10F 22 Fall Protection Program December 2018.pdf

JAMES E. VAN ZANDT VA MEDICAL CENTER

ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA

FACILITIES SERVICE POLICY 10F-22

DECEMBER 2018

FALL PROTECTION PROGRAM

1. PURPOSE: The purpose of this fall protection program is to establish guidelines to protect employees and contractors engaged in work activities that expose them to potential falls from heights of 4 feet or more.

Note: OSHA General Industry regulations (paraphrased) requires 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. OSHA Construction Industry regulations (paraphrased) requires each employee on a walking/working surface

(horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side, edge, or hole which is 6 feet 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.

2. POLICY: To ensure all employees and contractors working at heights of four feet or more are protected from falling.

3. DEFINITIONS:

A. Anchor Point: A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices. An anchor point must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (3,600 pounds if engineered/certified by a qualified person) per person and must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms.

B. Competent Person: A person capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are hazardous or dangerous to employees and who has the authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them.

C. Connector: A device which is used to couple (connect) parts of the personal fall arrest system together

D. Deceleration Device: Any mechanism, such as a rope grab, rip-stitch lanyard, a specially woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyards, automatic self-retracting lifelines/lanyards, etc., which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest.

E. Deceleration Distance: The additional vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point at

2. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured as the distance between the location of an employee’s 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.

F. Free Fall: The act of falling before a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.

G. Free Fall Distance: The vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee’s body harness between the onset of the fall, and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. Free fall distance must not exceed 6 feet. This distance excludes deceleration distance and lifeline/lanyard elongation distance.

H. Full Body Harness: Webbing/straps which are secured about an employee’s body in a manner that will distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and shoulders with means for attaching it to other components of a personal fall arrest system, preferably at the shoulders and/or middle of the back.

I. Guardrail System: A barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels.

This system includes a midrail and toe board able to withstand 200 pounds applied to the top rail in any direction.

J. Lanyard: A flexible line of rope or strap that has self-locking snap hook connectors at each end for connecting to body harnesses, deceleration devices, and anchor points.

K. Leading Edge: The edge of a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface, which changes location as additional floor, roof, etc., is placed or constructed. A leading edge is considered an unprotected side or edge when not under active construction.

L. Lifeline: A component consisting of a flexible line for connection to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline), and which serves as a means for connecting other components of a personal fall arrest system to the anchorage.

M. Low-slope roof: A roof having a slope of less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal). Approximately a roof with a 19.5 degree slope or less.

N. Personal Fall Arrest System: A system used to arrest (catch) an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an anchorage location, connectors, a body harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or any combination of the before-mentioned items.

O. Qualified Person: An individual, who by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problem relating to the subject matter, work, or project.

3. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

P. Roof Work: The hoisting, storage, installation, repair, and removal of materials or equipment on a roof.

Q. Rope Grab: A deceleration device, which travels on a lifeline and automatically, by friction, engages the lifeline and locks to arrest the fall of an employee.

R. Safety Monitoring System: A safety system in which a competent person is responsible for recognizing and warning employees of fall hazards. All other fall protection systems must be deemed “infeasible” (through infeasibility study/review) to select/use a safety monitoring system.

S. Snap hook: A connector comprised of a hook-shaped member with a closed keeper which may be opened to permit the hook to receive an object and when released, automatically closes to retain the object. Snap hooks must be self-closing with a self-locking keeper which remains closed and locked until unlocked and pressed open for connection or disconnection, thus preventing the opportunity for the object to “rollout” of the snap hook.

T. Steep Roof: A roof having a slope greater than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal) and/or a roof with a slope greater than 19.5 degrees.

U. Toe board: A low protective barrier that will prevent the fall of materials and equipment to lower levels, usually 4” or greater in height.

V. Total Fall Distance: The maximum vertical change in distance from the bottom of an individual’s feet at the onset of a fall, to the position of the feet after the fall is arrested -including free fall distance and deceleration distance.

W. Unprotected Sides and Edges: Any side or edge of a walking or working surface, e.g., floor, roof, ramp, runway, etc., where there is no guardrail at least 39 inches high.

X. Warning line system: A barrier erected on a roof to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge, and which designates an area in which work can be conducted without the use of guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets to protect employees in the area. This will be utilized on any roof greater than 50” wide and in conjunction with a safety monitor only where the other forms of fall protection have been deemed infeasible to use.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Chief, Facilities Service is responsible for the overall implementation of the fall protection program.

4. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

B. Occupational Safety and Health Staff are responsible for performing periodic surveillances during the erection, use, and dismantling of fall protection systems for operations and maintenance work activities.

C. Supervisors whose employees work on roofs, scaffolding, suspended platforms, on or near a walking or working surface, (horizontal and vertical) with an unprotected side or edge, that is four feet or more above a lower level, shall ensure the employees are protected from falling by using fall protection as described in this policy.

Supervisors are to determine if a walking/working surface on which employees are to work has the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely.

D. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) is responsible for ensuring contractors who are conducting construction, remodeling, or maintenance in work areas where fall hazards are present will utilize the proper fall protection procedures, equipment and systems.

E. Employees are responsible for using fall protection systems outlined in this policy when on a walking/working surface (horizontal or vertical) with an unprotected side or edge that is four feet or more above a lower level. Any question about the strength or integrity of the walking/working surface shall be brought to the supervisor’s attention.

5. PROCEDURES:

A. Duty to have Fall Protection:

(1) Unprotected sides and edges: Each person on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge which is four feet 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.

