Fall Protection
(PFA’S) Personal Fall Arrest System
Right use of Full Body Harness
Page 1 January 2019 Fall Protection (PFA’S) – Right use of full body harness TP1000 Project - EHS Department
Training Objectives
A – Introduction
• Importance of Fall Protection
• Common Hazards
• Identifying Fall Hazards Associated with the Work Place
• Common Worker Errors
• Fall Protection Requirement
B – Fall Protection Basics
• What is Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint
• Types of Fall Protection
• Fall Safety Equipment
• Inspecting, Maintaining and Storing Equipment
C – Fall Arrest Systems
• Parts of the Fall Arrest System (ABC’s)
• Using a Personal Fall Arrest System
• Fall Clearance Distance Calculations (FCD)
• After the Fall (Rescue)
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Introduction - Importance of Fall Protection
In construction, approximately 150-200
workers are killed annually due to falls
(source = OSHA).
On TP1000 Project leading cause of
near-miss is work at height violations
(source = TP1000 Statistics).
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Introduction - Common Hazards
Overhead Platforms
Overhead Runways
Elevated Work Stations Source of photos: OSHA
Floor Openings/Pits
Wall Openings
Shelving Units
Stationary Storage Tanks
Source of photos: OSHA
Tanker Trucks
Industrial Production Units
Source: WVU Source: OSHA Source: OSHA
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Introduction - Identifying Fall Hazards Associated with the Work Place
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Introduction - Common Worker Errors
Why Even Good Workers Ignore Fall Protection
The following are some characteristics that have been identified in employees that have been involved in a fall:
• They are in a hurry
• They don’t think a situation is dangerous enough to require fall protection.
• They think they’re experienced enough to avoid injury.
• It’s easy to forget where you are in the press of work.
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Introduction - Fall Protection Requirement
• OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M
• (1926.500-503)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subparts D, F, I
• (1910.23, 66, 67, 132)
– General Industry (OSHA 1910) – must have in
place if working at or above four (4) feet
– Maritime (OSHA 1915) – must have in place if
working at or above five (5) feet
– Construction (OSHA 1926) – must have in place
if working at or above six (6) feet
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Fall Protection Basics - What is Fall Arrest and Fall Restraint
Fall Protection: A group of measures, techniques and equipment used to provide employees a safe working environment
by preventing or arresting the fall.
Three types of Fall Protection
1. Fall Arrest Systems 2. Fall Restraint Systems 3. Positioning Device Systems
Employer Responsibilities: Employee Responsibilities:
• Provide a safe work environment by ensuring that all working and walking • To use fall protection equipment in accordance with employer and the
surfaces are structurally safe and sound. manufacturer’s policies.
• Provide proper fall protection training. • To properly inspect all personal fall restraint systems prior to each use.
• Provide all personal protective equipment as part of fall prevention • To report all defective components to your employer and remove them from
training. service if necessary.
• Employers need to establish written safety policies with respect to fall • Do your part to encourage a safety culture at your workplace that takes the
protection. necessary steps for a safe work
• Employers must ensure that employees are using their PPE. environment.
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Fall Protection Basics - Types of Fall Protection
Elimination consists of taking steps to completely remove the fall hazard. The
focus of the example on this slide is to emphasize changing the work situation
to minimize, or eliminate, the exposure to the fall hazard.
With an engineered control, the concept is to:
• Engineer a solution
• Change the environment
• Vastly reduce the exposure to a hazard
Administrative controls are steps taken to change the way that people work.
Many Administrative Controls revolve around policies and procedures in the
workplace.
Personal Protective Equipment is the last line of defense and the least
desirable fall prevention strategy.
The Personal Fall Arrest System, or PFAS, is a fall arrest system that is worn by
the employee to arrest the employee in a fall from elevation.
The PFAS consists of an anchor point, connectors, a full body harness, and
may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations
of these.
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Fall Protection Basics - Fall Safety Equipment
Fall Restraint vs. Fall Arrest
Fall Restraint: Intended to prevent a fall from occurring.
Fall Arrest: Intended to arrest or stop the fall after a fall has occurred and prevent the worker from striking a lower level
Fall Restraint: Guard Rails
Railings that are installed along all open sides of a low slope where there is a fall of 4 feet or more to protect the person
from the fall hazard.
Parts of the Guard Rail (with specifications):
Top Rail: The top rail should be located between 39 and 45 inches from floor.
Mid Rail: The mid rail is placed between the top rail and the surface.
