Fall Protection

Purpose
The purpose of this program is to ensure that affected employees can identify and control fall hazards in
order to protect themselves against those hazards. This is accomplished by establishing guidelines and
requirements that university supervisors and employees must uphold. There are various hazards
associated with fall protection, and this program has been developed to assist in mitigating those
hazards.
Standards
OSHA 29 CFR 1910 – General Industry Standards
1910.22 General Requirements
1910.23 Ladders
1910.67 Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms (Aerial lifts)
1910.269 Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 – Construction Standards
1926.451 General requirements (Scaffolding)
1926.501 Duty to have fall protection
1926.1052 Stairways
1926.1053 Ladders
Responsibilities
Safety Department
Safety has the primary responsibility for the implementation and enforcement of the Fall Protection
Program (FPP) and is responsible for the following:
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating the Fall Protection Program to ensure compliance.
• Reviewing Hazards and incidents associated with fall protection equipment.
• Assisting supervisors with employee training.
Supervisors
Supervisors in support and administrative areas are responsible for providing the necessary direction
and support to ensure the effective implementation of the Fall Protection Program for their work areas.
Supervisors are responsible for the following:
• Comply with all Fall Protection Program procedures.
• Identify all fall hazards and activities in their workplace and implement preventative measures
for these hazards.
• Ensure all affected employees attend and complete required training.
• Ensure that all personal fall arrest or restraint systems are maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications.
• Hands on training of all fall protection equipment is required.
• Ensure employees are using all fall protective equipment in accordance with OSHA regulations
Employees
Affected employees are responsible for the following:
• Comply with all Fall Protection Program procedures.
• Maintain all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to work at heights.
• Inspect all fall protection equipment prior to use.
• Attend and complete all training requirements.
• Immediately report all damaged or defective fall protection equipment to the supervisor
• Use all fall protection equipment in accordance with OSHA regulations.
Fall Protection Requirements
General Industry (1910)
All employees will be protected from falling when working on a surface that has an unprotected side,
edge, etc. or elevated work platforms at a height of 4 feet or more above an adjacent lower level.
Construction Industry (1926)
All employees preforming construction type activities will be protected from falling from a surface 6 feet
or more above a lower level. Scaffolds used during construction type activity requires fall protection to
be used at 10 feet or more above a lower level.
In each of these requirements, the fall hazards must be evaluated to determine the preferable method
to protect the employee. When considering what type of fall protection to use, the following solutions
should be considered:
• Elimination of the fall hazard by bringing the work down to ground level
• Use of passive fall protection systems such as guard rails
• Fall restraint to prevent a person reaching a fall hazard
• Fall arrest which utilizes equipment to stop a fall after it occurs
• Use administrative controls which use work practices to signal or warn an employee of a fall
hazard
General Industry Fall Hazards
The following are identified general industry fall hazards:
• Loading Docks
o Loading docks and other open sided floors greater than 4 feet above the ground must
be protected. The approved method of protection is the installation of a standard
guardrail system. The guardrail may have removable sections to provide access for
loading but rails must remain in place when access is not required.
• Floor and Wall Openings and Holes
o For stairway openings, standard railings shall be provided on all exposed sides except at
the stairway entrance. Where an employee can accidentally walk into a floor hole
opening measuring 12 inches but more than 1 inch in its least dimension, shall be
guarded by either a standard railing with toe board, or a floor hole cover of strength and
construction to support required load. A wall opening of 4 feet or more above an
adjacent surface shall be guarded.
• Open Sided Floors or Platforms
o An open sided floor or platform or a runway that is 4 feet or more above the ground
level or above the adjacent floor shall be guarded by a standard railing on all open sides
except for the entrance (to a ramp, stairway, or ladder). If equipment or materials could
fall and create a hazard, then the railing system must include a toe board on each side.
• Skylights
o Skylights are considered an opening when present on a roof. A standard guardrail or
skylight screen capable of supporting at least 200 pounds must be provided around the
opening to prevent employees from falling through to the surface below.