(2) Leading Edges: Each person who is constructing a leading edge six feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

(3) Hoist Areas: Each person in a hoist area shall be protected from falling six feet or more to lower levels by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems or portions are removed to facilitate the hoisting operation, and the person must lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening, that person shall be protected from fall hazards by a personal fall arrest system.

(4) Holes: Each person on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through, tripping or stepping into holes more than six feet above lower levels by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.

5. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

(5) Excavations: Each person at the edge of an excavation six feet or more in depth shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, or barricades when excavations are not readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barriers.

(6) Dangerous Equipment: Each person working above dangerous equipment shall be protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by guardrail systems or by equipment guards. If work is six feet or more above dangerous equipment each person shall be protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety net systems.

(7) Roofing Work on Low-Sloped Roofs: Each person engaged in roofing activities on low-sloped roofs, with unprotected sides and edges six feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. If the roof is fifty feet or less in width the use of a safety monitoring system alone is permitted.

(8) Steep Roofs: Each person on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges six feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toe boards, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

(9) Inspections: The provisions to have fall protection do not apply when employees or contractors are making an inspection, investigation, or assessment of workplace conditions prior to the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed. Fall protection is required during the construction work.

B. Protection from Falling Objects: Each person exposed to falling objects shall be required to wear a hard hat and one of the falling measures shall be implemented:

(1) Erect toe boards, screens, or guardrails systems to prevent objects from falling from higher levels; or,

(2) Erect a canopy structure and keep potential fall objects far enough from the edge of the higher level so that those objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced; or,

(3) Barricade the area to which objects could fall, prohibit persons from entering the barricaded area, and keep objects that may fall far enough away from the edge of a higher level so that those objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced.

C. Fall Protection Systems:

(1) Guardrail systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(b).

6. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

(2) Safety net systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(c).

(3) Personal fall arrest systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(d).

(4) Positioning device systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(e).

(5) Warning line systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(f).

(6) Controlled access zones and their use shall comply with 1926.502(g).

(7) Safety monitoring systems and their use shall comply with 1926.502(h).

(8) Covers for holes in walking/working surfaces shall comply with 1926.502(i).

(9) Protection from falling objects shall comply with 1926.502(j).

D. Operation of Roof Anchors for Fall Protection:

(1) All maintenance personnel who will be using fall arrest roof anchors must be knowledgeable in its proper operation prior to use.

(2) All workers must have proper fall arrest training prior to using the anchor systems. This includes how to operate a harness.

(3) No employee/contractor shall enter a hazardous area without appropriate training.

(4) Anyone approaching within six feet of unprotected edge of building workers must be tied off to an appropriate anchor point.

(5) Apply only one load to each anchor at any time (life line, tie back or support line).

(6) Do not use damaged or unsafe anchors. Report all unsafe conditions encountered in the Operation Log for Roof Anchors (Attachment A).

(7) Use anchors only for tie back for safe work on the roof do not produce shock loads.

(8) Only one person allowed per anchor point. Only one line should be attached to any given anchor at any time. Lifelines, suspension line and tie back lines shall not be fastened simultaneously to the same anchor.

(9) Recommended for this system is use of lanyard with permanently attached shock absorber. Lanyards should be certified to OSHA/CSA standards.

(10) Maximum working load of roof anchors shall not exceed 1800 lbs. Anchors are designed for 5400 lbs. ultimate load.

7. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

(11) Anchors must be inspected on a yearly basis by a qualified person.

(12) Worker must attach lanyard to the anchor eye by a means of a D-ring eye and work in the designated area of that anchor. If the lanyard is too short to reach a work are the worker may use an approved OSHA lanyard and rope grab (must be adjusted to work as fall protection, it cannot have too much slack on the rope to allow for a fall) or a retractable lanyard attached to the anchor eye.

(13) Each worker must inspect the anchors prior to every use. Any unsafe conditions should be reported and anchors should be placed out of order.

(14) If a fall should happen when using an anchor that anchor must be put out of service until it is inspected for safe use or replaced. The fall must be documented on the Operation Log for Roof Anchors (Attachment A).

(15) Do not attach tag lines between anchors. Anchors are not designed to accommodate the loading of a tag line.

E. Training:

(1) Training will be provided to all employees, who may be exposed to fall hazards during construction, remodeling, construction related maintenance and similar work where the employee is exposed to falls of six feet or greater.

(2) Training will include but is not limited to:

(a) The nature of fall hazards in the work area;

(b) The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used;

(c) The use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems (to be used only by contractors), warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and other protection to be used;

(d) The role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when this system is used;

(e) The limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs;

(f) The correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection;

(g) The flow of employees in fall protection systems; and

(h) The standards contained in 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1926

Subpart M.

8. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

(3) Certification of Training:

(a) A written certification record shall verify compliance with training requirements. The written certification record shall contain the name of the employee trained, the date(s) of the training, and the signature of the person who conducted the training. The latest training certificate shall be maintained.

(b) When there is reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by training, the employee shall be retrained. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:

1 Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or

2 Changes in the type of fall protection systems or equipment to be used render previous training obsolete; or

(c) Inadequacies in an affected employee’s knowledge or use of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.

6. REFERENCES: 29 CFR 1926 Sub Part M;

7. RESCISSION: Policy dated December 2015

8. REISSUE DATE: December 2021

9. FOLLOW-UP RESPONSIBILITY: Safety Manager

Jerry Wilson Chief, Facilities Service

Attachment

9. SOP #22, Fall Protection Program

Attachment A – Operation Log for Roof Anchors

Date

Type of Work

Company

Name of Person and Contact Info

Problems or Discrepancies