Safety Program - Fall Protection Program for Construction

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Fall Protection Safety Program for Construction

OSHA -29 CFR 1926.500

Backgound: In the construction industry in the U.S., falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year, on average, between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. OSHA recognizes that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently involving a variety of factors. Consequently, the standard for fall protection deals with both the human and equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards. The OSHA Safety Standards establish uniform requirements to make sure that the fall hazards in U.S. workplaces are evaluated, and that this hazard information is transmitted to all affected workers.

GENERAL: [COMPANY] will ensure that the hazards of all elevated work activities over 6 feet in length are evaluated, and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted to all employees. This standard practice instruction is intended to address comprehensively the issues of; evaluating potential fall hazards, communicating information concerning these hazards, and establishing appropriate protective measures for employees.

RESPONSIBILITY: The [COMPANY] Safety Manager is responsible for the administration of this program and has full authority to make necessary decisions to ensure success of the program. All [COMPANY] employees are responsible for safety at all times. [COMPANY] has expressly authorized this person to halt any [COMPANY] operation where there is danger of serious personal injury.

1. Written Program. The [COMPANY] will review and evaluate this standard practice instruction:

· On an annual basis

· When changes occur to 29 CFR, that prompts revision of this document

· When [COMPANY] operational changes occur that require a revision of this document

· When there is an accident or close-call that relates to this area of safety

· Review the program any time fall protection procedures fail

Effective implementation of this program requires support from all levels of management within [COMPANY]. This written program will be communicated to all personnel that are affected by it. It encompasses the total workplace, regardless of the number of workers employed or the number of work shifts. It is designed to establish clear goals, and objectives.

2. Statement of Policy. The hazards of potential falls at heights of 6 feet and above will be addressed in this document. This instruction describes a systematic approach that must be used to protect and prevent people from falling. This instruction also lists some of the most common fall hazards, and provides recommendations and guidelines for selecting fall arrest systems.

3. Workplace Evaluation. The workplace will be assessed before each assigned job for potential fall hazards. Proper fall arrest equipment will be used for jobs requiring fall protection when elimination of the hazard(s) is not possible. [COMPANY] will evaluate the facilities by department to determine fall hazards. This preliminary evaluation will detail the required steps for protecting employees from fall hazards. A fall hazards assessment sheet will be used to document fall hazard assessments. A complete list of fall hazard locations and protective measures procedures will be maintained. This rule does not cover those workers Inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work has been completed. Also, requirements to provide fall protection for workers on scaffolds and ladders and for workers engaged in steel erection of buildings are covered in other subparts of OSHA regulations.

4. Training. A training program will be provided for all employees who will be exposed to fall hazards in the work area, and will be conducted by competent personnel. The program will include but will not be limited to:

· A description of fall hazards in the work area

· Procedures for using fall prevention and protection systems

· Equipment limitations

· The elements encompassed in total fall distance

· Prevention, control and fall arrest systems

· Inspection and storage procedures for the equipment

Generally, workers will be trained to recognize the hazards of falling from elevations and to avoid falls from grade level to lower levels through holes or openings in walking/working surfaces. Training programs will include prevention, control and fall arrest systems. It must be ensured that appropriate fall arrest systems are installed, and that employees know how to use them before beginning any work that requires fall protection.

4.1 Initial training. Training will be conducted prior to job assignment. This employer will provide training to ensure that the purpose, function, and proper use of fall protection is understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, and usage is acquired by employees. This standard practice instruction will be provided to, and read by all employees receiving training. The training will include, as a minimum the following:

4.1.1 Types of fall protection equipment appropriate for use.

4.1.2 Recognition of applicable fall hazards associated with the work to be completed and the locations of such.

4.1.3 Load determination and balancing requirements.

4.1.4 Procedures for removal of protection devices from service for repair or replacement.

4.1.5 All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where fall protection devices may be utilized, will be instructed to an awareness level concerning hazards associated with fall protection operations.