• Open Pits, Tanks, or Spillways
o Protect employees from hazards of open pits, tanks, and spillways by using covers
and/or guardrails.
Construction Industry Fall Hazards
The following are identified construction industry fall hazards:
• Aerial Lifts and Self-Powered Work Platforms
o Body harnesses must be worn with a lanyard, not to exceed 3 feet in length, or a selfretracting lifeline when working from all elevated mobile work platforms. The point of
attachment must be the anchor point of installation and designated by the equipment
manufacturer.
• Scissor lifts and telescoping lifts that can only move vertically do not require the use of a harness
and lanyard as long as the work platform is protected by a proper guardrail system and
occupants do not stand on or above guardrail system.
• An employee cannot move an aerial lift while the boom is in an elevated working position and
the operator is inside of the lift platform.
• Covers
o Covers located in roadways and vehicular aisles shall be capable of supporting, without
failure, at least twice the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross
over the cover.
o All other covers shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least twice the weight
of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one
time.
o All covers shall be secured when installed so as to prevent accidental displacement by
the wind, equipment, or employees.
• Dangerous Equipment
o Each employee less than 6 feet above dangerous equipment shall be protected from
falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by guardrail systems or by equipment
guards.
o Each employee 6 feet or more above dangerous equipment shall be protected from fall
hazards by guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety net systems.
• Excavations
o Each employee at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more in depth shall be protected
from falling by guardrail systems, fences, or barricades when the excavations are not
readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barrier. Each employee at the edge
of a well, pit, shaft, and similar excavation 6 feet or more in depth shall be protected
from falling by guardrail systems, fences, barricades, or covers.
• Holes
o Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling through
holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet above lower levels by personal fall arrest
systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around these areas.
o Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from tripping in or
stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by placing covers over the holes.
o Each employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from objects falling
through holes (including skylights) by placing covers over the holes.
• Leading Edge
• Each employee who is constructing a leading edge 6 feet or more above levels shall be
protected from falling by guardrails systems, safety net systems, or fall arrest systems.
Exception: when the supervisor can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard
to use these systems, the supervisor shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which
meets the requirements of OSHA 1926.502 (k).
• Each employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet or more above a lower level where leading
edges are under construction, but who is not engaged in the leading edge work, shall be
protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system.
Protection from Falling Objects
When an employee is exposed to falling objects, the supervisor shall have each employee wear a hard
hat and shall implement one of the following measures:
• Erect toe boards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling from higher
levels.
• 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.
• Barricade the area to which objects could fall, prohibit employees 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.
Roofing Work or Low-Slope Roofs
Each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet
or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, personal fall arrest
systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, or warning line system and
personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50 feet or
less in width the use of a safety monitoring system alone is permitted.
Steep Roofs
Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 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.
Unprotected Sides and Edges
Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side
or edge 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.
Wall Openings
Each employee working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached)
where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet or more above lower levels and the inside
bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the walking/working surface, shall be
protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest
system.
Fall Protection Systems
One of the following systems shall be in place whenever an employee is exposed to a fall hazard:
• Guardrail Systems
o The use of guardrail systems is considered a passive method of fall protection and is
actually the preferred method for eliminating fall hazards.
o Guardrails are needed at the edge of work areas 6 feet or more in height to protect
employees from falling. This includes the edge of excavations greater than six feet in
depth. Guardrail systems need to meet the following criteria:
o Top rail is 42 inches, +/- 3 inches above the walking/working level
o Mid rail is located midway between the top rail and the walking/working level
o It is important to remember that the working level is that level where the work is being
done. Someone working on a stepladder next to an edge may raise his/her working
surface well above the walking surface.
o Both top and mid rails should be constructed of materials at least one-quarter inch in
thickness or diameter. If wire rope is used for top rails, it needs to be flagged with a
high-visibility material at least every 6 feet and can have no more than 3” of deflection
o The top rail needs to withstand a force of 200 pounds when applied in any downward or
outward direction.
o The mid rail needs to withstand a force of 150 pounds applied in any downward or
outward direction.
o Toe boards are required for all guardrails on elevated walking or working platforms
where employees working below are exposed to falling objects. Toe boards must be
four inches in height and must be securely fastened.
o The system should be smooth to prevent punctures, lacerations or snagging of clothing.
o The ends of the top rail shouldn’t overhang the terminal posts, except when such
overhang does not present a projection hazard.
o When a hoisting area is needed, a chain, gate or removable guardrail section must be
placed across the access opening when hoisting operations are not taking place.
