FALL protection

Falls from heights are a leading cause of workplace fatalities in the

construction industry accounting for approximately 33% of all workplace fatalities

Fall injuries that don’t result in death are often disabling

Three major components in dealing with accidents due to fall in construction:

1. Fall arrest system2. Ladder safety3. Scaffold safety

All employees shall be protected from fall of six feet or more by the use of an approved fall protection system

working near openings or edges

working on a scaffolding and ladder

work on machinery, equipment

Working at an elevated level

• failure to recognize the hazard a. messy, cluttered work areas b. poor visibility c. failure to use handrails when going up or down the stairs d. wearing shoes that are not appropriate for the work space

• untrained workers and lack of supervision

• failure to use appropriate equipment

• failure to provide safe systems of work - supervision - instruction and knowledge - equipment inspection

FIGURE A FIGURE B

PRIMARY FALL PREVENTION SYSTEM SECONDARY FALL PREVENTION SYSTEM

FIGURE A FIGURE B

Guardrail systemGuardrail system

Top Rail

Mid Rail

Walking/Working Surface

200 lbs

150 lbs

50 lbs

42”+/- 3”

GUARDRAIL SYSTEM: ROOFWORKGUARDRAIL SYSTEM: ROOFWORK

GUARDRAIL SYSTEM: Leading EdgeGUARDRAIL SYSTEM: Leading EdgeGUARDRAIL SYSTEM: Leading EdgeGUARDRAIL SYSTEM: Leading Edge

Ladderway/Stairway Openings

Shall be guarded on ALL exposed sides by railing and toe boards in a manner that a person cannot pass through it, except at the entrance to the opening.

Provision of safety nets

Covers must be able to support at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time. To prevent accidental displacement resulting from wind, equipment, or workers' activities, all covers must be secured. All covers shall be color coded or bear the markings "HOLE" or "COVER."

Fall Arrest System:

Limits free fall to six feet which reduces force by decreasing fall distance

Consists of: Lanyard Anchorage Point Full Body Harness

Lanyard

A device made of rope, wire or nylon strap used to tether the individual to an anchorage point and stop the individual in the event of a fall.

LanyardsLanyardsLanyardsLanyards

Automatically limit free-fall distance to less than two feet

Be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 lbs when fully extended

Self-retracting lifelines andLanyards shall:

Self-retracting lifelines AND LANYARD

1. Be inspected prior to use

2. Have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs

1. Be inspected prior to use

2. Have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs

Lanyards shall:

Notes in the Usage of Lanyards

3. Avoid rubbing from sharp objects/edges

4. Never attach where there is a possibility of disengagement

5. Make sure it is short enough for you not to hit the ground in the event of fall

6. Always use double locking system FOR SNAPHOOKS

7. Anchor point must be above the head as much as possible to avoid swing in the event of fall

8. Do not loop to anchorage, use adaptor

adaptor

These durable, chemical resistant lanyards include an inner polyester core that stretches to reduce the arresting force in the event of a fall. The shock absorbing lanyards feature a deceleration distance of 42 inches or less.

LifelineCan be composed of:

Vertical Horizontal depending on the condition and type of

job involved

LifelineLifelineLifelineLifeline

LifelineLifelineLifelineLifeline

Notes in the Usage of Lifelines

1. Reduce sagging---it adds to height of free fall;

2. Anchored to rigid structure that could withstand 5000 lbs. force;

3. Not too tight that could lead to breakage;

4. Never hook more than one person to it without determining its capacity first.

Anchorage Point

A secure point of attachmentfor lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices.

Anchorage Point

A secure point of attachmentfor lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices.

ANCHORAGE POINT MUST BE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE WORKER AND HIGH ENOUGH

Or “Bottoming Out

Or else-

Anchorage DeviceAnchorage DeviceAnchorage DeviceAnchorage Device

Anchorage points used forattachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be: Located at or above the

employee’s waist Capable of supporting more than

5,000 lbs per person Designed and built to hold the maximum force of

the fall arrest

Anchorage points used forattachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be: Located at or above the

employee’s waist Capable of supporting more than

5,000 lbs per person Designed and built to hold the maximum force of

the fall arrest

Full Body Harness:

The attachment point of a body harness is located in the center of the wearer’s back near shoulder level

Body belts are not allowed on site

Snaphooks shall be a double locking-type

Full Body Harness:

The attachment point of a body harness is located in the center of the wearer’s back near shoulder level

Body belts are not allowed on site

Snaphooks shall be a double locking-type

Webbing Tie OffWebbing Tie OffWebbing Tie OffWebbing Tie Off

Body HarnessBody HarnessBody HarnessBody Harness

Snaphook / CarabinerSnaphook / CarabinerSnaphook / CarabinerSnaphook / Carabiner

Donning and Doffing a Full Body

Harness

Donning and Doffing a Full Body

Harness

after a fall arrest, equipment subjected to arresting a fall will be destroyed to ensure that it is not reused check for broken threads/fibers/stitches check for lost of diameter check metal parts for cracks and corrosion clean equipment after use with mild soft air dry equipment, do not hang in direct sunlight store equipment in a cool, dark, dry and well ventilated place inspect the equipment at least twice a year

Care for fall arrest devices:

3 Factors to Consider

1. Use the right equipment

2. The equipment must be in perfect condition

3. You know how to use it

Shall be used along the leading edge side of a roof work area

Shall be erected not less than six feet from the roof edge for parallel use, ten feet for perpendicular use

Shall consist of ropes, wires, or chains

General Requirements

Warning Lines

parallel

perpendicular

parallel

perpendicular

10 ft.

10 ft.

6 ft.

6 ft.

warning lines

4

roof edge

Warning Lines

Warning Lines

Monitor

MAINTAIN GOOD HOUSEKEEPING IN THE WORKPLACE

• keep work areas neat and tidy, putting tools, materials, and other items away after use

• report lighting problems, such as burned out bulbs, to maintenance right away

• hold on handrails while walking up or down the stair

• watch for changes in floor level – such as a few steps or a ramp up or down

what about a rescue plan?what about a rescue plan?what about a rescue plan?what about a rescue plan?

There are a hierarchy of measures required of the duty holders;

• To avoid work at height where they can.• To use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where they cannot avoid work at height; and• Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of the fall.