Fall protection for steel erectors

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# What are elements to consider when writing a fall protection plan? Develop the fall protection plan by involving those individuals with direct experience and whose work will be most impacted. This involvement will allow for input from supervisors and workers whose work involves fall hazards. Involve the joint health and safety committee or representative during the plan development as well. Fall arrest planning includes the steps necessary to prevent the worker from hitting the ground, material, equipment, or lower level of a structure. Determine the fall clearance distance below the work area to make sure that if a worker falls, they do not hit the ground. Workers may swing from side to side when they fall (called the pendulum effect), which also must be taken into consideration. A worker who has fallen and is hanging suspended will need to be rescued by others. A site-specific fall protection plan will incorporate many items, including: - site location (address, description, work area, tasks) - site-specific fall hazards (e.g., maximum height(s), roof slope if applicable, proximity to power lines, ground cover, etc.) - type of fall protection to be used, - protection to be used, including anchor points, and clearance requirements - procedures for fall protection equipment inspection, set-up, use, and removal - any other requirements before beginning work (e.g., presence of first aid or rescue personnel, other safety equipment, barricades, etc.) - rescue procedures - worker sign off ## Who has responsibilities for fall hazards? An employer must: - Develop written fall protection policy and procedures relevant for the workplace. - Identify all areas where there is a potential of injury due to fall. - Prioritize using passive fall arrest systems, such as guardrails, travel restraint, or fall- restricting systems over only relying on personal fall arrest systems. - Develop fall arrest rescue procedures which detail how to return workers safely to…

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# Fall Protection in Construction (cont.) ## Helpful Safety Information (cont.) Fall Protection in Construction ## Fall Protection Systems There are 2 basic fall protection systems: - Passive Systems - Fall Prevention - Guardrails, safety nets, floor covers, catch platforms, etc. • Active Systems - Personal Fall Protection - Safety belts and body harnesses. - Passive systems, such as guardrails, are the preferred system of fall protection. If passive systems cannot be utilized, then personal fall protection is required. ## Common Passive Systems Guardrails are required at 72' high on open: - Edges of floors and roofs - Scaffolds • Runways, ramps - Elevated platforms Major design specifications: - Constructed of wood or equivalent material. - Top rail at 42" to 45" and a midrail. - Wooden posts must be no more than 8' apart. • Top rail must withstand 200 lbs load in any direction. Safety nets are good for high entry ways and cathedral ceiling areas of residential homes. They must be installed according to manufacturer's instructions. Floor covers need to be provided for all floor openings, hatchways, floor holes, and skylight openings regardless of the fall heights. Floor openings can be alternatively guarded by guardrails. Wall openings that are greater than 30" high and 18" wide need to be protected with guardrails when the bottom of the opening is less than 36" above the working surface and the fall is more than 4'. Ladder openings need to be guarded with off-set guardrails or swinging gate must be provided. ## Contacting Cal/OSHA Consultation Services Publications: www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/PubOrder.asp Consultation Programs: www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/consultation.html Toll-free Number: 1-[redacted phone] Onsite Assistance Program Area Offices: Central Valley: [redacted phone] San Diego/Imperial: [redacted phone] No. California: [redacted phone] San Bernardino: [redacted phone] SF/Bay Area: [redacted phone] San Fernando Valley: [redacted…

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR # Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Part Number: 1926 - Part Number - Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - Subpart: 1926 Subpart R - Subpart Title: Steel Erection - Standard - Number: - Title: - 1926.760 - Fall protection. - GPO Source: e-CFR ## 1926.760(a). General requirements. ## 1926.760(a)(1) Except as provided by paragraph (a)(3) of this section, each employee engaged in a steel erection activity who is on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet (4.6 m) above a lower level shall be protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems or fall restraint systems. ## 1926.760(a)(2) Perimeter safety cables. On multi-story structures, perimeter safety cables shall be installed at the final interior and exterior perimeters of the floors as soon as the metal decking has been installed. ## 1926.760(a)(3) Connectors and employees working in controlled decking zones shall be protected from fall hazards as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, respectively. Submit Feedback