4.1.6 Fall protection equipment identification. Fall protection equipment having identification numbers will be checked for legibility. Fall protection equipment having illegible identification markings will be turned in to the supervisor for inspection.

4.1.7 Equipment maintenance and inspection requirements.

4.1.8 Equipment donning and doffing procedures.

4.1.9 Equipment strengths and limitations.

4.1.10 Other options such as safety nets, guardrails, controlled access zones, and safety monitoring systems

4.1.11 Certification. This employer will certify that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up to date. The certification will contain each employee's name and dates of training. Training will be accomplished by competent personnel.

4.2 Refresher training. This standard practice instruction will be provided to, and read by all employees receiving refresher training. The training content will be identical to initial training. Refresher training will be conducted on an annual basis or when the following conditions are met, whichever event occurs sooner.

4.2.1 Retraining will be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever (and prior to) a change in their job assignments, a change in the type of fall protection equipment used, or when a known hazard is added to the work environment which affects the fall protection program.

4.2.2 Additional retraining will also be conducted whenever a periodic inspection reveals, or whenever this employer has reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of fall protection equipment or procedures.

4.2.3 Whenever a fall protection procedure fails.

4.2.4 The retraining will reestablish employee proficiency and introduce new or revised methods and procedures, as necessary.

4.2.5 Certification. This employer will certify that employee training has been accomplished and is being kept up to date. The certification will contain each employee's name and dates of training. Training will be accomplished by competent personnel.

5. Fall Hazard Control Procedures (Fall Prevention).

5.1 Control Procedures Development. Once a workplace evaluation has been accomplished, procedures will be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potential fall hazards. Fall prevention plans will be designed, when necessary, by [COMPANY] competent individuals or other competent personnel. [COMPANY] engineers (where utilized) or other competent personnel will be provided with any required specialized training to recognize fall hazards, to understand and address fall prevention techniques, and to become familiar with fall arrest equipment and procedures. It is critical that they consider fall protection design for the safety of operations where employees must work at elevated heights. Safety during access and egress from elevated work sites will also be considered. The following guidelines will be used when planning work at elevated heights

· Involve the Safety Department early in the project planning/job planning so that they can recommend appropriate fall-protection measures and equipment.

· Involve qualified Engineers when load rating of anchorage points must be determined or is in doubt. Required training will be provided as necessary.

· Involve Engineering and Maintenance when anchorage points must be installed.

· [COMPANY] will be specific in dealing with fall hazards when developing contracts. Subcontractors will be required to provide a written fall protection program which describes the Contractors’ fall protection policies and procedures when they will be working at elevated heights.

5.2 Procedes. The following format will be followed when developing fall protection procedures. The Safety Manager will be responsible for the implementation of these procedures. The procedures will clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized to control fall hazards, and the means to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, the following:

5.2.1 A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure.

5.2.2 A review of accident records, including OSHA 300 logs and Workers’ Compensation documentation.

5.2.3 Interviews with employees and groups of employees whose work environment includes or may include fall hazards.

5.2.4 Physical observations of the work environment(s) that involve fall hazards or the potential of such.

5.2.5 Observations of individuals and their job tasks and work habits that expose them to existing or potential fall hazards.

5.2.6 The procedures contained in the [COMPANY] fall protection program.

5.2.7 Specific procedural steps for the use and operation of body harness systems, and other fall protection systems

5.2.8 Specific procedural steps for the placement, erection, inspection, maintenance, disassembly and transfer of fall protection systems or devices and the person(s) responsible for them.

5.2.9 Specific requirements for testing fall protection systems or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of the fall protection control measures (not load testing).

5.2.10 The correct procedures to rescue employees who have fallen.

5.2.11 The role of each employee in fall protection plans and applicable policies.

5.2.12 Specific requirements for testing fall protection systems or equipment.

5.2.13 Requirements for guardrail installation

5.2.14 Other requirements including safety net systems, controlled access zones, and safety monitoring systems.

6. Protective Materials and Hardware. Appropriate fall protection devices will be provided for potential fall hazards. Selection of the equipment will be based on the fall protection evaluation. Evaluations will be conducted by personnel authorized to evaluate fall protection requirements.

