Elevator/Escalator Health and Safety Manual
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ELEVATOR/ESCALATOR HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL © Construction Safety Association of Ontario, September 2008 Prepared for the Elevator/Escalator Trade Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee CONTENTS Fall protection guidelines for elevator construction 3 Hoisting with a capstan 20 Tuggers (powered winches) 28 Well wheels (gin wheels) for light hoisting 31 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 2 FALL PROTECTION GUIDELINES for ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTION Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 3 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 4 Fall protection guidelines for elevator construction INTRODUCTION wire-rope lifeline may be used, provided a These guidelines are intended to describe CSA approved rope grab that is matched to basic fall protection procedures for elevator the wire rope is also used. construction. A vertical lifeline must meet CAN/CSA- They are not intended to describe the Z259.2.1-98 standard Fall Arresting elevator construction process or the specific Devices and Vertical Lifelines. Vertical requirements for various types, designs, or lifelines sold on a reel or in a container manufacturers. will have the CSA standard information attached or etched on the container or reel. Once removed from the original DEFINITIONS packaging, pertinent information such Fall arrest system: An assembly of as the purchase order number and components joined together so that when the CSA certification should be identified on assembly is connected to a fixed support, it the lifeline (with tags or otherwise) to is capable of arresting a worker’s fall. ensure it does not get confused with hoisting rope and cable. The lifeline Fall restricting system: A type of fall-arrest should be stored separately from system that has been designed to limit a hoisting ropes and cable. worker’s fall to a specified distance. Travel restraint system: An assembly of Exposure to the sun may damage or weaken components capable of restricting a worker’s synthetic lifelines. Ensure that material being movement on a work surface and preventing considered for lifelines is UV-resistant. the worker from reaching a location from which the worker could fall. There must be a separate lifeline for each worker using a fall-arrest system. Vertical lifeline: A rope or wire that is attached to an anchor. The lanyard of a fall- Anchor point (for a vertical lifeline): A arrest system is attached to the lifeline. The structure, or a device attached to a structure, lifeline extends the reach of the lanyard to an which will support a fall-arrest load. appropriate anchor point. An example of a lifeline is a 5/8" diameter synthetic rope A support used in a fall-arrest system must (polypropylene blend) with a spliced loop and be capable of supporting a static force of at thimble for attachment to an anchor point least 8 kilonewtons (1800 lb) without using a shackle. It must extend to the ground exceeding the allowable unit stress for each or the lowest point that a worker could material used. access. Horizontal lifeline: A horizontal lifeline is a If synthetic rope may be subjected to lifeline connected horizontally with an anchor damage such as from welding or cutting point at each end. Because of its operations, a CSA-approved 3/8" diameter configuration, it may have very high end Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 5 loads in the event of a fall arrest. Horizontal available on the project showing the details. lifelines, including the end anchorages, must Such anchorage will usually be attached to be designed by a professional engineer. the crosshead. FALL PROTECTION TRAINING GENERAL PRECAUTIONS The Construction Regulation (Ontario To protect workers or debris from falling into Regulation 213/91) requires an open hoistway, completely board up or • that employers ensure that workers using otherwise fully cover hoistway openings. If a fall protection system are trained in its the hoistway opening is not fully covered, use provide overhead protection in the hoistway • that training records are kept, including and guardrails at the opening. The overhead training dates and participants’ names protection should not be more than 3 storeys • that employers have training records or 9 metres (30 feet) above a working area available for Ministry of Labour inspectors (Figures 1 and 2). upon request. The overhead protection should be capable RESCUE PROCEDURES of supporting 2.4 kN/m2 (50 pounds per Before use of a fall-arrest system or a safety square foot). Planks of 48 mm x 248 mm (2" net by a worker on a project, the worker’s x 10") No.1 spruce (rough sawn, full size) employer must develop written procedures with a span no greater than 2.1 metres (7 for rescuing the worker in the event of a fall feet) will provide sufficient overhead arrest. protection. Beams supporting the planks should be secured in place and have a Minimizing the time between a fall occurrence bearing surface of at least 200 mm (8 inches) and medical attention is vitally important. at the ends. Do not use the overhead protection as a working platform. Post signs indicating that planking for overhead INSPECTION protection is not to be used as a working All fall protection equipment must be platform (Figures 1, 2 and 3). inspected for damage, wear, and obvious defects by a competent worker before each A fall-arrest system attached to a suitable use. Any defective component must be anchor must be worn by workers while replaced by one that meets or exceeds the installing or removing guardrails and manufacturer’s minimum performance overhead protection, and while boarding up standards for that particular system. or tearing down elevator doorways (Figure 3). FALL ARREST SYSTEMS Depending on the application, a fall-arrest system typically consists of a full body harness, shock absorber, and lanyard as specified above, attached to an adequate anchor point. Anchorages for the system should be designed by a professional engineer and a sketch stamped by the engineer should be Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 6 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 7 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 8 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 9 FALL PROTECTION DURING RAIL INSTALLATION There are two basic methods of installing brackets and rails: 1) The first method requires scaffolding the entire height of the hoistway and is usually only used for elevators of moderate height. For situations where travel is in excess of 15 metres (50 feet), a professional engineer must be consulted. 2) The second method requires scaffolding to set up the basic structural car components and the first length of rails, and to hook up the basic running components of the car. Workers then use the car to install the balance of the brackets and rails. Both of these methods require planning in advance for lifeline anchorages or horizontal lifelines. Ensure that responsibility for guardrails, hoistway doorway covers, and overhead When the risk of bottoming out is protection is established. Have the general present, consider options that would contractor install, maintain, or change these limit the fall distance, such as using a protective measures so that work may shorter lanyard, not using a shock proceed in a safe manner. The mechanic absorber and limiting your free fall typically installs and maintains overhead distance, or using a retractable lifeline. protection for the moving car. Method 1: Using scaffolding to install Bottoming Out rails Bottoming out occurs when a falling worker For travel of 15 metres (50 feet) or less, hits a lower level, the ground, or some other provide access by erecting a scaffold from hazard before the fall is fully arrested (see the bottom of the pit to the top of the image in next column). This can occur when hoistway. Scaffolding must be installed under the extended length of the fall arrest system the direction of a competent worker. Fall (including the amount it will stretch when a protection must be used when a worker is fall is arrested) is greater than the distance exposed to falling more than 3 metres (10 from the work surface to the next level, the feet) or onto a hazardous object. ground, or some other hazard below. For this whole operation, workers in the Fall-arrest systems must be planned, hoistway must be protected from falling. designed, and installed to prevent any risk of Workers must attach their fall-arrest lanyard bottoming out. to a vertical lifeline before entering the hoistway. A lifeline must be provided for each Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 10 worker and be adequately anchored from above. Thread the lifeline down inside the scaffold frames. Anchorage for the lifeline may be provided by special anchors installed in the hoistway, by structural steel, or by a horizontal line installed across the hoistway and anchored on either side. A beam in use for hoisting must not be used as a lifeline anchor point (Figures 4a and 4b). The anchorage components must be designed by a professional engineer. Use a "gin" wheel or other hoisting device to hoist scaffold components. Use only rated devices with their working load limit (WWL) stamped on them. The gin wheel must be attached to an appropriate hoisting point. Remember, the lifeline must be anchored independently of a hoisting beam. Scaffold platforms must be completely decked-in before the next tier of frames and braces is installed or dismantled. Erect scaffold towers plumb and level by using the adjustable base plates.