PREVNEXTSUBMITMenuResourcesGlossaryNotesClear and return to MenuSearch ResultsFilterSlide TextNotesSearch in:Check to includeSearch...TermsDefinitiondefinitionresourcessearchpauseplayreplaysubmitnextpreviousvolumeblank slide. you can find the fall protection handbook by clicking "notes" on the upper left hand side of this screen, beside the menu. <html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>Notes.</textformat></html><html><textformat leading='1' tabstops='[48, 96]' leftmargin='0' indent='0'>8.<tab></tab>Fall Protection 8.1.<tab></tab>All employees are required to have adequate fall protection when the fall distance is six (6) feet or greater or there is an immediate danger to life and health risk at any height. 8.2.<tab></tab>When these distances are met and/or exceeded, fall protection systems are required to be in use to perform your work. 8.3.<tab></tab>New employees must be oriented in fall protection awareness as part of the new employee orientation program. Fall protection training may be provided to all employees. 8.4.<tab></tab>(Personal) Fall Arrest Systems must do all of the following: 8.4.1.<tab></tab>Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds. Note: total body weight including tools cannot exceed 310 lbs. to stay under arresting force limit 8.4.2.<tab></tab>Be rigged so that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level 8.4.3.<tab></tab>Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet. 8.4.4.<tab></tab>Have sufficient strength to withstand all components of the (personal) fall arrest system (lanyards, body harness and attached hardware, and shock-absorbing devices) must meet the design specifications of OSHA 1926.502 Subpart M. 8.5.<tab></tab>All components must be inspected prior to each use for wear damage, and other deterioration. 8.6.<tab></tab>The body harness type and size must meet the physical needs of its user (male/female or small, medium, large, etc.). 8.7.<tab></tab>Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on proper fit. 8.8.<tab></tab>Shoulder, thigh, button and chest straps must fit snugly whereas it is slightly difficult to slide the hand underneath. 8.9.<tab></tab>All loose strap ends must be folded back under. 8.10.<tab></tab>D-ring placement should be between the shoulder-blades. 8.11.<tab></tab>Chest straps should be positioned across the mid-chest area. 8.12.<tab></tab>Anchorages must be used under the supervision of a competent 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 upon it). 8.13.<tab></tab>Anchorages used to attach (personal) fall arrest systems must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds of force per person attached. 8.14.<tab></tab>Anchorage points can include: 8.14.1.<tab></tab>Lifelines (horizontal and vertical) 8.14.2.<tab></tab>Designed anchorage points on aerial lifts 8.14.3.<tab></tab>Eye-bolts listed for use by the manufacturer 8.14.4.<tab></tab>Specially designed anchorage tools specifically designed to meet fall force requirements, including: 8.14.4.1.<tab></tab>Wrap-around lanyards as approved by the manufacturer 8.14.4.2.<tab></tab>L-beam clamps designed specifically as an anchorage point. 8.15.<tab></tab>Prohibited anchorage points include, but are not limited to: 8.15.1.<tab></tab>Standard guardrails and railing 8.15.2.<tab></tab>Ladders/rungs 8.15.3.<tab></tab>Scaffolding, unless approved by the manufacturer for/with anchorage points 8.15.4.<tab></tab>Light fixtures, ductwork, conduit, pipe vents, wiring/duct/piping harnesses, other roof stacks, vents or fans 8.15.5.<tab></tab>C-clamps 8.15.6.<tab></tab>Piping (unless capable of meeting the criteria of an anchorage point) 8.15.7.<tab></tab>To a lanyard (around a solid object), unless the lanyard and hardware is manufactured for that purpose. 8.16.<tab></tab>Guardrails are used to protect (and warn of) the edges of areas that would otherwise expose anyone to falls. They can be found in many areas of the work site. Guardrail systems are only required to withstand 200 lbs of outward and downward force, so do not use guardrails for climbing or allow materials to be stored against them. 8.17.<tab></tab>Guardrail systems have a top rail 42 inches (+/- 3 inches) from the floor, with a midrail. Toe boards are used when materials are in the area that could be kicked off onto others below. Do not work in an area that the guardrail appears to be in need of repair or is missing. 8.18.<tab></tab>Covers (for protection from tripping, falls (personnel) and falling objects through) are used, secured and marked as holes/openings in the floor. These covers are required to support at least twice the expected weight that could cross over it. Plywood is a common ‘cover’ material and must be at least ¾ inch thick. 