Fall Protection for Construction
A Survival Guide
Georgia Tech
Statistics
• Falls are the number one cause of fatalities in the
construction industry.
• 150-200 workers are killed each year and more
than 100,000 injured as a result of falls.
• Overall (including general industry) falls are the
number two biggest cause of fatalities in the U.S.
(motor vehicle accidents are number one).
Statistics
•
•
•
•
Falls
Struck By
Electrical
Caught In
33%
18%
17%
18%
Statistics
• 40% of the fatalities were from heights over
40 feet
• Most falls occur on scaffolds or roofs
• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of
11-20 feet
• 25% of fall fatalities were from heights of
20-30 feet
Most Frequently Cited
Unprotected sides & edges - Fall protection
1468
501(b)(1)
Standard - 1926.
Fall hazards training program
609
503(a)(1)
Fall protection - Residential construction 6’ or more
552
501(b)(13)
Fall protection - Roofing work on low-slope roofs
501(b)(10)
501(b)(11)
367
Fall protection - Steep roofs
231
Physics of a Fall
• A body in motion (free fall) can cover vast
distances in a short period of time. Consider
this:
– A body in free fall can travel 4 ft in 0.5 seconds
– A body in free fall can travel 16 ft. in 1 second
– A body in free fall can travel 64 ft. in 2 seconds
Application of Regulations
• Subpart M (1926.500) applies to fall
protection during construction activities.
• There are a few exceptions from this rule
for the following activities:
– Inspection
– Investigation
– Assessing conditions prior to or after the work
is performed
Application of Regulations
• Other existing standards for fall protection
are discussed in different standards (subpart
M would not cover the following items):
–
–
–
–
–
Scaffolds (subpart L)
Cranes (subpart N)
Steel Erection (subpart R)
Stairs and Ladders (subpart X)
Power Transmission (Subpart V)
Contents of Subpart M
• 500: Scope,
Application and
definitions
• 501: Duty to have fall
protection
• 502: Fall protection
systems
• 503: Training
Requirements
• Appendices
–
–
–
–
A: Roof widths
B: Guardrail systems
C: Fall arrest systems
D: Positioning device
systems
– E: Fall Protection Plan
Duty to Have Fall Protection
1926.501
• Fall protection is required when one or
more employees have exposure to falls of
six feet or greater to the lower level.
• Surfaces must be inspected before the work
begins.
• Employees are only permitted to be on
surfaces that are strong enough to support
them.
Duty to have Fall Protection
• The following areas
require fall protection
when employees are
exposed to falls (six feet
or greater):
–
–
–
–
–
Leading edges
Ramps/runways
Residential construction
Hoist areas
Wall and floor openings
– Unprotected sides and
edges
– Above dangerous
equipment (any height)
– Overhand brick laying
– Steep or low slope roofs
– Walking surfaces
– Form work and reinforcing
steel
– Excavations, wells, pits
– Precast concrete
Duty to have Fall Protection
Low Slope Roofs
• Low slope roofs
(under 50 feet in
width):
– Fall protection systems
or
– Safety monitor (with
elements required in
this subpart)
• Low slope roofs (50
feet width or greater):
– Fall protection systems
(safety nets, guardrails,
PFAS) or combination
of
– Warning lines and
safety monitor or
– Warning lines and
guardrails or PFAS
Protection from Falling Objects
1926.501(c)
• Protection from falling objects is a
requirement.
• Employee working in an area where there is
a danger of falling objects must wear a hard
hat.
• Employer must take steps to protect
employees from hazards (establish
barricades or build canopies).
Types of Fall Protection
• Passive are protective systems that do not
involve the actions of employees.
• Active includes systems and components
that require manipulation by employees to
make them effective in providing
protection.
Examples of Fall Protection
• Passive system
include:
–
–
–
–
–
Guardrails
Safety nets
Covers
Fences
Barricades
• Active systems
components (personal
fall arrest systemPFAS) include:
–
–
–
–
–
Anchorage points
Lanyard
Snap hooks
Life lines
Body harness
Active Systems
• Designed to operate in free fall situations.
