Walking/working surfaces can support employees. Employees are protected from falling from elevated surfaces through the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems; personal fall arrest systems, controlled access zones, safety monitoring systems and/or a fall protection plan (see Safety Talk I, CFR 1926 & 1910.) PROTECTION FROM FALLING OBJECTS Employees exposed to falling objects wear hard hats Employees are protected from falling objects by toe boards, screens, or guardrail; a canopy and storage of objects away from the edge so that objects will not go over; or, barricade the area to which objects could fall, prohibit employees from entering the area. Toe boards can withstand a force of 50 lbs. Toe boards are 3 1/2 in. in height. Guardrail systems, used as falling object protection, have openings small enough to prevent their passage. During overhand bricklaying and related work: - Nothing except masonry and mortar are stored within 4 ft. of the working edge. - Excess material & debris are removed regularly. During the performance of roofing work: - Materials/equipment are not stored within 6 ft. of a roof edge unless guardrails are in place. - Materials piled, grouped, or stacked near a roof edge are stable and self-supporting. GUARDRAIL SYSTEMS Top edge height of top rails, or equivalent, are approximately 42 in. above the walking/working level. (The height may be adjusted as needed for conditions. For example, when using stilts, the top must be increased an amount equal to the height of the stilts.) Mid-rails, screens, mesh, etc. are installed between the top edge of guardrail and walking/working surface when there is no wall or parapet wall 21 in. high. Screens/mesh extend from the top rail to surface. There are no openings more than 19 in. wide. Guardrails can withstand at least 200 lbs. Mid-rails, screens, mesh, etc. can withstand 150 lbs. 1 of 5
Guardrail surfaces will not cause punctures, lacerations or snag clothing. Ends of rails do not overhang casing a hazard. Steel and plastic banding are not used as rails. Rails are at least 1/4 in. thickness to prevent cuts. Guardrails used at hoisting areas have a chain, gate, etc. across the access opening. Guardrails at holes are on all unprotected sides of hole. Guardrail used around holes used for passage of materials, have only 2 sides with removable sections. Holes not in use have a cover or all guardrails in place. Guardrail systems around holes which are used as points of access have a gate, or are offset so that a person cannot walk directly into the hole. Guardrails on ramps/runways are on all unprotected sides. Guardrails are inspected regularly. SAFETY NET SYSTEMS Are unobstructed and installed as close as practical, but no more than 30 ft. working level. Safety nets have sufficient clearance under them. Are tested before use, whenever relocated, after major repair, and at 6-month intervals if left in one place. Are inspected weekly. Defective nets are not used. Materials, scrap, etc. which fall into the net are removed as soon as possible. Mesh openings are not greater than 36 in2. Border rope has a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs and all connections are as strong as components. PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS All connectors meet OSHA standards Equipment design/use is supervised by a qualified person. Snap-hooks are the locking type. Lanyards and vertical lifelines have a breaking strength of 5,000 lbs. 2 of 5
Each employee is attached to a separate vertical lifeline. Lifelines are protected against being cut or abraded. Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards limit free fall to 2 ft. and can hold 3,000 lbs or sustain a load of 5,000 lbs Ropes/straps (webbing) are made from synthetic fibers. Anchors have a safety factor of two and support 5,000 lbs/employee. PFAS limit: maximum arresting force to 900 lbs w/body belt, 1,800 lbs w/body harness; free fall to 6 ft.; deceleration distance to 3.5 ft.; and withstand twice the impact of 6 ft. free fall. No PFAS component is used to hoist material. PFAS subjected to impact are removed from service until approved for reuse by a competent person. Prompt rescue is provided in the event of a fall. PFAS are inspected prior to each use. Body belts are at least 1 5/8 in. wide. PFAS are not attached to guardrail systems or hoists. If attached to hoist areas, movement is restricted as far as the edge of the walking/working surface. Positioning device systems. Positioning devices limit free fall to 2 ft. COVERS Exposed to vehicular traffic, can support twice the axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross it. Can support at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials imposed on it. Are secured and color coded/marked "Hole" or "Cover". TRAINING Each employee exposed to fall hazards has been trained by a competent person. A written certification has been prepared and maintained. Retraining is provided when changes in the work place or equipment render previous training obsolete or employees show inadequacies in knowledge or skill. 3 of 5
CONTROLLED ACCESS ZONES (CAZ) CAZ are defined by a control line. Control lines are erected between 6 ft. - 25 ft. from the edge. (When erecting precast concrete, 6 ft. - 60 ft. or half the length the concrete erected.) Line extends entire length of and parallel to the edge. Line is connected on each side to a guardrail or wall. For overhand bricklaying the line is erected 10 ft. - 15 ft. from the edge and encloses employees at the edge. Additional control lines enclose the CAZ. Only employees engaged in overhand bricklaying or related work is permitted in the CAZ. Control lines: - Are flagged or marked at 6-foot intervals - Are 39 in. - 45 in. [50 in. for overhand brick-laying] - Have a minimum breaking strength of 200 lbs. SAFETY MONITORING SYSTEMS A competent person has been assigned as a monitor. Monitor warns employees when employee is unaware of a fall hazard or is acting in an unsafe way. Monitor is on same surface & within sight of employees. Monitor can communicate orally with employees. Monitor does not have other responsibilities. Mechanical equipment is not used or stored in areas where safety monitoring systems are used. WARNING LINE SYSTEMS Line is erected around all sides of the roof work area. When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line is not less than 6 ft. from the roof edge. When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line is not less than 6 ft. from the roof edge parallel to the direction of equipment operation, and 10 ft. perpendicular to the direction of equipment operation. 4 of 5
Points of access, storage areas, etc. are connected to the work area by a path formed by two warning lines. A rope, wire, chain, etc. to the warning line, is used so that a person cannot walk directly into the work area. Warning lines: - Are flagged at not more than 6-foot intervals - Are 34 in. to 39 in. from the walking/working surface; - Resist tipping over even with a force of 16 lbs - Have strength of 500 lbs - Attached at each stanchion so that pulling one section will not result in slack being taken up in others. No employee is allowed between roof edge and warning line unless performing roofing work in that area. Mechanical equipment on roofs is used or stored only in areas where employees are protected. 5 of 5