Toe-board: The toe-board is at least 4 inches in vertical height with no more than a ¼ inch gap between the bottom of the Toe-board
and the surface below.
Posts: The posts must not be spaced at a distance that is greater than 8 feet.
The anchoring of posts and framing of members for railings of all types shall be of such construction that the completed
structure shall be capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS): The Personal Fall Arrest System, or PFAS, is a fall arrest system that is worn by the
employee to arrest the employee in a fall from elevation.
PFAS is comprised of multiple parts: May also include:
• Anchor Point • Lanyard
• Connectors • Deceleration Device
• Full Body Harness • Lifeline
• Other suitable combination of these
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Fall Protection Basics - Inspecting, Maintaining and Storing Equipment
Inspecting the Equipment
Each piece of PFAS should be inspected visually prior to each use and extensively after each instance of a fall
arrest.
Damage to equipment can happen which can easily compromise worker safety.
The following pieces of equipment should be a part of your daily inspection process:
• Full Body Harness
• Lanyard
• Snap hook
• Self retracting lifeline
Inspecting the Full Body Harness
When inspecting a full body harness, be sure to examine the following:
• Closely examine all nylon webbing for burn marks, tears, wear points, mildew, etc..
• Ensure no torn, frayed, broken fibers, pulled stitches, or frayed edges are found
anywhere on the harness.
• Examine D-Ring to ensure no pits, deterioration, cracks, or excessive wear.
• Ensure all grommets, if present, are secure and not deformed from fall or abuse.
• Ensure all rivets are tight and not deformed.
• Harness should be stored hanging in enclosed cabinet to protect from damage.
• Harnesses damaged and involved in falls must be removed from service.
• Inspections should be in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
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Fall Protection Basics - Inspecting, Maintaining and Storing Equipment
Inspecting the Lanyard Inspecting the Self-Retracting Lifeline
When inspecting a lanyard, be sure to examine the following: When inspecting a self-retracting lifeline, be sure to examine the
• Check lanyard material for burns, cuts, rips, abrasions, kinks, knots, following:
broken stitches, mildew and excessive wear. • Visually inspect body to ensure no damage.
• Ensure snap hooks are not distorted. • Make sure all nuts or rivets are tight.
• Check carabiner for excessive wear, distortion, and lock operation. • Inspect the entire length of the wire rope for unusual wear
• Ensure all locking mechanisms seat and lock properly. patterns and broken strands or wires.
• Once locked, locking mechanism should prevent hook from opening. • Test unit by pulling sharply on lifeline to verify locking
• Visually inspect shock absorber for signs of deployment or damage. mechanism is working properly.
• Ensure points where lanyard attaches to snap hooks are free of defects. • Inspections should also be in accordance with manufacturer’s
• Include all manufacturer’s recommendations regarding inspections for recommendations
the lanyard. Storage & Maintenance of Fall Protection Equipment
Storage & Maintenance of Fall Prevention Equipment Points of
Inspecting the Double Locking Snap Hook Emphasis:
• Always hang equipment in a cool, dry place.
When inspecting the snap hook, be sure to examine the following:
• Never store equipment in the bottom of a tool box.
• Look for hook and eye distortions.
• Avoid dirt build-up on equipment.
• Verify that there are no cracks, eye distortions, or pitted surfaces.
• Never “Force dry.”
• Ensure keeper latch is not bent, distorted, or obstructed.
• Never store in an area where exposure to fumes or corrosive
• Ensure keeper latch “seats” into the “nose” without binding.
elements may exist.
• Ensure keeper spring securely closes keeper latch.
• Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s recommendations for
• Test locking mechanism to verify it’s working properly
storing, inspecting, and maintaining all equipment.
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Fall Arrest Systems - Parts of the Fall Arrest System (ABC’s)
ABC serves as an acronym for the Personal Fall
Arrest System and an easy way to remember it’s
individual components:
A is for Anchor. In this example the anchor consists
of an I-Beam with a beam strap.
B is for Body Harness. Full body harnesses must be
used, a safety belt in lieu of a full body harness is
never allowed.
C is for Connecting Device. Connecting devices
technically refer to a device which is used to connect
parts of the personal
fall arrest system together such as snap hooks, D-
rings or carabiners. To help remember the parts of a
PFAS,
present them as the ABC’s of fall protection. Many
manufacturers describe any component that
connects the harness to the anchor point, such as
shock absorbing lanyards, self retracting lifelines or
positioning devices as connecting devices.
