Chubb Construction Risk Engineering Fall Prevention Chubb Construction Risk Engineering Fall Prevention Overview Duty for Fall Protection 3 Best Practices for Fall Management 3 Job Safety Task Analysis 3 Fall Hazards 3 Fall Protection 4 Basic Requirements 4 The ABCDs of Fall Arrest 8 Step Fall Protection Plan 5 Anchorage Systems 5 Basics 5 Fall Restraint and Work Positioning Systems 6 Certified vs. Uncertified Anchorages 6 Anchorage Connectors 7 Important Considerations 7 Horizontal Lifeline Anchors 7 Rescue 8 Training 9 Fall Protection and Multi-Employer Sites 9 2 Chubb Construction Risk Engineering Overview to further control the potential for falls This analysis can also be a valuable on their job sites. tool for training new employees in • Discipline: Progressive discipline the steps required to perform their Introduction program in place (first violation jobs safely. Every job can be broken In the construction industry, falls are suspension from work for one week, down into job tasks or steps. Watch the the leading cause of worker fatalities. In second violation suspension for one employee perform the job and list each 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) month, third violation employee fired) step as the worker takes it. Be sure to reported that 806 workers died in the • Job Safety Task Analysis ( JSTA): JSTA record enough information to describe construction industry with 290 (40%) as is reviewed with crew performing work each job action without getting overly a result of falls, slips and trips.1 Compared prior to start of operation. Documented detailed. Avoid making the breakdown to 2011, the construction industry had and signed. Subcontractors are of steps so detailed that it becomes 738 fatalities an increase of 68 fatalities or contractually required to submit a JSTA unnecessarily long or so broad that 8.4% and of the total number of fatalities, prior to start of an operation. The JSTA it does not include basic steps. When 262 were related to falls, slips, and trips must be submitted and reviewed with developing a JSTA, you’ll need to ask an increase of 9.7%.2 the GC/CM prior to starting work. the following questions: • Subs: Subcontractors engaged in work – What can go wrong? If a fall occurs, Duty for Fall Protection. Employers are resulting in fall exposures six feet and the worker could strike an adjacent required to determine if the walking/ greater must adhere to 100 percent fall column, or possibly a lower level due working surfaces on which employees are management program requirements. to the swing fall created. to work have the strength and structural This is clearly stated in subcontract – What are the consequences? integrity to safely support workers. Once agreements/contracts. The worker could receive severe employers have determined that the • Coordinator: Contractor has a fall injuries as a result of the fall and surface is safe for employees to work management coordinator to oversee subsequently hitting the column, on, the employer must select one of the the development and implementation lower level or both. options listed for the work operation if a of the program and training. Fall – How could it happen? The accident fall hazard is present. For example, if an management coordinator conducts could happen as a result of the employee is exposed to falling six feet or audits of work sites to determine the worker locating the fall arrest more from an unprotected side or edge, effectiveness of controls and training. anchorage (retractable lanyard) in the employer must select either; guardrail • Stop: Full-time safety representative an improper location that requires system, safety net system, or personal fall on site has the authority to stop an movement to a distant work position arrest system to protect the worker. operation due to lack of compliance. creating the swing fall. • Participate: All employees including – What are other contributing factors? Best Practices for Fall Management subcontractor employees are required Due to the configuration of the steel, • 100%: 100 percent fall management to participate in fall management work must take place in multiple program for all trades/operations orientation training on each project. locations within the columns to (including steel erection). Fall • Accountability: Field management complete steel connections. There management program should personal are responsible for daily are two workers using separate include: pre-job planning, roles compliance with the fall management retractable lanyards in this work area and responsibilities, accountability, program. Field management personal that may become tangled. retrieval procedures and training of are held accountable for the safety – How likely is it that the hazard will personnel and review and investigation performance of their respective occur? It is highly likely that a swing of all fall related incidents and near projects. Safety performance of fall hazard can be created when misses. the project is tied to management’s working in this environment if the • Six