8.19.<tab></tab>Shock-absorbing lanyards are required to limit the fall force to less than 1,800 pounds. 8.20.<tab></tab>Lanyards that do not limit free fall distance to 2 feet or less, such as ripstitch lanyards and tearing/deforming lanyards must be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position. 8.21.<tab></tab>Horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a Competent Person, as part of a complete (personal) fall arrest system. Lifelines must be protected against being cut. Horizontal lifelines cannot exceed sixty feet in length. 8.22.<tab></tab>Vertical lifelines must be utilized with leading edge work, must reach the ground, and the method of anchorage attachment must be of proper design (i.e. no knots). ONLY one person must be tied to a vertical lifeline at a time. 8.23.<tab></tab>As required, Controlled access zone systems is defined as follows: 8.23.1.<tab></tab>Further than twenty-five (25) feet from any leading edge. 8.23.2.<tab></tab>Control line shall extend parallel along the entire length of the unprotected or leading edge 8.23.3.<tab></tab>Only trained employees are allowed in the Zone 8.23.4.<tab></tab>The Zone shall have signage marking it as a ‘Controlled Access Zone’ 8.23.5.<tab></tab>A competent person should appoint the ‘safety monitor’ and ensure that the safety monitor: 8.23.5.1.<tab></tab>Is competent in the recognition of fall hazards 8.23.5.2.<tab></tab>Is capable of warning workers of fall hazard dangers and in detecting unsafe work practices 8.23.5.3.<tab></tab>Is operating on the same walking/working surfaces of the employees and can see them 8.23.5.4.<tab></tab>Is close enough to work operations to communicate orally with the employees and has no other duties but the monitoring function 8.23.5.5.<tab></tab>Has the authority to stop work. 8.24.<tab></tab>Only employees engaged in roof/surface work and the safety monitor should be allowed in an area where an employee is being protected by a safety monitoring system. 8.25.<tab></tab>Employees utilizing aerial personnel lifts (e.g. articulating boom, knuckle-boom lift, sign trucks, etc.) must use a restraint/positioning system or (personal) fall arrest system, even though a guardrail system is in place. 8.25.1.<tab></tab>Attachment points for these systems must be capable of withstanding 5,000 pounds and must be maintained in the floor of the lift or where designed by the manufacturer. 8.25.2.<tab></tab>Rails of such lifts must not to be used as attachment points unless designed for that purpose by the manufacturer. 8.26.<tab></tab>Employees working near a leading edge 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by guardrail, safety net, restraint/positioning, or (personal) fall arrest systems. 8.27.<tab></tab>Body Harness Inspection must occur before every use. 8.27.1.<tab></tab>Beginning at one end, holding the body side of the harness toward you, grasp one area of the harness with your hands six to eight inches apart. Bend the strap in an inverted “U”. Follow this procedure the entire length of the belt or harness. Watch for frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts, burn marks or chemical damage. Special attention should be given to the attachment of buckles and D-rings to strap webbing. Inspect for frayed or broken strands. Broken webbing strands generally appear as tufts on the webbing surface. 8.27.2.<tab></tab>Rivets must be tight and unmovable with fingers. Body-side rivet base and outside rivet burr must be flat against the material. Bent rivets fail under stress. Especially note condition of D-ring rivets and D-ring metal wear pads (if applicable). Discolored, pitted, or cracked rivets indicate chemical corrosion. 8.27.3.<tab></tab>The tongue or billet of bolts receives heavy wear from repeated buckling and unbuckling. Inspect for losse, distorted , or broken grommets. Harnesses using punched holes without grommets must be checked for torn or elongated holes causing slippage of the tongue buckle. 8.28.<tab></tab>All employees involved in a fall with a fall distance of over six feet must be required to receive an immediate medical evaluation. 8.29.<tab></tab>All components of a (personal) fall arrest system involved in any fall must be immediately and completely replaced. Such equipment must be tagged ‘out of service’ and sent back to the tool room for destruction. 8.30.<tab></tab>References: 8.30.1.<tab></tab>OSHA 1926 Subpart M 8.30.2.<tab></tab>OSHA 1910 Subpart D</textformat></html>