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# Fall Protection - Anchors (cont.) ## What should you know about the strength requirements of anchors? (cont.) The load applied to the anchor depends on the fall protection system used, such as fall restraint versus fall arrest systems. For example, in British Columbia, a temporary fall restraint system's anchor must be designed to hold a load in every direction of at least 3.5 kN (800 lbs) or four times the weight of the worker to be connected to the system. For a temporary fall arrest system, the anchor must be designed to hold a load in every direction of at least 22 kN (5 000 lbs) or two times the maximum arrest force. A permanent anchor for a personal fall protection system must have a load capacity in any direction of at least 22 kN (5,000 lbs). (From BC OHS Regulation Part 11: Fall Protection, Section 11.6) The strength required may also depend on whether an energy-absorbing device is used. For details that apply to your jurisdiction, please see Fall Protection - Legislation for Anchor Strength. ## What should be examined when inspecting anchor points? Visually inspect anchors for damage, corrosion, and suitability before connecting the fall protection equipment. Permanent anchors should be inspected by a competent person at least once a year or according to the manufacturer's instructions. Keep records of the inspections, including the date of inspection, name, and signature of the person who did the inspection and any modifications or repairs made to the anchor point. Always have anchors tested after a fall for their stability and strength by a professional engineer competent in fall protection systems or the manufacturer. ## What are tips to follow when using anchors? - Identify the location of anchor points and include which anchor points are to be used during the current work in the fall protection plan. - Make sure that the anchor(s) used are appropriate in terms of strength, stability, and location for the type of work being done. - Make s…

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CCOHS CCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Centre canadien d'hygiène et de securite au travail Fall Protection # Fall Protection - Fall Arrest Systems ## On this page What is meant by fall arrest system? What should be considered when using a fall arrest system? How can bottoming out be prevented? How is the total fall clearance distance calculated? What is the pendulum effect and how to reduce it? What is suspension trauma and how to address it? ## What is meant by fall arrest system? Fall arrest system is the name given to the group of equipment, components, and systems used to arrest (stop) a fall from height. These systems can be used to protect workers who that are working at heights. A fall arrest system should only be used when other methods of fall protection are not available or possible, including engineering controls (e.g., elevated platform), guardrails, safety nets, or travel restraint. Fall arrest systems should: - keep the free fall distance as short as possible, - minimize the forces of the fall experienced by the worker, - protect the worker from striking other surfaces while falling, and - protect the worker from the pendulum effect or swing falls. See other OSH Answers documents for more information on fall protection, including fall protection plan. Always use the type of fall arrest system(s) required by your local jurisdiction. and standards such as CSA Z259.17 "Selection and use of active fall-protection equipment and system", Z259.12 "Connecting components for personal fall arrest systems", Z259.16 "Design of active fall- protection systems", and others. NOTE that other requirements may be needed that are not discussed in this document. Always consult the legislation that applies in your situation and with your jurisdiction for complete information. ## What should be considered when using a fall arrest system? It is important to assess the hazards a worker may be exposed to if they fall, and the impact of…

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Safety & Health Fact Sheet STATE OF CALIFORNIA CAL OSHA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Cal/OSHA Publications Unit Division of Occupational Safety and Health # Fall Protection in Construction Falls are among the most common reasons for workplace injuries and fatalities in California. Falls generally occur when employees are working at an elevated height and are not adequately protected. Some examples include employees working on elevated work surfaces, ladders, stairs, scaffolds, aerial devices, roofs, bridges, trusses, beams, purlins, plates, suspended staging, catwalks and walkways. Falls in construction frequently involve slippery, cluttered, or unstable walking/working surfaces, unprotected edges, floor holes or wall openings, unsafely positioned ladders, and misuse of fall protection devices. ## Key Cal/OSHA Requirements Title 8 of California Code of Regulations (T8 CCR) specifies many requirements for fall protection in construction. Below are selected regulations that contain fall protection requirements. Refer to T8 CCR for the complete set of requirements. ## Selected T8 CCR Sections <table><tr><th>1541</th><th>Fall protection in excavation work</th></tr><tr><td>1610.7</td><td>Fall protection in cranes and derricks in construction</td></tr><tr><td>1620</td><td>Design and construction of guard rails</td></tr><tr><td>1669</td><td>General fall protection</td></tr><tr><td>1670</td><td>Personal fall arrest systems, personal fall restraint systems and positioning devices</td></tr><tr><td>1671</td><td>Safety nets</td></tr><tr><td>1671.1</td><td>Fall protection plan</td></tr><tr><td>1671.2</td><td>Controlled access zones and safety monitoring systems</td></tr><tr><td>1710</td><td>Fall protection for erection of steel structures</td></tr><tr><td>1711</td><td>Fall protection for reinforcing steel operations in concrete construction</td></tr><tr><td>1712</td><td>Fall protection for impalement hazards</td></tr><tr><td>1716.1</td><td>Fall protection in str…