Fall Protection Refresher Orientation
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Fall Protection Training
 Falls to a lower level accounted for 81
percent of all fatal falls. Of those cases
where the height of the fall was known,
more than two-fifths of fatal falls occurred
from 15 feet or lower. Fatal falls to a lower
level account for nearly 40 percent of fatal
work injuries.
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Course Objectives
 Understand the definitions of fall prevention,
fall restraint, and fall arrest.
 Understand the requirements of fall
protection.
 Recognize the hazards associated with fall
protection.
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Course Objectives
 Know how to inspect and wear personal fall
arrest system equipment (PFAS).
 Know the requirements for anchorage points
and how to tie off to them.
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What is Fall Protection?
 A series of reasonable steps taken to
eliminate or control injurious effects of an
unintentional fall while accessing or
working at height
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Fall Statistics
FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION.
As an example….
In 2016, there were 370 fatal falls to a lower level
out of 991 construction fatalities (BLS data).
These deaths are preventable.
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Where Do Fatal Falls Occur
Floors,
Loading
Docks, Ground
Level 4%
Non-moving
Vehicles 3%
Other 12%
Roofs 37%
Structural Steel
9%
Ladders 15%
Fall Protection Refresher Orientation
Scaffolds 20%
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Where Do Non-Fatal Falls Occur
Scaffolds 15%
Other 22%
Roofs 12%
Non-moving
Vehicles 9%
Ladders 35%
Stairs/Steps
7%
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Anatomy of a Fall
.33sec./2 feet
.67 sec./7 feet
1 sec./16 feet



It takes most people about
1/3 of a second to become
aware they are falling.
It takes another 1/3 of a
second for the body to
react.
A body can fall up to 7
feet in 2/3 of a second.
2 sec./64 feet
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Planning for Fall Protection
 Best practice dictates that fall protection
becomes an integral part of the work
planning process, from constructability, to
systems installation, to use and maintenance
 The workplace cannot be truly safe unless
fall protection is incorporated into every
phase of the process
 Planning will keep workers safe and
minimize fall exposures
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Controlling Fall Exposures


General industry 29 CFR 1910 regulations (paraphrased)
• Every open-sided floor, platform, wall opening, or hole 4 feet
or more above adjacent floor or ground level shall be guarded
by a standard railing, or the equivalent, on all open sides
except where there is entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed
ladder.
Construction industry 29 CFR 1926 regulations (paraphrased)
• Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and
vertical surface) with an unprotected side, edge, or hole which
is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be
protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety
net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
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Controlling Fall Exposures
• Both 29 CFR 1910 General Industry and 29 CFR 1926
Construction standards shall be followed when the work
involves hazards that require fall protection. There are
requirements that apply to all general work as well as specific
requirements based upon the work activity that is performed.
• Exceptions to fall protection requirements, as provided in
1926.500, are ONLY for construction-related
activities. There are no fall protection exemptions for
maintenance or operations work in general industry.
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Using Fall Protection Systems


Select fall protection system appropriate for the task.



Supervise employees properly.

Evaluate the effectiveness of all steps
Use proper construction and installation of safety
systems.
Use safe work procedures.
Train workers in the proper selection, use, and
maintenance of fall protection systems.
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Fall Protection Methods

Fall Prevention- A system that will prevent a person
from falling to a lower level. Example: Guardrails

Work Positioning or Fall Restraint- A system that will
allow the worker to approach a fall hazard and work but
will not allow the worker to fall to a lower level.

Fall Arrest- A system that will protect a person from
landing on a lower level after a fall. Example: Fall
Arrest Harness and Lanyard
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 What are the fall distances that trigger
guardrails and fall protection?
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When Is Fall Protection Required?

Fall
protection is
required for
falls onto
dangerous
equipment,
no matter
what the
distance.
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When Is Fall Protection Required?

