Fall protection systems harnesses

Make no mistake, when it comes to fall protection systems and equipment, OSHA (and common sense) require hands-on learning that approximates actual work conditions. If we re talking about a harness for example, there is no substitute for strapping into it, connecting to an anchor, experiencing how it feels, and seeing firsthand what needs to be inspected before use. 

For example, the old instruction said that employers performing roofing work did not have to use active fall protection systems such as har-ness/lanyard/ lifeline or self-retracting devices, guardrails... 

A personal fall protection system comprises at least a body holding device, i.e. a harness of some type, a lanyard and a reliable anchor. A well thought-out system will seek to minimise the effects of any potential fall. If a fall does occur, that system will arrest the fall with a limited impact force. At this stage, the harness (and the rest of the components in the system) will have stopped the fall, hopefully without it causing any injury. 

A fall protection system that prevents the user from falling any distance. The system is comprised of either a body belt or body harness, along with an anchorage, connectors, and other necessary equipment. The other components typically include a lanyard, and may also include a lifeline and other devices. See also Anchor Point Body Harness, Full Lanyard Personal Fall Arrest System. 

Components There are several components that form a fall protection system. Together they prevent or limit falls. The person who might fall wears a safety belt or safety harness. Standards limit the deceleration force for body belts to 10 times the force of gravity or less. Higher stopping forces are likely to cause injuries. For a full-body harnesses, the deceleration limit is 35 times the force of gravity. Body harnesses distribute the stopping forces more effectively and reduce the likelihood of injury from the stop. 

The belt itself often caused injuries to the back, etc. when workers fell. The full body harness, similar to a parachute harness, allows for a worker to hang in it upon a fall for some 30 minutes before it starts to become imcomfortable and rescue can usually transpire in that amount of time. The full body harness is actually a piece of equipment with a tag containing its serial number and other information for tracking purposes. The requirement for full body harness was viewed by workers as being impractical, uncomfortable, or cumbersome to work while wearing it. At worksites today, it does not pose these problems and is an important part of a fall protection system (see Figure 25.12). 

OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels applauded the court s decision to uphold the directive. Fall protection saves lives, said Michaels. Fatalities from falls are the number one cause of death in construction, added Michaels. These deaths are preventable, and we must prevent them. The NRCA, however, pointed to a survey it conducted in 2010 showing 37 falls from roofs when conventional fall-protection systems, most typically harnesses with safety lines, were used but only nine fells from roofs when slide guards were used. According to the survq , the nine reports of falls when slide guards wae used occurred on 17,855 roofing jobs the 37 falls when harnesses were used occurred on 14,083 jobs. 

Residential construction poses special concerns for contractors. One of the biggest concerns is falls, so OSHA requires fall protection that meets the residential construction requirements of 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13). According to the regulation, residential construction employers generally must ensure that employees working six feet or more above lower levels use conventional fall protection methods, including guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. A personal fall arrest system may consist of a full body harness, a deceleration device, a lanyard, and an anchor point. (See the definition of personal fall arrest system at 1926.500). 

Cover the general requirements for fall protection in construction. If not only drowning hazards, but impact hazards, are involved, then fall protection, such as safety nets, safety harnesses, or guardrail systems, must be used to prevent employees from falling into the water. 

Body belts, harnesses, and components shall be used only for employee protection (as part of a personal fall arrest system or positioning device system) and not to hoist materials. 

Restraint Systems —A restraint system prevents a worker from being exposed to any fall. If the employee is protected by a restraint system, either a body belt or a harness may be used. When a restraint system is used for fall protection from an aerial lift or a boom-type elevating work platform, the employer must ensure that the lanyard and anchor are arranged so that the employee is not potentially exposed to falling any distance. 

A. Shock absorbing lanyards are not mandatory but are often used to comply with OSHA s fall protection requirements. The specifications for a personal fall arrest system are in 29 CFR 1926.502(d). One of the provisions in this section requires that when using a full body harness, the system must limit the maximum arresting force exerted on an employee to 1,800 pounds. One means of complying with this section is to use a shock absorbing lanyard. 

