safety plans for mast climber

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# Fall Protection - Fall Protection Plan (General) (cont.) ## What is working at heights? (cont.) - elevated work platforms, - fixed suspended work platforms, - swing staging, - boatswain's chairs, - aerial devices, - suspended equipment, or - personnel carrying equipment (e.g., personnel lifting units raised by cranes or hoists) Occupational health and safety laws generally require action when a worker has the potential to fall about 3 metres (10 feet). Check with your jurisdiction as exact requirements do vary. Note that most jurisdictions require the use of specific fall protection measures before, or in addition to, personal protective equipment (PPE). These measures generally include the use of some of the following: - fixed barriers (e.g., handrails, guardrails) - surface opening protection (e.g., covers, guardrails, etc.) - warning barriers or control zones - fall or travel restraint systems (i.e., a system to prevent a worker from falling from a work position, or from travelling to an unguarded edge from which the worker could fall) - fall containment system (e.g., safety nets) - fall arrest systems (ie., a system that will stop a worker's fall before the worker hits the surface below) There may also be specific legal requirements around use of equipment like ladders and scaffolding. ## What are fall protection plans and why are they important? A fall protection plan is a general term for the policy and procedures used to identify fall hazards, and the measures taken to prevent injury. Included in this plan is selecting, assembling, maintaining, inspecting, using, and dismantling equipment such as ladders, scaffolds, or platforms used for working at heights as well as any fall protection equipment. Emergency procedures for rescuing fallen workers (including those who are hanging in midair by their harness) are also needed. Fall protection plans must be specific to each site where workers are at heights. There is "no one size fits all" plan.…

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# CONSTRUCTION STANDARD (cont.) ## R 408.[redacted postal code] Emergency response. - Rule 2913. (1) The employer shall establish and document procedures for rescue of employees in the event of an emergency, which shall include whether the employer will designate its own employees to perform the rescue procedures or whether the employer will designate a third party to perform the rescue procedures. The documented procedures shall be available for review by the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth or his or her designee, upon request. (2) When an employer uses employees to provide elevated (high angle) rescue and emergency services, the following measures shall be taken: (a) Ensure at least 2 rescue-trained employees are on-site when employees are working at heights over 6 feet on the structure. When there are only 2 employees on-site and 1 of these employees has been employed for less than 12 months, then that new employee must minimally have documented rescue training which includes steps to be taken in an emergency. (b) Ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) and high angle rescue equipment needed to conduct elevated rescues are provided, utilized, and maintained by the rescue-trained employees. (c) Train rescue employees so they are proficient in the use and maintenance of PPE and high angle rescue equipment needed to conduct elevated rescues. (d) Train rescue employees to perform assigned rescue duties to ensure that they maintain the ability to perform and demonstrate such duties by conducting and documenting simulated rescue operations at least once every 12 months. The employer shall keep documentation available for review by the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth or his or her designee, upon request. (3) An employer who designates a third-party rescue and emergency service to provide elevated (high angle) rescue and emergency services shall take all of the following measures: (a) Obtain verifi…

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# 13 NCAC Chapter 7-Office of Occupational Safety and Health Subchapter 07F-Standards (cont.) ## Programs, Plans and Procedures (cont.) (3) A competent person shall ensure that all fall protection equipment is inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, defect or other deterioration by employees who have been trained in accordance with 13 NCAC 07F.0609 [Training]. Defective equipment shall be identified as defective and immediately removed from service. 07F .0605-Fall Protection-(g) Ladder Safety Systems. The employer shall ensure that, in addition to the applica-le criteria in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart X, ladder safety systems and related support systems for fixed ladders that are utilized by employees as a means of 100% fall protection conform to the following criteria: (1) Prior to climbing the structure, the employer shall ensure that the employee(s) have tested the ladder safety system for proper operation and that all components utilized with the ladder safety system are compatible. 07F .0607-Hoists and Gin Poles-(b) Gin Poles. Inspections. (A) Gin poles shall have a documented inspection annually by a qualified person; (B) In addition to the annual inspection, the employer shall designate a competent person who shall visually inspect the gin pole and rigging prior to each use, and during use, to make sure it is in safe operating condition. Any deficiencies shall be repaired before use continues; (C) During each inspection, the qualified or competent person shall inspect the legs and bracing members for bends or distortion; (D) During each inspection, the qualified or competent person shall inspect the straightness tolerances for the overall assembly (including leg and bracing members); (E) During each inspection, the qualified or competent person shall visually inspect the welds for quality, deformation, cracks, rust, or pitting or loss of cross sectional area; (F) During each inspection, the qualified or competent person shall inspect the members f…

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# 13 NCAC Chapter 7-Office of Occupational Safety and Health Subchapter 07F-Standards (cont.) ## Certification 07F .0605-Fall Protection-(j) First Aid/CPR Training and Supplies. In addition to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.151 and 29 CFR 1926.50 [Medical Services and First Aid], the employer shall ensure that at least two employees on site are trained and hold current certifications in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross or any other organization whose standards are equivalent to the American Red Cross; provided, however, where there are only two employees on site, then an employer may comply with the requirements of this Paragraph if one employee is trained and holds current certifications in basic first aid and CPR and one employee has been designated by the employer as a probationary employee and has been employed for less than six months. - 07F .0607-Hoists and Gin Poles-(a) Hoists. Hoists used during the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, or demolition of communication towers shall meet the following requirements: (3) Employers shall maintain at the work site the operating manual developed by the manufacturer for the specific make and model hoist being used, as well as documentation for any inspection, testing, and operator training certification required by the rules in this Section. - 07F .0607-Hoists and Gin Poles-(b) Gin Poles. (2) Gin Pole Use. (C) Modifications or repairs of a gin pole shall be made with like or similar materials to meet or exceed the original specifications. Modifications or repairs shall be recertified by a licensed professional engineer. - 07F .0609-Training-(i) Training Records. (1) The employer shall certify that each employee has been trained by preparing a certification record. [Reference Section 07F .0609-(i) Training Records for specific requirements.] - Training and Communications - 07F .0605-Fall Protection-(i) Emergency and Rescue Procedures. (3)…

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# OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (cont.) ## Boom-supported work platforms and aerial devices (cont.) Section 157 # OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE Part 9 AR 191/2021 ## Water danger - 157 An employer must ensure that a worker uses an appropriate fall protection system in combination with a life jacket or personal flotation device if the worker (a) may fall into water that exposes the worker to the hazard of drowning, or (b) could drown from falling into the water, from other than a boat. ## Leading edge fall protection system - 158 An employer using a leading edge fall protection system consisting of fabric or netting panels must ensure that (a) the system is used only to provide leading edge fall protection, (b) the system is used and installed according to the manufacturer's specifications, (c) a copy of the manufacturer's specifications for the system is available to workers at the work site at which the system is being used, (d) the fabric or netting is (i) drop-tested at the work site in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR Section 1926.502(C)4(i) published by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or (ii) certified as safe for use by a professional engineer, - and (e) all workers using the system are trained in its use and limitations. ## Procedures in place of fall protection equipment 159(1) An employer may develop and use procedures in place of fall protection equipment in accordance with subsection (2), if (a) it is not reasonably practicable to use one of the fall protection systems described in this Part, and (b) use of procedures in place of fall protection equipment is restricted to the following situations: (i) the installation or removal of fall protection equipment; (ii) roof inspection; (iii) emergency repairs; (iv) at height transfers between equipment and structures if allowed by the manufacturer's specifications; and (v) situations in which a worker must work on top …