Fall protection in
construction is
required for work
over 6’ above a
lower level
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 Fall protection is
required for
scaffolding over
10’ in height.
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 Fall
protection in
general
industry is
required for
walking /
working
surfaces over
4’ in height
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 Fall protection
is required for
walking /
working
surfaces over
6’ in height in
construction
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 Fall
protection
is required
for fixed
vertical
ladders
without
cages over
24’
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When Is Fall Protection Required?
 No fall protection is
required for portable
ladders
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Hazard Recognition
 What are the allowable controls
and best practices?
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Walking & Working Surfaces
 Hazards with
working/walking
surfaces
• Open-sided floors
• Holes
• Leading edges
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Open Sided Floors


Guardrails
Restraint Devices
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Wood Guardrail Construction
Proper Height 42 +/- 3”
Midrails 21”
Toeboards 4”
Adequate Strength
200 lbs downward and
outward side pressure
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Guardrail Construction
Bad
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Better
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Cable Guardrail Construction
• 42” height
• Cannot deflect
below 39”
• Marked every 6’
• Terminations
and attachments
• Maintenance
required
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Accessways/Ladderways
Bad
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Better
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Holes


Secured identifiable
covers
Guardrails
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Skylights
Must be protected
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Aerial Work Platforms


A personal fall arrest
system (PFAS) is
required whenever you
are working in
articulating and/or
telescoping boom lifts
and bucket trucks
Use the manufacturer’s
designated tie-off points
on the lifts.
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Personal Fall Arrest Systems
 Should only be used when other fall prevention
means cannot be used or are not feasible.
 Personal fall arrest systems are a last resort.
 The worker must be constantly supervised in case
he or she falls and is suspended in the harness
(Dangerous situation!!!)
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Personal Fall Arrest Systems
 Used to protect an employee from hitting a
lower level once they have fallen.
 Components include:
• An anchorage point
• Body harness
• Connectors – lanyards, rope grabs, anchorage
connectors
• Deceleration devices
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Personal Fall Arrest Systems
 When using personal fall arrest systems:
• If you fall, the impact force to the body has to be
less than 1800 pounds, achieved by using shock
absorbing lanyards and a harness
• To minimize fall distance, the maximum free fall
distance can only be 6 feet
• There cannot be any structures below you in the fall
distance that you could strike
• Maximum weight of an individual w/tools using a
personal fall arrest system is 310 pounds
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Fall Distances
 Free Fall Distance
• The vertical displacement of the fall arrest
attachment point on the employee's harness between
onset of the fall and just before the system begins to
apply force to arrest the fall.
 Deceleration Distance
• The distance between the location of an body
harness attachment point at the moment of activation
of the deceleration device during a fall, and the
location of that attachment point after the employee
comes to a full stop.
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Minimizing Free Fall Distance
Extended
Lanyard Length
Plus maximum
2’ extension
(usually within
inches)
6’ Lanyard Length
3.5’ Deceleration Device
Tie to anchor
above the D-ring
Or use a
retractable
Using an anchorage above the D-ring and a standard lanyard may still
allow an employee to fall a distance that may be difficult to rescue
from. Using a retractable minimizes forces on the body, and may
make rescue easier (and therefore more timely)
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Calculating Total Fall Distance
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Watch Swing Falls


This worker is tied
off using a
retractable lifeline.
There is a major
swing fall potential
if he fell to either
side.
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Swing Fall
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Personal Fall Arrest Systems
 Anchorage
 Body
 Connector
Harnesses
Caribiners
Rope
Grabs
Beam
Wraps
Lanyards
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Positioning
Anchorages
 Fall arrest anchor points must support 5000 lbs
per employee attached
 Fall restraint anchor points must support at least
1000 lbs per employee attached
 Ask your trained supervisor or EHS Manager if
you need assistance in determining an adequate
anchorage point
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Roof & Deck Anchors
Permanent
Anchors
Wood Roof
Anchor
Metal Roof
Anchor
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Use of Eye Bolts


Rated for loading
parallel to the bolt
axis.
If wall mounted, the
rating perpendicular to
the axis must be good
for 5,000 lbs. per
employee
Rated
Needed
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Anchorage Connectors

These type of connectors enable you to tie off to various
types of anchorage points
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Beam Clamps
Beam clamps can make an effective anchorage when used properly, and with
the correct lanyard
TIGHT
BEAM
CLAMP
PIN SET
Be sure pin is inserted full length and clamp
is tight.
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Aerial Work Platform Anchorages

Use the manufacture’s designated anchorage points.
Never use guardrails as anchorage points.
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Body Harness
 Needs to be inspected before use by the
worker, and at least annually (documented)
by a Competent Person
 Harnesses must never be modified
 Do not write on or paint harnesses unless
material is approved for use
 Should be taken out of service immediately
if defective or exposed to an impact
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Harness Fitting
Chest strap tightened
at mid chest
“D” ring between
shoulder blades
Proper snugness
shoulder to hips
Butt strap
supports the load
Leg straps snug but
not binding