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Fall Arrest Systems - Using a Personal Fall Arrest System
Anchor Points/Anchorage
Anchor Points/Anchorage: The point of attachment for the lanyard, or lifeline, to a strong solid structure.
• Must be able to support 3,000 lbs (per employee) when used in conjunction with a self retracting lifeline or shock absorbing
lanyard.
• Must be able to support 5,000 lbs (per employee) for all other personal fall arrest system applications that maintain a safety
factor of at least two.
Horizontal Lifeline
A horizontal lifeline is a flexible line between two horizontal fixed anchorages to which a fall arrest device is connected. Allows a worker to move horizontally over a
span while still being safely anchored.
Connecting Device
A component or element used to couple parts of the system together, such as a harness to a shock absorbing lanyard to an
anchorage point.
Some of the components that make up a connecting device include:
• Shock-Absorbing Lanyard
• Self-Retracting Lifeline
• Locking snap-hook, carabiner or D-ring
Connecting Device: Shock-Absorbing Lanyard
The shock absorbing lanyard should limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to one thousand eight hundred pounds (8 kN).
• The shock absorbing lanyard should bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to three and one-half feet
(1.07 m).
• The shock absorbing lanyard should have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a maximum distance of six
feet (1.8 m).
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Fall Arrest Systems - Using a Personal Fall Arrest System
Connecting Device: Self-Retracting Lifeline
A self-retracting lifeline is a deceleration device containing a drum-wound line which can be slowly extracted from under
slight tension, but will automatically lock when a fall happens.
One of the advantages of a self-retracting lifeline is that a fall is arrested almost immediately. It takes less then 2 feet to
stop the fall.
Another advantage of self-retracting lifelines is that they allow a worker to move freely.
Connect the self retracting lifeline directly to the D-ring on the back of the full body harness. Using a shock absorbing
lanyard in conjunction with a self retracting lifeline may expose employees to greater fall distances than using a self
retracting lifeline alone. Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
Full Body Harness
The full body harness is a combination of straps that distribute the force of the fall over the chest, thighs, waist, pelvis and
shoulders. Harnesses have buckles and adjustable straps for proper fitting.
Another type of harness known as a body belt is not an authorized part of the PFAS. They can cause serious injury, and
even death, if used in a PFAS.
Donning a Harness
(VIDEO) / “Live Demonstration.”
Play a video or show the live demonstration.
Page 15 January 2019 Fall Protection (PFA’S) – Right use of full body harness TP1000 Project - EHS Department
Fall Arrest Systems - Fall Clearance Distance Calculations (FCD)
Required Fall Clearance Distance:
The distance from your anchor point to
the next lower level that will ensure
proper arrest after a fall before hitting
an obstruction.
In this example the worker fell from a
platform and the Required Fall
Clearance Distance allowed him to stop
3’ before hitting the ground.
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Fall Arrest Systems - Fall Clearance Distance Calculations (FCD)
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Fall Arrest Systems - After the Fall (Rescue)
Important Factors After a Fall Has Been Arrested:
• It is required that every employer have a written rescue plan ready for any falls.
• Suspension Trauma can set in in a matter of minutes. It is important to attend to the worker
immediately.
• Be sure that you are familiar with your company’s rescue plan so that you can jump to action
immediately.
Definition:
Suspension Trauma: Suspension trauma (also known as “harness‐induced pathology” or “orthostatic
shock while
suspended”) is the development of presyncopal symptoms and loss of consciousness if the human body
is held motionless
in a vertical position for a period of time.
Rescue Procedures: Self Rescue
Some workers will have access to a Personal Rescue Device (PRD) that will allow them to rescue themselves
after a fall.
A PRD can allow a person to manually climb back up, automatically raise themselves back up, or
automatically lower
themselves down after a fall.
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Fall Arrest Systems - After the Fall (Rescue)
Rescue Procedures: Aided Rescue
If a fallen person cannot rescue themselves, use ladders, aerial lifts, maintenance stands, or any other
available equipment to rescue the person.
Points of Emphasis:
• It is preferred to lower the person to the ground when possible.
• A suspended person may experience shock, faintness, or loss of circulation to the legs due to the fall.
• Assume the person has lost consciousness.
• Ask the person to move their arms and legs as if they are riding a bike to help maintain circulation
Swing Fall Hazards
• A condition that exists when a worker’s anchorage point is not directly above the worker when
they fall.
• The farther you move sideways from your anchor point, the greater the chance of swinging if you
fall.
• The more you swing, the greater the force will be if you strike an object
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Thanks
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