Anchorage Point Independence
Are anchorage points independent? The independence of each anchor point from the main work-positioning anchor support is an important principle. Where tripods or the building or structure itself are concerned, the question to address is, what kind of failure would likely produce an injury? Anchor-point design should address all predictable scenarios.
Controlled Descent
There is no need to risk prolonged suspension after a fall arrest when it is possible to use an automatic controlled-descent system. Rather than using equipment that arrests a fall but also could create a need for a difficult and costly high-level rescue, workers should use a lifeline system that automatically lowers them at a constant rate following a fall – either immediately or under rescur control, whichever is appropriate.
Vertical Cable Climbing Systems
Cable guides that do not require manual manipulation to pass them are preferable. Weather-resistant, synthetic cables that have long lifetimes in corrosive atmospheres are available. They offer the additional advantage of radio-frequency transparency for antennas. Synthetic cables must be protected from wind abrasion, with the structure by suitable clearance spacing.
Fall Protection System Components
Both the employer and employee should realize that components of a fall protection system may not be interchangeable. For instance, if a commodity-grade rope is used for a lifeline, the authorizing authority must be certain that is the correct diameter and has the test strength for use with a specific rope-grab device on a prolonged basis.
Incident Investigation
In the case of a fall or near-miss incident, the fall protection administrator should appoint a competent or qualified person to conduct an incident investigation. The investigation will help determine if the fall protection program has established the appropriate control method for a given hazard, if the training is adequate, and what improvements are needed to ensure such an incident does not reoccur.
Lifts and Platforms
More important, articulated boom lifts have the propensity for the bucket to catapult the worker from the bucket on occasion. If the boom is extended while the unit is being moved, a small curb, obstruction, or floor hole cover could cause the arm to exaggerate the movement in the bucket and throw the worker from it. This is why the use of fall arrest system is critical for work in articulated boom equipment.
HLL Requirements
All horizontal lifeline designs must be approved by a qualified engineer who is a specialist in this field (OSHA 1910.66, Appendix C, and 1920.500, Appendix C). Readers are expected to use the most recent standards. OSHA standards may be checked at www.OSHA.gov and ANSI standards at www.ANSI.org. States with their own plans must update their standards within six months of any change in the federal OSHA standards.
Three Point Control
Three Point climbing without fall protection e.g. (movement at height with two hands & one foot alternating with two feet & one hand) can be better analyzed as follows:
Fall Protection Systems
OSHA recognizes falls as the number one work-related fatality in the construction industry, with almost 40% of injuries occurring due to an employee falling. A personal fall arrest system or PFAS is a common type of protection intended to protect a person from falling or to safely arrest a person falling, and it is one of the main components of a workplace fall protection safety program. Designed for use when other types of fall protection are not feasible at a specific location, a personal fall arrest system can keep a person from hitting a lower level or other objects in the event of a fall. Because it is an integral part of a fall protection program, it is critical to become familiar with the three main components of your PFAS, what each one does, and why a personal fall arrest system must be inspected for damage.
Roofing Fall Protection
When considering a fall protection system for roofing, it is extremely important to realize that each building is unique and requires a site-specific plan for the identification of the roofing fall hazards. For example, if hot asphalt, built-up roofing system is specified for a building with no parapet wall, a personal fall arrest system is not feasible.