When fall arrest is the option chosen for employee protection, the competent person must consider the height hazard presented and the available options. The point is not just to have fall protection on the employee but to actually prevent the employee from falling to the level below. There are several parts to a personal fall arrest system the harness, the lanyard, the connection mechanism, the lifeline, the anchor point, and rescue attachments such as relief steps and retrieval lines. These must combine to arrest the fall and prevent the employee from hitting the lower level. 

During installation of the permanent guardrail, if employees installing it are exposed to fall hazards, another type of fall protection should be used—a harness, lanyard, and tie-oflf to a proper anchor point, or a safety net system. OSHA s general industry regulations don t address the use of fall protection harnesses, anchor points, lanyard requirements, and free fall distances. 

OSHA allows employees to tie-off if there is no way to install guardrails. The key here is to protect employees from fall hazards. Remember though, that fall protection harnesses have to fit properly and a suitable anchorage point (meeting the OSHA requirements of Subpart M of 1926) must be tied off to. When using a personal fall arrest system, a full body harness is required. Body belts have not been permissible for many years as part of a personal fall arrest system. 

The standard requires that employees working from an aerial lift be protected by either a fall restraint system or a personal fall arrest system. A body belt connected to a lanyard cannot be used. A lanyard connected to a harness as part of a personal fall arrest system can be used, however. 

Second, under 1926.502(d)(16)(iii), a personal fall arrest system must limit an employee s free fall to not more than six feet. Free fall is defined in the standard as the vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee s... body harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. If a 6 foot lanyard is rigged to an anchorage at floor level, the total free fall would be the sum of the vertical distance between the attachment point on the body harness and the floor (usually 4 to 4 2 feet) plus the length of the lanyard (6 feet in this example), which totals about 10 feet. That means that the use of a 6 foot lanyard, rigged to an anchorage at the worker s feet would result in a free fall in excess of the 6 foot limit. That would only be allowed where the employer cannot provide a more suitable anchorage or other form of fall protection. 

When a worker senses danger in a confined space, he should remove himself from the space immediately whenever possible. Self-rescue is always the safest and fastest option. Entry rescue should be the last resort — to reiterate, confined space deaths happen often during rescue situations. Entry rescue workers must remember to use proper confined space and fall protection equipmenL like a full-body harness connected to a winch and davit system. If the rescue entrant worker is fully connected and becomes incapacitated, a non-entry rescue can be performed by raising him up remotely from above. 

Fall arresting system A system consisting of a belt (sometimes with a torso or subpelvic harness), a lanyard or lifeline, and an arresting mechanism with built-in shock absorber designed for use by a worker performing tasks in a location from which a fell would be injurious or fetal, or where other kinds of protection (e.g., enclosure, handrail, net) are not practical. Also called fell protection system, free-fall restraint system, or personnel lowering device and lifeline. 

If you are working on or under bridges and are constantly protected by safety nets, body harnesses, or guardrail systems then you are not required to wear life jackets or buoyant work vests because OSHA deems you to be adequately protected for the danger of not only falls, but drowning. 

Climbing Safety Systems Workers climbing fixed ladders or poles need protection from falling. There are patented systems that attach permanently or temporarily to ladders on towers, bridges, antennas, or other equipment. A safety belt or harness worn by a climber connects to the climbing safety device. If a person falls, the device locks and stops the fall. 

Chainsaws must only be used by trained and competent operators using a safe system of work which fully describes the hazards involved and the measures required to reduce the risks. Such measures include the necessary personal protective equipment, for example goggles, hearing protection, and ballistic trousers or overalls the provision of safe and secure access to higher branches such as ladders or cherry pickers, and the provision of fall arrest equipment such as harnesses. There must be a high level of supervision at all times. 

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