• Must be connected to other
systems/components or activated to provide
protection.
• Active systems are designed to protect
employees from the following items:
– Falls
– Forces that can cause injury
Guardrails 1926.502(b)
• Guardrails are the
most common form of
fall protection.
• May be made of
wood, pipe, structural
steel, or wire rope.
– Flags must be provided
on wire rope to
increase visibility
• Must have top rail,
mid rail, posts and toe
board
• System must be strong
enough to support 200
pounds of force
applied to the top rail
• Steel or plastic bands
are not acceptable
Guardrails-Design Criteria
1926.502(b)
• The top rail must be elevated above the surface
39-45 inches and must be free of jagged edges.
• The mid rail must be located between the top rail
and the walking surface.
• Posts must be spaced no greater than 8 feet.
• Toe boards must be made of a solid material with
no openings greater than one inch and be 3.5
inches high.
• Chains or movable rails must be used near hoists.
Safety Net Systems
1926.502(c)
• Placed beneath the working surface (not to exceed
30 feet) to catch personnel or falling material.
• Must be placed as close to the hazard as possible.
• Equipment must be drop tested and certified.
• Must be inspected weekly and after impact.
• Openings can not exceed six inches.
• Defective equipment can not be used.
• Safety nets must extend outward from the outer
most projection of the work surfaces.
PFAS 1926.502(d)
• PFAS shall not be tied to a guardrail system
or hoists
• All components of a fall arrest system must
be inspected before each use and after
impact.
• Action must be taken promptly to rescue
fallen employees.
PFAS 1926.502(d)
• When stopping a fall, a PFAS must:
– Limit the arresting force to 1800 pounds.
– Be rigid so that an employee can not fall more
than 6 feet of contact a lower level.
– Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit
maximum deceleration distance an employee
travels to 3.5 feet.
– Strength to withstand 2X potential impact of
employee falling 6 ft. or permitted fall distance.
Inspecting Equipment
1926.502(d)
• Equipment must be
inspected before each
use for:
– Degradation due to
ultraviolet light
– Any other condition
that is not normal
• The following items
must be inspected:
– Tears or other wear
– Deformed eyelets, D
rings or other parts
– Labels/placards
– Dirt, grease, and oil
PFAS (Harness) 1926.502(d)
• Harness systems consist of either nylon or
polyester and the best system will
encompass the entire body (full body
harness).
• Body belts can not be used for fall
protection.
• A full body harness will evenly distribute
weight across the waist, pelvis, and thighs.
PFAS (Lanyard) 1926.502(d)
• Lanyards connect the harness to the anchorage
point.
• Must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000
pounds.
• Should be attached to a D ring between the
shoulder blades above the employee.
• There are several types of lanyards that include:
synthetic webbing, synthetic rope and shock
absorbing.
Types of Lanyards
• Self retracting
– Eliminates excess slack in the lanyard (cable, rope, or
web)
• Shock absorbing
– Device slows and eventually stops decent and absorbs
the forces (i.e.: rip stitch controlled tearing)
• Synthetic rope
– Absorbs some of the force by stretching
• Synthetic webbing
– Strong but not flexible (absorbs little force)
PFAS (life Lines) 1926.502(d)
• Life lines consist of flexible material connected at
one or both ends to an anchorage point.
• There are two types of life lines:
– Vertical:hangs vertically (5000 pound minimum
breaking strength)
– Horizontal: connects at both points to stretch
horizontally (serves as connection point for other
components of PFAS-total system must have safety
factor of two).
PFAS (Snap hooks) 1926.502(d)
• Used to connect lanyards to D rings on a body
harness.
• D rings must be compatible. Must be connected to
harness or anchorage point only.
• Snap hooks must have 5,000 tensile strength and
be proof tested to 3600 pounds.
• When using snap hooks:
– Use only one snap hook per D ring to prevent rollout
– All snap hooks must have a locking mechanism
PFAS (Anchorage Points)
1926.502(d)
• The anchorage point is most effective when
it is above the employee’s head. Located as
to not allow an employee fall more than 6
feet.