feet: Activities involving work compensation. placement of overhead anchor at elevations six feet and greater are • Job Safety Task Analysis: This is a points (retractable lanyards) is not pre-planned and safety engineered way to evaluate the hazards of a job preplanned and coordinated. To into activity ( Job Safety Task Analysis). before they occur. Supervisors can use reduce the risk of accidents due to Contractors may want to consider more the findings of a JSTA to eliminate and falls, employers and employees can aggressive requirements such as 4 feet prevent hazards in their workplaces. to do the following: 3 Chubb Construction Risk Engineering • Required Competent and / or Qualified fall protection is not required when fall arrest systems, or shall work in a persons are assigned and where employees are moving. OSHA considers controlled access zone. All employees protection is required, fall protection the multiple hand holds and foot holds reaching more than 10 inches (25 cm) systems appropriate for given situations on rebar assemblies as providing below the level of a walking/working are selected similar protection as that provided by surface on which they are working shall • Fall protection systems are properly a fixed ladder; consequently, no fall be protected by a guardrail system, constructed and installed protection is necessary while moving safety net system, or personal fall • Monitor and supervise employees and point to point for heights below 24 feet. arrest system. operations routinely An employee must be provided with fall • Precast Concrete Erection: Each • Always use safe work procedures and protection when climbing or otherwise employee who is six feet or more engineering controls first moving at a height more than 24 feet, above lower levels while erecting • Train workers in the proper selection, the same as for fixed ladders. precast concrete members and related use, and maintenance of all protection • Hoist Areas: Each employee in a hoist operations such as grouting of precast systems and re-train as necessary area shall be protected from falling six concrete members shall be protected feet or more by guardrail systems or by guardrail systems, safety net personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems, or personal fall arrest systems. Fall Protection systems (or chain gate or guardrail) Where the employer can demonstrate, or portions thereof must be removed however, that it is infeasible or creates a to facilitate hoisting operations, as greater hazard to use those systems, the Basic Requirements during the landing of materials, employer must develop and implement • Controlled Access Zones: A Controlled and a worker must lean through the a fall protection plan that meets the Access Zone is a work area designated access opening or out over the edge requirements of 29 CFR 1926.502(k). and clearly marked in which certain of the access opening to receive or • Ramps, Runways, and Other types of work (such as overhand guide equipment and materials, that Walkways: Each employee using bricklaying) may take place without employee must be protected by a ramps, runways, and other walkways the use of conventional fall protection personal fall arrest system. shall be protected from falling six feet systems; guardrail, personal arrest or • Holes: Personal fall arrest systems, or more by guardrail systems. safety net to protect the employees covers, or guardrail systems shall • Residential Construction: In 2013, working in the zone. Controlled Access be erected around holes (including OSHA issued a directive rescinding the Zones are used to keep out workers skylights) that are more than six feet Interim Fall Protection Compliance other than those authorized to enter above lower levels. Guidelines for Residential Construction work areas from which guardrails have • Leading Edges: Each employee who (STD 03-00-001). Each employee been removed. Where there are no is constructing a leading edge six engaged in Residential Construction guardrails, masons are the only workers feet or more above lower levels shall activities six feet or more above lower allowed in controlled access zones. be protected by guardrail systems, levels shall be protected by guardrail • Excavations: Each employee at the safety net systems, or personal fall systems, safety net system, or personal edge of an excavation six feet or more arrest systems. If the employer can fall arrest system. If the employer can deep shall be protected from falling by demonstrate that it is infeasible or demonstrate that it is infeasible or guardrail systems, fences, barricades, creates a greater hazard to implement creates a greater hazard to use these or covers when the excavation cannot these systems, he or she must develop systems, the employer shall develop be readily seen. Where walkways and implement a fall protection plan and implement a fall protection plan are provided to permit employees to that meets the requirements of 29 CFR which meets the requirements of cross over excavations, guardrails are 1926.502(k). 1926.502(k).