Three Point Control Defined by OSHA
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be the leading cause of death for construction workers. Accounting for 345 of the 899 construction fatalities recorded in 2014. Falls from ladders make up nearly a third of those deaths. Some of these deaths can be prevented if designers incorporate horizontal grab features. This will help enable workers to more effectively while using a three-point control when climbing ladders and other structures.
Slips, Trips, and Falls 2016: The Way Forward (October 4th and 5th, 2016)
This is practical and research information on what is new for building owners, specifiers, safety managers, architects, risk managers for Hotels, Manufacturing, Food, Transport, Leisure, Health Clubs etc.
Following Scaffolding Regulations
The safety requirements for employees working on scaffolds as defined by OSHA are often overlooked by many. This could essentially be the difference between life and death falls.
Temporary FP Systems
Although double-lanyard systems remain a seemingly obvious answer for moving horizontally on many present structures without the provision of horizontal lifelines, their use is cumbersome. An interesting variant used in Japan employs a simpler system that includes a keybox attached to the worker’s belt. One lanyard key is inserted and remains attached until a second lanyard key is inserted in another opening. This action ejects the first lanyard key and allows unhindered transfer past obstructions or supports while ensuring continuous protection.
Scaffold Regulations
OSHA scaffold regulations are currently found in the 1926 and 1910 standards. Most scaffolds are governed by 29CFR1926, Subpart L. This standard applies anytime a “construction-type activity” is to performed from the scaffold. This is true even in general industry (1910 type) facilities. The location of the scaffold does not determine the standard applicability, but rather the activity to be performed on the scaffold.
OSHA Third Annual National Safety Stand-down May 2-6, 2016
The third annual National Safety Stand-down will take place from May 2-6, 2016. It is to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. is this year’s theme.
Importance of Training
Workers need training to understand the rules and how they apply in real life situations. They frequently are simply unaware of dangerous situations such as equipment compatibility problems, the consequences of a sudden free fall or the possibility of impact with a stationary object. Workers must be trained that safety is their responsibility and that taking the time to do a job properly is the safest way to protect themselves and their coworkers. To achieve this, training must provide hands-on opportunities for workers and managers. Workers should also be trained to understand why their work will be observed in the field and why they will be required to undergo additional training if they do not meet expectations on a recurring basis.
Jail Sentence for Roofing Company Owner
The Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Canada recently sentenced a roofing company owner to 15 days in jail (in addition to other sanctions) for the fall death of one of his employees. The employee, who was wearing a harness but was not tied-off, was both experienced and recently had undergone fall protection training.
Anchorage Load
Unless the fall event occurs directly underneath the horizontal lifeline, additional lateral loadings will be produced in the anchorages due to offset from the lifeline centerline. The magnitude of these forces is directly related to the offset distance and should be set equal to the maximum vertical load encountered in the line for the total number of workers on the system. This load shall be applied in either direction at the end anchorage for analysis and design purposes.
Equipment Use
The primary rule is to apply fall protection when the height hazard exceeds a reasonable figure of a few feet – or at any height, if continued exposure is not preventable. The responsibility of the equipment vendor to educate an end user is limited by the extent that the customer (i.e., the end user’s employer) has a bona fide no-fall policy rather than a tie-off policy, which is common among employers. It also depends upon the manufacturer’s instructions, labeling, and product literature, and whether the employer and employees follow these items for reasonably foreseeable or permitted uses. Workers must be provided with, and be required to read and understand, product instructions and labeling on fall arrest equipment.