• All anchorage points must be a solid
immovable object that is capable of
supporting 5000 pounds.
• Must not be used to support anything else.
Positioning Device Systems
1926.502(e)
• Allows employee to be supported from a vertical
surface (i.e.: wall or telephone pole).
• Must be inspected before each use for defects.
• Must be rigid for no more than a 2 foot free fall.
• Not a fall arrest system!
• The anchorage point must be capable of
withstanding twice the potential impact of an
employee’s fall or 3000 pounds, whichever is
greater.
Warning Line System
1926.502(f)
• Rope, wire, or chains are used to warn employees
of an unprotected edge.
• Used mainly on roofs , where PFAS- impractical.
• Established not less than six feet from the edge.
• Materials must have sufficient strength and
complete structure must withstand 16 pound
tipping force.
Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)
1926.502(g)
• Only qualified personnel involved in the
operation are allowed to enter the zone.
• Ropes, wires, or chains are used to
designate the area.
• Must be erected not less than six feet nor
more than twenty five feet away from edge.
• Shall be connected on each side to wall.
Controlled Access Zones (CAZ)
1926.502(g)
• CAZ must be defined by a control line
(strength of 200 pounds) erected 10-15 feet
from the edge
• Lines must be flagged at six foot intervals.
Safety Monitoring System
1926.502(h)
• Uses a monitor (competent person) to patrol
the area and warn employees of the dangers.
• All safety monitors must comply with the
following criteria:
– Be on the same level the work is being
performed
– Be close enough to orally communicate
– Have no other assigned duties
Safety Monitoring System
1926.502(h)
• Employees must comply with all instructions from
the monitor.
• The full attention of the monitor must focus on
protecting the employees.
• It is recommended that you have a written plan for
using the safety monitoring system to address:
– Identification of the monitor
– Roles of employees in a monitoring system
– Training for using the monitoring system.
Covers 1926.502(i)
• Used to protect personnel from falling through
holes in walking surfaces.
• Covers must be secured in place and the word
“Hole” must be written on the cover.
• Covers must have sufficient strength to support:
– Twice the weight to be imposed upon it for pedestrians
– Twice the largest axle weight of vehicle traffic
Falling Objects 1926.502(j)
• Employers are required to protect their
employees from falling objects.
• Some methods that might have to be used
(when necessary) consist of:
– Installation of toe boards (at least 3.5 inches
wide)
– Building barricade and restricting entrance
– Installation of screens
Fall Protection Plan 1926.502(k)
• Fall protection plans are allowed for the following
operations:
– Residential construction
– Leading edge construction
– Precast concrete erection
• The plan should be strictly enforced.
• The employer must demonstrate that it is
impractical to use fall protection before a fall
protection plan can be used as an alternative.
Fall Protection Plan 1926.502(k)
• Plan must be developed by qualified person
and made specific for each site (also must
be up to date).
• Only as qualified person can make changes
to a plan.
• A copy of the plan must be maintained at
the site.
Elements of a Fall Protection
Plan
• Statement of Policy
• Fall Protection
Systems to be Used
• Implementation of
Plan
• Enforcement
• Accident Investigation
• Changes to the Plan
Training 1926.503
• All employees exposed to fall hazards must
receive training by a competent person that
addresses:
– The nature of fall hazards in the work area
– Procedures for erecting, maintaining,
disassembling and inspecting fall arrest
equipment
– Use and operation of fall arrest equipment
Training 1926.503
• Training elements:
– Role of employee in a safety monitoring system
(when used)
– Limitations on the use of mechanical equipment
for low slope roofs
– Role of employees in fall protection plans
– Standards contained in 1926.500-503
– Procedure for handling and storage of
equipment
Training 1926.503
• Fall protection training must be certified by
the employer through a written record.
• The latest training certificate must be
maintained.
• Retraining is required when:
– There are changes in the work place
– Changes in the type of fall protection used
– There are inadequacies in employee’s skills