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems
o When an employee is requiring the use of personal fall protection equipment they shall
employ another employee to render assistance when and if required.
o There are three main components to the personal fall arrest system. This includes the
personal protective equipment the employee wears, the connecting devices, and the
anchorage point. Prior to tying off to perform the work a means of rescue in the event
of a fall must be immediately available. All personal fall arrest system components must
meet the requirements of the ANSI Z359 Standards.
o The system needs to meet the following criteria for each component:
 Personal Protective Equipment
• Full body harnesses are required. The use of body belts is prohibited.
• The attachment point of the body harness is the center D-ring on the
back.
• Employees must always tie off at or above the D ring of the harness
except when using lanyards 3 feet or less in length.
• Harnesses or lanyards that have been subjected to an impact load shall
be destroyed.
• Load testing shall not be performed on fall protection equipment.
 Connecting devices
• This device can be a rope or web lanyard, rope grab or retractable
lifeline.
• Only locking snap hooks may be used.
• Horizontal lifelines will be designed by a qualified person and installed
in accordance with the design requirements.
• Lanyards and vertical lifelines need a minimum breaking strength of
5,000 pounds.
• The length of a single lanyard shall not exceed six feet.
• The use of steel lanyards is prohibited.
• Lanyards may not be clipped back to itself (e.g. around an anchor point)
unless specifically designed to do so.
• If vertical lifelines are used, each employee will be attached to a
separate lifeline.
• Lifelines need to be protected against being cut or abraded
 Anchorage
 Secure anchor points are the most critical component when employees must
use fall arrest equipment. Campus buildings may have existing structures (e.g.,
steel beams that may meet the criteria for a secure anchor point). Other work
locations and assignments may require the installation of a temporary or
permanent anchor. As a minimum, the following criteria must be considered for
each type of anchor point:
• Structure must be sound and capable of withstanding a 5000 lb. static
load.
• Structure/anchor must be easily accessible to avoid fall hazards during
hook up.
• Direct tying off around sharp edged structures can reduce breaking
strength by 70% therefore; chafing pads or abrasion resistant straps
must be used around sharp edged structures to prevent cutting action
against safety lanyards or lifelines.
• Structures used as anchor points must be at the worker’s shoulder level
or higher to limit free fall to 6 feet or less and prevent contact with any
lower level (except when using a self-retracting lifeline or 3 foot
lanyard).
• Choose structures for anchor points that will prevent swing fall hazards.
Potentially dangerous “pendulum” like swing falls can result when a
worker moves horizontally away from a fixed anchor point and falls. The
arc of the swing produces as much energy as a vertical free fall and the
hazard of swinging into an obstruction becomes a major factor. Raising
the height of the anchor point can reduce the angle of the arc and the
force of the swing. Horizontal lifelines can help maintain the attachment
point overhead and limit the fall vertically. A qualified person must
design a horizontal lifeline.
 Permanent Anchor Requirements
 In addition to all the criteria listed above, the following points must be
considered:
• Environmental factors and dissimilarity of materials can degrade
exposed anchors.
• Compatibility of permanent anchors with employee’s fall arrest
equipment.
• Inclusion of permanent anchors into a Preventive Maintenance Program
with scheduled annual re-certification.
• Visibly label permanent anchors.
• Roof anchors must be immediately removed from service and recertified if subjected to fall arrest forces.
• Reusable Temporary Anchors
• Reusable temporary roof anchors must be installed and used following
the manufacturer’s installation guidelines.
• Roof anchors must be compatible with employee’s fall arrest
equipment.
