Fall Protection for Construction

 

Construction workers continue to fall to their deaths in record numbers. In 1996, 292 construction workers lost their lives because of a fall. Your company has a duty to anticipate your need for fall protection. Careful planning and preparation lay the groundwork for an accident-free worksite. However, your employer is not perfect; you need to be involved in the process.

Before you go to work at heights six feet or higher, your employer needs to look at a few issues. They need to: (1) understand the duty to provide fall protection, (2) assess the worksite for fall hazards, and (3) select the correct protection system.

You are a valuable source for locating hazards. Your company should involve you in the process, and teach you how to do worksite assessments, recognize fall hazards, and select the proper fall equipment.

A duty to provide fall protection
When you are working six feet or more above lower levels, OSHA points out specific areas and operations where fall protection is required. They are: ramps, runways, walkways, excavations, hoist areas, holes, form and reinforcing steel work, leading edge work, unprotected sides and edges, overhand bricklaying and related work, roofing work, precast concrete erection, wall openings, and residential construction.

The OSHA rules point out the protection options you have to satisfy the requirement. If the situation is not “listed” in the OSHA rules then 1926.501(b)(15) (walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed), is appropriate. This reference says that if none of the other situations fit, you must still be protected when working six feet or more above lower levels by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest equipment.

Worksite assessment
Before going to work, a worksite survey must be done to determine if the walking/working surface on which you are going to work has the strength and structural integrity to safely support you, your fellow workers, and all equipment. Once it is determined that the surface is safe, one of the fall protection options for the particular work operation must be selected if the walking/working surface is six feet or more above a lower level.

As you can see, going to work at heights above six feet is more than just going to work. Much effort is involved in ensuring your safety. Your supervisor, safety guru, or other workers can’t do it alone; you must be involved in the process. Don’t go to work in unsafe conditions; bring them to the attention of your supervisor.

Fall Protection Equipment and Systems

 

Before you begin work on a project that requires fall protection (whenever you are working six feet or more above a lower level), your employer must provide all required fall protection equipment, and install all required fall and falling object protection systems.

The equipment and systems must comply with the OSHA fall protection rules at 29 CFR 1926.502.

The three most common methods of providing fall protection are guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems. These are referred to as primary systems.

Guardrails
Guardrails are barriers put up to prevent falls to a lower level. They can be used to protect you from falls: from unprotected sides and edges; during leading edge work; through holes—including skylights; from ramps, runways, or other walkways; and into or onto dangerous equipment.

Safety nets
Safety nets are used as protection at unprotected sides, leading edges, working on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel, overhead or below surface bricklaying, work on roofs, precast concrete work, residential construction, and wall openings.

Personal fall arrest equipment
Body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. Body belts are o.k. when used as positioning devices.
Only locking type snaphooks can be used.

Personal fall arrest equipment protects you from falling when working around unprotected sides and edges, leading edge work, in hoist areas when loading or unloading materials, form and reinforcing steel work, overhead or below surface bricklaying, work on low-sloped or steep roofs, precast concrete work, residential construction, and wall openings.

Other fall protection systems
The fall protection rule lists other systems and equipment you can use in certain situations. Some of them are safety monitoring systems, warning lines, and positioning devices.

In order to use any of the systems and equipment described above, you must be trained to do so by your company “competent person.” That person must be qualified to teach you those systems and equipment you will be using.

Designated Path

 

 

Overview
All buildings must have a way of allowing occupants fast exit to the outside or a safe place of refuge in case of an emergency. These exits can be hallways, corridors, balconies, ramps, stairs, or lobbies.

The designated paths of exit must be arranged and maintained to provide a free and unob¬structed means to exit all parts of the building at all times. Employers must also ensure that these paths are accessible to occupants who have impaired mobility.

Exits must lead directly outside, to a refuge area, or to an open space with access to the outside. The area beyond the exit has to have enough room to accommodate the people who are likely to use the exit.

Exit doors:
• must be able to be readily opened without having to use keys, tools, or special knowledge.
• cannot have any alarm or device that would restrict emergency use of the exit if the device fails.

What must my employer do?
Your employer will explain how to locate exits in your facility, and what you should do if you are required to exit the building in an emergency

What must I do?
You must become aware of at least two exits from your area of the workplace.
You have the duty to not block exits or paths of exits, and alert your employer if you notice exits that are blocked.

Control Explosives and Blasting Agents

 

Overview
OSHA regulates the manufacture, storage, transportation, and use of explosives, blasting agents, and pyrotechnics.

What types of explosives are there?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, explosives can be broken down into three categories:

Class A—those explosives that have a detonating, or otherwise maximum hazard, such as dynamite, nitroglycerin, picric acid, blasting caps, and detonating primers.

Class B—those explosives that have a flammable hazard, such as propellant explosives, photographic flash powders, and some special fireworks.

Class C—those manufactured articles that contain Class A or Class B explosives, or both, as components but in restricted quantities.

Safe Operating Procedures
Explosives must be handled with extreme care. Some of the basic guidelines for handling explosives include:

• No smoking near the explosive material or while on a vehicle used to transport.

• No carrying of firearms.

• No reckless or careless loading, unloading, or driving of a transport vehicle.

Transporting Explosives
Individuals who transport explosives must be aware of several items when performing this duty. When transporting explosives or blasting agents, the operators of the transporting vehicles need to know and understand:

• The state and local laws pertinent to that particular area.

• Traffic regulations and the hazardous properties of the commodities being transported.

• How and when to contact the appropriate authorities such as local fire and police departments when transferring the explosives from one vehicle to another, or when a breakdown or collision occurs.

• The procedures for handling emergency situations.

• Proper and qualified supervision required for transfer from one vehicle to another.