do ladders with cages in alberta need fall arrest?
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Published by SALUSIn Alberta, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code outlines specific requirements for fall protection when working on fixed ladders or climbable structures. For fixed ladders or climbable structures installed after March 31, 2023, at a height of 3 meters or more, the OHS Code requires continuous fall protection if a worker is not protected by a guardrail. This can be achieved by:
- Equipping the ladder with an integral fall protection system that meets specific standards.
- Using an alternate fall protection system. [1]
Acceptable standards for integral fall protection systems include:
- CSA Standard Z259\.2\.4-15, Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails
- CSA Standard Z259\.2\.5-17, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines
- ANSI/ASSE Standard Z359\.1-2007, Safety requirements for personal fall arrest systems, subsystems and components [1]
For portable ladders where a worker may fall 3 meters or more, a personal fall arrest system is required. However, this requirement does not apply while the worker is moving up or down the ladder. [2] [2]
Even if a personal fall arrest system is not practical, a worker may work from a portable ladder without fall protection if:
- The work is a light duty task of short duration at each location.
- The worker's center of balance is at the center of the ladder at all times, even with an arm extended beyond the side rails.
- The worker maintains 3-point contact whenever extending an arm beyond a side rail. [2]
In general, fall protection is required when a worker may fall:
- 3 meters or more at a temporary or permanent work area.
- Less than 3 meters at a temporary or permanent work area if there is an unusual possibility of injury.
- Into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface.
- More than 1\.2 meters and less than 3 meters at a permanent work area. [3]
The hierarchy of fall protection measures is as follows:
1\. Install a guardrail. 2\. If a guardrail is not reasonably practicable, use a travel restraint system. 3\. If a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, use a personal fall arrest system. 4\. If a personal fall arrest system is not reasonably practicable, use equally effective controls. [3]
Sources used for this answer
[1] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)
Page 104
Open source documentSource excerpt
# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Independence of anchors (cont.) Section 152.4 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 9 AR 191/2021 ## Wire rope sling as anchor 152.4 An employer must ensure that a wire rope sling used as an anchor is terminated at both ends with a Flemish eye splice rated to at least 90 percent of the wire rope's minimum breaking strength. ## Flexible and rigid horizontal lifeline systems 153(1) An employer must ensure that a flexible horizontal lifeline system manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 meets the requirements of (a) CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems, or (b) the applicable requirements of CSA Standard Z259. 16-04, Design of Active Fall-Protection Systems. - 153(2) An employer must ensure that a rigid horizontal fall protection system is designed, installed and used in accordance with (a) the manufacturer's specifications, or (b) specifications certified by a professional engineer. ## Installation of horizontal lifeline systems 153.1 An employer must ensure that before a horizontal lifeline system is used, a professional engineer, a competent person authorized by the professional engineer, the manufacturer or a competent person authorized by the manufacturer certifies that the system has been properly installed according to the manufacturer's specifications or to specifications certified by a professional engineer. ## Fixed ladders and climbable structures 154(1) An employer must ensure that if a worker is working from or on a fixed ladder or climbable structure at a height of 3 metres or more and is not protected by a guardrail, continuous protection from falling is provided by (a) equipping the fixed ladder or climbable structure with an integral fall protection system that meets the requirements of (i) CSA Standard Z259.2.4-15, Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails, (i.1) CSA Standard Z259.2.5-17, Fall arresters and vertical lifelines, or (ii) ANSI/ASSE …
[2] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)
Page 95
Open source documentSource excerpt
# Part 8 Entrances, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders Entrances, Walkways, Stairways (cont.) ## Fall protection (cont.) Section 138 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 9 AR 191/2021 # Part 9 Fall Protection ## Rescue personnel exemption 138 Rescue personnel involved in training or in providing emergency rescue services may use equipment, personal protective equipment and practices other than those specified in this Part. ## General protection 139(1) An employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker is protected from falling if a worker may fall, (a) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of 3 metres or more, (b) at a temporary or permanent work area, a vertical distance of less than 3 metres if there is an unusual possibility of injury, (c) at a temporary or permanent work area, into or onto a hazardous substance or object, or through an opening in a work surface, or (d) at a permanent work area, a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres. - 139(2) For the purposes of this section, there is an unusual possibility of injury if the injury may be worse than an injury from landing on a solid, flat surface. - 139(3) Subject to subsection (5), an employer must install a guardrail. - 139(4) Repealed. - 139(5) Subject to subsection (6), if the use of a guardrail is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a travel restraint system that meets the requirements of this Part. - 139(6) Subject to subsection (7), if the use of a travel restraint system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses a personal fall arrest system that meets the requirements of this Part. - 139(7) If the use of a personal fall arrest system is not reasonably practicable, an employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker uses equally effective controls. - 139(8) A worker must use a fall protection system as required by this section…
[3] Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alberta Regulation 191/2021)
Page 93
Open source documentSource excerpt
# Part 8 Entrances, Walkways, Stairways and Ladders Entrances, Walkways, Stairways (cont.) ## Constructed portable ladder (cont.) Section 135 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 8 AR 191/2021 (a) has a centre structural rail along the length of the ladder, (b) is at least 1 metre wide, and (c) is constructed of materials that are substantial enough in size to accommodate the maximum intended load. ## Manufactured portable ladder 135 An employer must ensure that a portable ladder manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 meets the requirements of (a) CSA Standard CAN3 Z11-M81 (R2005), Portable Ladders, (b) ANSI Standard A14.1-2007, American National Standard for Ladders - Wood Safety Requirements, (c) ANSI Standard A14.2-2007, American National Standard for Ladders Portable Metal Safety Requirements, or (d) ANSI Standard A14.5-2007, American National Standard for Ladders Portable Reinforced Plastic - Safety Requirements ## Securing and positioning - 136 A worker must ensure that (a) a portable ladder is secured against movement and placed on a base that is stable, (b) the base of an inclined portable ladder is no further from the base of the wall or structure than 1/4 of the distance between the base of the ladder and the place where the ladder contacts the wall, and (c) the side rails of a portable ladder extend at least 1 metre above a platform, landing or parapet if the ladder is used as a means of access to the platform, landing or parapet. ## Fall protection 137(1) An employer must ensure that a worker working from a portable ladder from which the worker may fall 3 metres or more uses a personal fall arrest system. 137(2) Subsection (1) does not apply while the worker is moving up or down the portable ladder. - 137(3) Despite subsection (1), if it is not reasonably practical to use a personal fall arrest system, a worker may work from a portable ladder without fall protection if (a) the work is a light duty task of short duration at …
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