Fall
Protection
Basics
Today We Will:
• Standards
• Hierarchy of
Control
• Components
• Special Systems
– Connectors
– Anchorages
– Lanyards
– Harnesses
• Confined Space
• Rescue Systems
• Training
– Rope Grabs
– Lifelines
– Ladder Systems
Regulations
• 57.15005
• 57.9200e1
• 57.16002c
• 57.7004
• General
statement
• Car
droppers
• Bins & silos
• Drill masts
3 Blinks = 1 Second
• First blink
18” from start
• Second blink
6’ from start
• Third blink
16’ from start
Types Of Falls
• Same surface falls
– Slips
– Trips (very common, not very severe)
• Falls on stairs
– More severe than same surface falls
• Falls from heights
– Lower frequency, but most severe
Falls From Heights
• A Few Examples:
– From machinery
– From overhead cranes
– Working on conveyors
– From silos
– Working at roof edges and openings
– From scaffolding
Phases of a Fall
•
•
•
•
•
Onset
Free fall
Deceleration
Rebound
Suspension
The Fall...
On a 5 foot platform, you slip….
• Fall 2 feet, arrester locks & applies
stopping force to your body
• Time of fall is 1/3 of a second
• Stopping force is applied to strong
bones & muscles under buttocks
• You decelerate to complete stop
• You hang until rescued
3-2-1 STOP!!
• In a 3’ fall a 200 pound person will
generate enough speed & inertia that
it will take almost 1 ton of energy
(2000 foot pounds) to stop
Hierarchy of Controls
• Remove fall hazard through
engineering redesign
• Implement collective fall protection
measure
• Implement personal fall protection &
arrest system
Fall Arrest Components
• Full body harness
• Connectors
• Lanyards
• Anchorages
• Mechanicals
Preventing Injury
• Use full body harness with fall arrester
prior to climbing (with built-in shock
absorber)
• Connect arrester to harness d-ring on
back between shoulder blades
• Fall arrester connected to anchor
Connectors
•
•
•
•
D-rings
Carabineers
Locking snap-hooks
Oval rings
Connectors
• Most frequently used part of system
because of worker movement
• Used to connect different parts of
system
• Also called “hardware”
Snaphooks
Carabineers
•
•
•
•
•
•
Trapezoid or oval shaped
Gate opens to connect
Different sizes (width)
Aluminum or alloy steel
Pulling force of 5000 lbs
Normally independent
component, but may be
attached
D-rings
• Used on lanyards,
lifelines, & anchorage
points
• Attachment element on
harness
• Made of steel
• Minimum strength of
5000 lbs
• Corrosion resistant
• Max on harness is 6
Anchorage Connectors
• Permanent
– Remains in
place for long
time
• Temporary
– Removed once
use is
completed
Lanyards
• Wire rope
• Web
• Synthetic rope
Lanyards
• Used for fall arrest
and positioning
and personal
restraint
• Incorporate an
energy absorber
when used for fall
arrest
• Most common
connector is the
snap-hook
Lanyards
• Wire rope lanyards
– High heat
applications
– Only fixed lengths
– Less “stretch”
• Rebar lanyard
– At least 9/32 inch
diameter
– Snaphooks at each
end attached to hip
d-rings
Dyna-Brake Lanyards
®
•
•
•
•
Fixed or adjustable lengths
Shock absorber limits fall arrest forces
Twin leg for continuous connection
Polyester or nylon material
Rope & Wire Lanyards
•
•
•
•
Rope available in nylon
Fixed or adjustable lengths
Shock absorber limits fall arrest forces
Available in twin leg model
Shock Absorbing
• Elastic material reduces possibility of
trips and snags
• Available in twin leg model
• Shock absorber limits fall arrest
forces
Tie-Back Lanyard
™
•
•
•
•
•
Nylon material
Shock Absorber
Twin leg style available
Integral D-ring
Meets ANSI regulations
Mechanicals
•
•
•
•
•
Self-retracting
Lanyards
Hoists
Rope grabs
Ladder grabs
Self-Retracting
• Minimizes freefall
distance & fall
arrest forces
• Arrests fall within
inches
• Meets ANSI
A10.14
regulations
Self-Retracting
• Contains a drum- would line
• Slowly extracted or retracted
from housing
• Connects to fall arrest
attachment on harness
• Device locks drum at onset of a
fall
Self-Retracting
• SRL with emergency retrieval
capability
• Able to be reset from retrieval
mode to fall arrest mode
• Unique “key” feature, enables
only authorized people to reset
• Used with Lynx Tripod or Ropod
• Does not replace Dynevac II
Remote System
• Telescoping pole allows
for connections up 20’
overhead
• Connect before leaving
ground
• System includes pole, AC
strap, strap tool,
connect/disconnect tool,
and carrying bag
Full Body Harness
•
•
•
•
Nylon or polyester
Webbing
Metal d-rings
Highest level of
protection and
force distribution
Full Body Harnesses
• Preferred for most
applications
• Highest degree of
protection
• Distribute forces to
strongest part of human
body
• Better for suspension
• Straps color coded for
easy identification
Straps
• Thigh straps
• Sub pelvic straps
– Under the buttocks
– Strongest part of body
– Natural seated
position during
suspension
• Shoulder straps
Fall Arrest Attachment
• Usually a d-ring
• Dorsal (back) d-ring
–Between shoulder
blades
–Adjustable
D-Rings
• Shoulder
– Retrieval from confined
spaces
• Chest
– Personnel riding, climbing
– Not for positioning
– Not used in fall arrest
• Hip
– Positioning
– Personal restraint
Materials
•
•
•
•
Nylon
Polyester
Back pads
Comfort pads
Pullover Harness
• Single point of
adjustment
• Easy donning and
doffing
• Nylon or polyester
• Sub-pelvic support
strap
• Color coded straps
Vestype Harness
™
• Three shoulder strap
adjustment points
• Nylon or polyester
• Sub pelvic support
strap
• Color coded straps
Tradesman
Harness
™
• 6” wide back pad
with hip d-rings
• Tool belt support
straps
• Permits hands-free
climbing
Rope Grab
• Device which travels on
a lifeline & will
automatically engage
lifeline to arrest a fall
• Classified by horizontal
or vertical lifeline style
Rope Grab
• Hands free operation while
ascending or descending
• Versatile, lightweight, and
economical
• Easy to install
• Limits free fall distance to
6’ or less
Horizontal Lifeline
•
•
•
•
Below beam system
Stanchion system
Continuous connection
Shock absorber
reduces fall arrest
forces
• Versatile
Descender
• Rescue & evacuation
device
• Automatically controls
rate of descent to ground
• 50’ or 105’ wire rope
• Descent rate of 6.5’ per
second
Descender
•
•
•
•
Rescue & Evacuation Device
User controls rate of descent
Versatile
50’, 100’ or 150’ rope
Dyna-Glide™ System
• Permanent system
• Vertical or horizontal
• Hands-free climbing,
work positioning, travel
restriction, and fall
arrest
• Mounted to existing
ladders or structures
• Used by more than one
person at a time
MSA President’s
Promise
• A fall is experienced
– Harness & lanyard
• One time use
• Contact MSA/distributor
– Complete incident report
• MSA will replace at no charge