• Roof anchors must be removed from service at the completion of the
job and inspected prior to reuse following the manufacturer’s
inspection guidelines.
• Roof anchors must be immediately removed from service and disposed
of if subjected to fall arrest forces.
 Complete system
• If a fall occurs, the employee should not be able to free fall more than 6
feet nor contact a lower level.
• To ensure this, add the height of the worker, the lanyard length and an
elongation length of 5.5 feet. Using this formula, a six-foot worker
would require a tie-off point at least 15.5 feet above the next lower
level.
• A personal fall arrest system that was subjected to an impact needs to
be removed from service immediately.
• Personal fall arrest systems need to be inspected prior to each use and
damaged or deteriorated components removed from service.
• Personal fall arrest systems should not be attached to guardrails or
hoists.
 Warning Line System
 The warning line shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area.
 When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line shall be
erected not less than 6 feet from the roof edge.
 When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line shall be erected
not less than 6 feet from the roof edge which is parallel to the direction of
mechanical equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet from the roof edge
which is perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation.
 Points of access, materials handling areas, storage areas, and hoisting areas
shall be connected to the work area by an access path formed by two warning
lines.
 When the path to a point of access is not in use, a rope, wire, chain, or other
barricade, equivalent in strength and height to the warning line, shall be placed
across the path at the point where the path intersects the warning line erected
around the work area, or the path shall be offset such that a person cannot walk
directly into the work area.
 Warning lines shall consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting stanchions
erected as follows:
• The rope, wire, or chain shall be flagged at not more than 6 foot
intervals with high-visibility material.
• The rope, wire, or chain shall be rigged and supported in such a way
that its lowest point (including sag) is no less than 34 inches from the
walking/working surface and its highest point is no more than 39 inches
from the walking/working surface.
• After being erected, with the rope, wire, or chain attached, stanchions
shall be capable of resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16
pounds applied horizontally against the stanchion, 30 inches above the
walking/working surface, perpendicular to the warning line, and in the
direction of the floor, roof, or platform edge.
• The rope, wire, or chain shall have a minimum tensile strength of 500
pounds, and after being attached to the stanchions, shall be capable of
supporting, without breaking, the loads applied to the stanchions.
• The line shall be attached at each stanchion in such a way that pulling
on one section of the line between stanchions will not result in slack
being taken up in adjacent sections before the stanchion tips over.
 No employee shall be allowed in the area between a roof edge and a warning
line unless the employee is performing roofing work in that area.
 Mechanical equipment on roofs shall be used or stored only in areas where
employees are protected by a warning line system, guardrail system, or
personal fall arrest system.
 Inspection
 The employee shall inspect the entire personal fall arrest system prior to every
use. The competent person will inspect the entire system in use at the initial
installation and weekly thereafter. The visual inspection of a personal fall arrest
system shall follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Any components of a
personal fall arrest system noted to be damaged shall be removed from service
immediately.
 Webbing
 Inspect the entire surface of webbing for damage. Beginning at one end, bend
the webbing in an inverted “U”. Holding the body side of the belt toward you,
grasp the belt with your hands six to eight inches apart. This surface tension
makes the damaged fibers or cuts easier to see. Watch for frayed edges, broken
fibers, pulled stitches, cuts, burns, and chemical damage.
 “D” Rings/Back Pads
 Check “D” rings for distortion, cracks, breaks, and rough or sharp edges. The “D”
ring should pivot freely. “D” ring back pads should also be inspected for damage.
 Attachment of Buckles
 Note any unusual wear, frayed or cut fiber, or distortion of the buckles.
 Tongue/Grommet
 The tongue receives heavy wear from repeated buckling and unbuckling. Inspect
for loose, distorted or broken grommets. The webbing should not have any
additional punched holes.
 Tongue Buckle
 Buckle tongues should be free of distortion in shape and motion. They should
overlap the buckle frame and move freely back and forth in their socket. The
roller should turn freely on the frame. Check for distortion or sharp edges.
