks

22. Types of Confined Space
Permit Required - IDLH situations may be encountered
Non Permit Required - NO IDLH situations

23. “Fall Protection” Opportunities
Falls
Extractions

24. Entry & Exit Requirements
Without approved means of entry
Basic fall protection
Personnel winch cannot be used as load winch
With approved means of entry
Extraction only in permit-required situations

25. Powered Lift Equipment
Confusing Scenario
Scissor lift
Boom lift or other device

26. Scissors Lift
Working surface

27. Boom Lift Must be “tied off”
29CFR (c)(2)(v) A full body harness shall be worn and a lanyard attached to the boom or basket when working from an aerial lift.

28. One More Look at Boom Lifts
Do you see any problems here?
Free fall potential?
Anchor strength?
Basket capacity?

29. Scaffold Fall Protection
????
Conflicting guidance abounds
CAL / OSHA Title 8
Subchapter 18 has the most information on scaffold

30. Federal Regulatory Basis
OSHA
29 CFR 1926 Sub R
Steel erection only
29 CFR 1926 Sub M
Well documented
6’ free fall

31. 29CFR1926 Sub R Significant changes
(a) sets 15’ “trigger height” with exceptions
Specific training

32. Definition of “Steel Erection”
“…the construction, alteration or repair of steel buildings…installation of decking…used in the process of erection.”
29CFR

33. Connectors Protected from falls of more than 30’
29CFR (b)(1)
15’ to 30’ PFAS or positioning or restraint system
29CFR (b)(3)

34. Decking
Established procedures for controlled decking zone (CDZ)

35. What if Conventional Fall Protection Will Not Work
Fall protection plans are acceptable alternative
Very restrictive
Very specific

36. Fall Protection Plans
Require clear statement that “conventional” fall protection “is impractical or creates a greater hazard.”
Must clearly identify why conventional systems are not appropriate

37. Plans Must be Specific Where it is to be implemented
Who is responsible for implementation
A qualified person must approve the plan and any changes
The plan must be maintained on site

38. Additional Actions May be Required for Compliance
Title 8§1671.1(a)(9) requires controlled access zones and safety monitoring when “no other alternatives measure has been implemented….”

39. Controlled Access Zones
Control line set not less than 6’ nor more than 25’ from unprotected or leading edge
Set with lowest point no less than 39” nor more than 45” above the working level
Must be clearly marked at not more than 6’ intervals

40. Safety Monitoring Safety monitor must be competent person
Must always be in communication with employees being monitored
Monitor should have no other responsibilities diverting attention

41. Safety at Heights: A Simple Proposition
A - anchorage
B - full body harness
C - connectors
D - devices

42. Anchor Points Basic - most common alternative
Engineered - meets 2:1 safety factor
Most common errors
Assume anchor point is strong enough
Somebody else tied off to this anchor point

43. Can You Recognize an Appropriate Anchor?
5,000 lbs
3,000 lbs
How about a rule of thumb?

44. Anchor Point Evaluation
Ford F-250 Extended Cab
2 WD
5,058 lb.

45. Anchorage Selection 5,000 pound requirement Set as high as possible
Cuts free fall
Use correct device
Cable or web sling
Carabiner, handgrip

46. Weight Limits
Most fall arrest equipment sold in the United States has a stated weight limit of 310 pounds.
Why?
Anchor quality

47. B: Body Harness
The only acceptable device for use in a fall arrest situation
Spreads load to minimize injuries
OSHA allows 1,800 pound impact load
ANSI Z limits impact to 900 pounds
Positions victim for rescue

48. Harness Categories
General use
Specialized
Rescue, Climbing

49. Common Features
Ease of inspection
Improved labeling
Two-color design

50. Harness Fit Harness Fit
Legs closed tightly
Sub pelvic strap correctly positioned
D-ring positioned between shoulders

51. Harness Inspection Webbing okay? Hardware okay?
No burns, tears, discoloration
Hardware okay?
Properly positioned
No cracks

52. Connectors Must be double locking Must be compatible
Must be inspected prior to each use

53. Energy Absorbing Devices
Must absorb the energy built up during a fall
Must control energy imparted on both victim and anchor point
All get longer under load

54. Shock Absorber Types Rip stitch “Woof material” Tearing
Self retracting lifelines

55. Inspection is Critical
Webbing undamaged?
Hardware functional?
Shock absorber okay?

56. Make Your Inspection COMPLETE!
Internal damage can be hard to detect
Tug on the lanyard legs to be sure they are attached

57. Falls Actually Don’t Kill…. The Stop Does the Damage
Contact with lower levels, dangerous equipment
Swings into structures

58. Fall Protection Math
Lanyard length + shock absorber length + victim height + elongation = REQUIRED CLEAR SPACE
6’ + 6’ + 42” + 1’ = >15’
Do you have this much distance?

59. Falls: Quick, Deadly

60. Fall Protection:
10% equipment
90% rigging

61. Rigging Is Critical Anchor set as high as possible
Lanyard attached properly to harness
Shock absorber clipped to back d-ring

62. Self Retracting Lifelines
Must be positioned over work area
Minimize swing fall potential
Cuts anchor requirement
3,000 lbs.... Vs. 5,000 lbs..

63. Temporary Horizontal Lifelines
Ideal for steel, bridge, and decking
Anchored correctly
Check vertical clearance
Nearly 20’ may be needed

64. Minimum Clearance Requirements Vary
Pro-Span system needs 22’ for one man & 60’ interval
BeamSafe needs 16’ for one man & 60’ interval

65. Engineered Fall Arrest/Protection Systems
Fall arrest – there may be fall from an exposed edge
Fall restraint – prevents personnel from reaching an exposed edge

66. Typical Rail Car Unloading, Inspection Installation
Demanding vertical performance
Must be user friendly

67. There are Lots of Opportunities

68. Rail Car

69. Cell Tower

70. Light Tower

71. Amphitheater

72. Arenas

73. Hanger

74. Crane Runway

75. Ladder

76. Bridge

77. Roof Application

78. Rides or Attractions

79. Horizontal systems Cable systems Rigid rail systems Embedded strut
Beam trolley

80. Cable System

81. Rigid Rail System

82. Embedded Strut

83. Beam Trolley

84. Vertical climbing systems
Cable systems
Rail systems

85. Cable System

86. Rigid Rail System

87. Summary- Engineered Systems
Definition
Standards
Hazards and Solutions
What are the benefits of an Engineered System?

88. Benefits Cost effective Versatile Low Maintenance Very easy to use
COMPLIANT

89. Inspection Intervals
Title 8 Sec 1670 (19) requires that PFAS “shall be inspected not less than twice annually” by a competent person
Inspection date must be documented

90. Rescue: The Final Challenge
Most falls are self rescued
If rescue is required it
Must be timely, per OSHA
Must be within 15 minutes, per ANSI
Must be part of the plan

91. A Safety Reminder Think again!
Even if you were born to do a job, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to automatically do it safely.… You know what you're doing, its what you've been trained to do your whole life. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right???
Think again!

92. Thank You!
It starts right now. Remember knowledge is not power, it is what you do with what you know that gives you power