6.1 Selection Criteria.

6.1.1 Fall Protection devices will be singularly identified; will be the only devices(s) used for controlling falls; will not be used for other purposes; and will meet the following requirements:

6.1.1.1 Capable of withstanding the environment to which they are exposed for the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.

6.1.1.2 Anchor points will not deteriorate when located in corrosive environments such as areas where acid and alkali chemicals are handled and stored.

6.1.1.3 Capable of withstanding the ultimate load of 5,000 lbs. For the maximum period of time that exposure is expected.

6.1.1.4 Standardization within SU facilities. Fall protection devices will be standardized whenever possible

7. Fall Protection Systems. When fall hazards cannot be eliminated through any other means, fall protection systems will be used to control falls. Proper training on fall protection systems is essential and will be provided prior to working on any jobsite.

7.1 Personal Fall Arrest Systems. A personal fall arrest system consists of a full-body harness, lanyard, energy shock absorber, self-locking snap hook and an anchorage point. If a personal fall arrest system is used for fall protection, it must do the following:

7.1.1 Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kiloNewtons) when used with a body belt. NOTE: As of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest was prohibited; however, the use of a body belt in a positioning device system is acceptable.

7.1.2 Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kiloNewtons) when used with a body harness.

7.1.3 Be rigged so that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet

(1.8 meters) nor contact any lower level.

7.1.4 Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 meters)

7.1.5 Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.

7.1.5 Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear or damage, and other deterioration. Defective components must be removed from service.

7.2 Dee-rings and Snaphooks

7.2.1 Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons). Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kiloNewtons) without cracking, breaking, or suffering permanent deformation.

7.2.2 Snaphooks shall be sized to be compatible with the member to which they will be connected, or shall be of a locking configuration. Unless the snaphook is a locking type and designed for the following connections, they shall not be engaged:

1. directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope

2. to each other

3. to a dee-ring to which another snaphook or other connecter is attached

4. to a horizontal lifeline

5. to any object incompatible in shape or dimension relative to the snaphook, thereby causing the connected object to depress the snaphook keeper and release unintentionally.

OSHA considers a hook to be compatible when the diameter of the dee-ring to which the snaphook is attached is greater than the inside length of the snaphook when measured from the bottom (hinged end) of the snaphook keeper to the inside curve of the top of the snaphook. Thus, no matter how the dee-ring is positioned or moved (rolls) with the snaphook attached, the dee-ring cannot

touch the outside of the keeper, thus depressing it open. As of January 1, 1998, the use of nonlocking snaphooks was prohibited.

7.2 Retractable Lifelines

7.2.1 A retractable lifeline is a fall arrest device used in conjunction with other components of a fall arrest system. Retractable lifelines should be used by one person at a time.

7.2.2 A properly inspected and maintained retractable lifeline, when correctly installed and used as part of the fall arrest system, automatically stops a person’s descent in a short distance after the onset of an accidental fall.

7.2.3 Retractable lifelines may be considered when working in areas such as on roofs and scaffolds, or in tanks, towers, vessels, and manholes. Also, retractable lifelines should be considered when climbing such equipment as vertical fixed ladders. The following apply to the use of retractable lifelines:

7.2.3.1 Retractable lifelines that automatically limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 meters) or less shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kiloNewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline in the fully extended position.

7.2.3.2 Retractable lifelines that do not limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 meters) or less, shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline in the fully extended position.

7.3 Ropes and Straps (webbing

7.3.1 Ropes and straps used in lanyards, lifelines, and strength components of body belts and body harnesses shall be made of synthetic fibers.

7.3.2 Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons).

7.4 Anchorage Points

7.4.1 Anchorages shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two, i.e., capable of supporting at least twice the weight expected to be imposed on it.

7.4.2 Anchorages used to attach personal fall arrest systems shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons) per person attached.