 Friction and Mating Buckles
 Inspect the buckle for distortion. The outer bars and center bars must be
straight. Pay special attention to corners and attachment points of the center
bar.
 Lanyard Inspection Hardware
 Snaps: Inspect closely for hook and eye distortions, cracks, corrosion, or pitted
surfaces. The keeper (latch) should seat into the nose without binding and
should not be distorted or obstructed. The keeper spring should exert sufficient
force to firmly close the keeper. Keeper locks must prevent the keeper from
opening when the keeper closes.
 Thimbles: The thimble must be firmly seated in the eye of the splice, and splice
should have no loose or cut strands. The edges of the thimble must be free of
sharp edges, distortion, or cracks.
 Web Lanyard
 While bending the webbing over a curved surface such as a pipe, observe each
side of the webbed lanyard. This will reveal any cuts or breaks. Examine the
webbing for swelling, discoloration, cracks, or burns. Observe closely for any
breaks in the stitching.
 Rope Lanyard
 Rotation of the rope lanyard while inspecting from end to end will bring to light
any fuzzy, worn, broken or cut fibers. Weakened areas from extreme loads will
appear as a noticeable change from the original diameter. The rope diameter
should be uniform throughout, following a short break-in period. Make sure the
rope has no knots tied in it. Knots can reduce the strength of the rope by up to
60%.
 Shock-absorbing Lanyard
 Shock-absorbing lanyards should be examined as a web lanyard. However, also
look for signs of deployment. If the lanyard shows signs of having been put
under load (e.g. torn out stitching), remove it from service.
 Self-Retracting Lanyard/Lifeline
 The lanyard housing must be inspected to ensure that casing bolts are tight and
that there are no loose fasteners, missing parts, cracks or excessive wear or
corrosion.
 Webbing must be inspected for cuts, nicks or tears as well as for any broken
fibers, stitching or fraying.
 Steel lanyards should be inspected for cuts, fraying, broken wires and overall
deterioration and excessive wear.
 Fittings are to be inspected for wear or cracks and obvious damage.
 Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for additional inspection tasks and for
any requirements that the unit be sent in to the manufacturer for periodic
inspection.
Storage of Fall Protection Equipment
Fall protection equipment must be appropriately stored to prevent damage or aging of material.
Ladders
All ladders in use by employees will meet the following requirements:
 Only wooden ladders or ladders made of other synthetic materials shall be used where an
electrical hazard exists.
 All ladders must be inspected daily before use.
 Ladders should be stored in such a way as to prevent damage from sagging, weather conditions,
excessive heat, etc.
 If a ladder is found to be damaged and is deemed unsafe, it shall be tagged “out of service”,
made inoperable, or removed from the jobsite.
 Ladders shall not be left unattended in the upright position and should be removed once the
worker has ascended the ladder.
 When setting up a portable ladder, be sure to set the ladder at the proper angle to the building
(usually about 25% of the ladder’s vertical height).
 Never lean a ladder against cables or wires of any type.
 Use the help of another worker to extend the ladder to the proper height and positioning.
 Be sure the locks are secure.
 When a climber is ascending the ladder, another worker should be used to stabilize the ladder
by holding the sides and supporting the feet of the ladder.
 The climber should use the three-point method when climbing a ladder. This means that two
hands and one foot or two feet and one hand should be in contact with the ladder at all times
during the climb.
 Never carry tools up the ladder in one hand. Always use two hands to climb.
 Never climb a ladder from the side or underside.
 Never “walk” or “shift” a ladder while standing on it.
Training
 Each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards must be trained to recognize the hazards
and the procedures to follow to minimize the hazards. Training should consist of the following:
 Review of OSHA requirements for fall protection.
 Fall hazards in the work area.
 Correct procedures for erecting, using, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall
prevention and protection systems.
 The proper use of fall protection equipment.
 Limitations of fall protection equipment.
 Receiving emergency assistance.
Contractors
 Contractors performing work on state property shall follow all OSHA guidelines for fall
protection as applicable in 29 CFR 1926.500