ga tech safety and health consultation program fall protection

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 ProgramGeorgia Tech Research Institute

260 14th Street, Fourth Floor

Atlanta, GA 30332-0837

Voice :(404) 407-7431

FAX :(404) 407-8275

Web http://www.oshainfo.gatech.edu

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

SUBPART M 1926.500


Effective Date: February 6th, 1995


Duty to have fall protectionProtection 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


Strong enough surfacesGA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

SCOPE AND APPLICATION

Subpart M sets forths criteria for all fall protection hazards, except: Section L - ScaffoldsSection N – Cranes and derricksSection R – Steel erection work in buildingsSection S – Tunneling operations Section V – Electric transmission and

distribution linesSection X – Stairways and ladders


Fall Protection is required when…

Unprotected (open) sides and edges

Leading edge workDangerous equipment Overhand bricklaying Steep-slope roofsResidential

constructionHoles

Working/walking surfaces

Formwork Excavations and wells Precast concrete

erectionWall openingsLow-steep roofs


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 RoofGA 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


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


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 GuardrailsGA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program


(b) Safety net systemsShall be installed as close as practicable , but in no case

more than 30' (9. 1 m) below the working surfaceShall be subjected to impact force tests or certifiedWithout any defects Shall be inspected weekly and after any occurrence

(impact)Debris that have fallen into the net must be removed

before starting workMaximum 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



(c) Personal fall arrest systems

Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are authorized to be used only for positioningDee-rings and snaphooks shall have a minimum

tensile strength of 5,000 poundsSnaphooks shall be of the locking typesHorizontal lifelines shall be installed by a

qualified person and maintain a safety factor of at least 2


Body belts only for positioning

Chain for positioning

Fall protection



(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



(d) Positioning device systemsEmployee can not free fall more than 2' (0.61 m) Shall be inspected prior to each useBody belts and harnesses shall be used only for

employee protection

(e) Warning linesShall be erected around all sides of the roof

work area



(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)



(f) Controlled access zonesUsed in areas where leading edges change

constantlyIn areas with overhand bricklaying work at

edgesWhen erecting precast concrete membersAccess permitted only to trained and qualified

employeesWritten information (signs) at points of access


Leading edges GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program


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


• (g) Safety monitoring systems

Monitor GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Warning line GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

ga tech safety and health consultation program fall protection

Documents

surfaces ga tech safety

georgia tech safety

ladders ga tech safety

hole ga tech safety

weight ga tech safety

hard hats ga tech safety

covered holes ga tech

sloping roof ga tech