8. Guardrail Systems. . [COMPANY] may choose to use guardrail systems to protect workers from falls. When utilized, guardrail systems will meet the following criteria;

8.1 The top edge height of toprails, or (equivalent) guardrails must be 42 inches

(1.1 meters) plus or minus 3 inches (8 centimeters), above the walking/ working level.

8.2 The guardrail system must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds (890 kiloNewtons) applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction. When the 200 pounds test is applied in a downward direction, the top edge of the guardrail must not deflect to a height less than 39 inches (1 meter) above the walking/ working level.

8.3 Toprails and midrails must be at least one-quarter inch (0.6 centimeters) nominal diameter or thickness to prevent cuts and lacerations. If wire rope is used for toprails, it must be flagged at not more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) intervals with high-visibility material. Steel and plastic banding cannot be used as toprails and midrails. Manila, plastic, or synthetic rope used for toprails or midrails must be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure strength and stability.

8.4 Screens, midrails, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent intermediate structural members must be installed between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/ working surface when there are no walls or parapet walls at least 21 inches (53 centimeters) high. When midrails are used, they must be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/ working level. When screens and mesh are used, they must extend from the top rail to the walking/ working level and along the entire opening between top rail supports. Intermediate members, such as balusters, when used between posts, shall not be more than 19 inches (48 centimeters) apart.

8.5 Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least

150 pounds (666 Newtons) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail or other member.

8.6 Guardrail systems shall be surfaced to protect workers from punctures or lacerations and to prevent clothing from snagging.

8.7 The ends of top rails and midrails must not overhang terminal posts, except where such an overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.

8.8 When guardrail systems are used at hoisting areas, a chain, gate or removable guardrail section must be placed across the access opening between guardrail sections when hoisting operations are not in place.

8.9 At holes, guardrail systems must be set up on all unprotected sides or edges. When holes are used for the passage of materials, the hole shall not have more than two sides with removable guardrail sections. When the hole is not in use, it must be covered or provided with guardrails along all unprotected sides or edges.

8.10 If guardrail systems are used around holes that are used as access points (such as ladderways), gates must be used or the point of access must be offset to prevent accidental walking into the hole.

8.11 If guardrails are used at unprotected sides or edges of ramps and runways, they must be erected on each unprotected side or edge.

9. Safety Monitoring Systems. When no other alternative fall protection has been implemented, . [COMPANY] shall implement a safety monitoring system. A competent person will be appointed to monitor the safety of workers

9.1 Safety Monitor Criteria- . [COMPANY] shall ensure the Safety Monitor:

1. Is competent in the recognition of fall hazards

2. Is capable of warning workers of fall hazard dangers and in detecting unsafe work practices.

3. Is operating on the same walking/ working surfaces of the workers and can see them, and

4. Is close enough to work operations to communicate orally with workers and has no other duties to distract from the monitoring function.

9.2 Mechanical equipment shall not be used or stored in areas where safety monitoring systems are being used to monitor employees engaged in roofing operations on low-sloped roofs.

9.3 No worker, other than one engaged in roofing work (on low-sloped roofs) or one covered by a fall protection plan, shall be allowed in an area where an employee is being protected by a safety monitoring system.

9.4 All workers in a controlled access zone shall be instructed to promptly comply with fall hazard warnings issued by safety monitors.

10. Safety Net Systems. . [COMPANY] does not utilize safety net systems as

part of fall protection, even though the option exists. If safety nets are introduced to the workplace, current usage criteria will be evaluated and adhered to.

11. Warning Line Systems. Warning line systems consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting stanchions and are set up as follows:

1. Flagged at not more than 6 foot (1.8 meters) intervals with high visibility material.

2. Rigged and supported so that the lowest point including sag is no less than

34 inches (0.9 meters) from the walking/ working surface and its highest point is no more than 39 inches (1 meter) from the walking/ working surface.

3. Stanchions, after being rigged with warning lines, shall be capable of resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds (71 Newtons) applied horizontally against the stanchion, 30 inches (0.8 meters) above the walking/ working surface, perpendicular to the