Harnesses must be sized for the worker. Workers must
weigh more than 130 lbs. and less than 300lbs.
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Deceleration Devices
 Any mechanism with a maximum length of
3.5 feet, such as a rope grab, rip stitch
lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyards, selfretracting lifelines, etc. which serves to
dissipate a substantial amount of energy
during a fall arrest, or otherwise limit the
energy imposed on an employee during fall
arrest.
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Lanyards
 A flexible line of rope, wire rope, or strap which
generally has a connector at each end for
connecting the body belt or body harness to a
deceleration device, lifeline or anchorage.
 Must not be tied back on itself unless specifically
designed for such use
 Should have the appropriate clip for the intended
anchorage points
 Do not knot or wrap around sharp objects
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Lanyards
 Various types of energy absorbing lanyards
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Retractable Lifelines


Deceleration devices containing a
drum-wound line which can be
slowly extracted from, or retracted
onto, the drum under slight tension
during normal employee
movement, and which, after onset
of a fall, automatically locks the
drum and arrests the fall.
Do not use with energy absorbing
lanyards.
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Lifelines
 A component consisting of a flexible line for
connection to an anchorage at one end to hang
vertically or for connection to anchorages at
both ends to stretch horizontally and which
serves as a means for connecting other
components of a personal fall arrest system to
the anchorage.
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Positioning Systems
 Positioning devices
provide hands-free
work
• Additional fall
protection may be
required to move or
access
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Restraint Devices
 Provide access but prevent the fall
 Limit anchorage requirement to 1000 lbs
 May be more suitable for loading areas,
scaffold erection and dismantling
 Should be installed and used under the
supervision of a Competent Person
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Fall Restraint
Restraint Line
Edge


Fall restraint assumes the employee cannot reach the edge, they
are basically on a short leash.
If the employee can fall over the edge, then a personal fall arrest
system must be used.
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Use of Restraint Cables
Example of restraint cables used during deck anchoring.
RESTRAINT CABLE
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RESCUE PLAN
 Why do you think we need to have
a rescue plan for a worker whose
fall protection equipment has saved
him from a fatal fall?
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SUSPENSION TRAUMA
Many workers have died from suspension trauma from 5 – 20 minutes
suspended in an upright posture. Rescue must begin rapidly!
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SUSPENSION TRAUMA
After a fall, if a person is stranded in their harness the weight of their body on the
leg straps cuts off blood flow returning to the torso. Blood pools in the legs
severely limiting flow to their upper body and head.
•
•
•
Unconsciousness overcomes the victim followed shortly after by respiratory
arrest in as little as 10 -15 minutes after suspension begins
Once the victim is lowered to the ground and tension is released, a large volume
of poorly oxygenated blood will flow back to the heart, lungs and brain from
the legs.
This complicates their rescue, compromises resuscitation efforts and ultimately
threatens their survival...
• Detailed FIRST AID TRAINING should be provided to anyone who
may have to treat a victim of Suspension Trauma
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Planning For A Rescue
 Whenever working with

the potential of falling
and hanging by a
harness, a rescue must
begin immediately.
A written Hazard
Analysis and Rescue
Plan must be
documented, and
employees must be
trained on the plan.
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AFTER A FALL
 Workers should try to move their
legs in the harness and push
against any footholds
 Get legs as high as possible, head
as close to horizontal as possible
 Rescue must happen ASAP!
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Planning For A Rescue





The goal is to rescue the employee as soon as possible
and limit the hanging time to no more than fifteen
minutes (5 minutes is much better).
Plan for an unconscious worker
Ensure all the rescue equipment is immediately
available (scissors lift, ladders, chair, first aid kit, etc.)
Call 911 if the person is unconscious or has been
suspended more than 15 minutes.
Post-rescue death may occur if victims are moved to
horizontal position too quickly. They should sit first.
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SUMMARY
 Guardrails or fall protection equipment required
at 4’ in general industry, 6’ in construction.
 Personal fall arrest systems are a last resort.
 Workers must be trained and constantly
supervised while in a harness
 You must have a rescue plan and trained rescuers
 Roof holes must be properly guarded!!
 You don’t want your family & friends to receive
that terrible phone call.
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