Construction

Falls from heights are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, and this course is designed to help you better understand the Fall Protection in Construction standard’s requirements and the reasons behind them. This course is the first part of OSHA's Focus Four Hazards series. 

Most worksites have fall hazards, and many workers are exposed to them on a daily basis.


What is a fall hazard?
A fall hazard is anything at your worksite that could cause you to lose your balance or lose bodily support and result in a fall.
Any walking or working surface can be a potential fall hazard.


OSHA generally requires that fall protection be provided at four feet in general industry, five feet in maritime, and...
...six feet in construction.
However, regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.
The importance of fall protection cannot be stressed enough.


Any time you are working at a height of four feet or more, you are at risk.


**Use fall protection equipment **
The three generally accepted methods of protection for workers on a construction site who are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more are:


Undergo training
Your employer must provide you with training if you are exposed to fall hazards.
The training program must train you to recognize the hazards of falling and explain the procedures to be followed in order to minimize fall hazards.
You must also be trained before working on scaffolds and when working with ladders.


What are the three generally accepted methods of protection
for construction workers who are exposed to vertical drops of 6 feet or more?


Understand your company’s written fall protection plan.
Attend and participate in fall prevention training.
Use fall protection equipment if required for the job. Be sure the equipment is right for the task, fits properly and is in good condition.
Inspect fall protection equipment and devices before each use.
Make sure that floor holes, open shafts and riser penetrations are protected by sturdy guardrails or covers.
Get specialized training before working on scaffolds, lifts or ladders.
When using scaffolds, make sure there is proper access, full planking, stable footing and guard railing.
Keep your feet firmly on the platform on a boom lift and tie-off at all times.
Choose the correct ladder for the task, read the instructions, and be sure that the ladder is in good condition. Check for surrounding hazards,
stable footing, and the proper angle.
Identify skylights and make sure they are properly protected.
Contact your supervisor if you see fall hazards or have any questions about fall prevention. Do not work until unsafe conditions have been
corrected.


Fall Protection Guidelines for Workers:


What does my employer have to do to keep us safe from falls?


** Provide fall protection**
OSHA’s fall protection standards require employers to provide fall protection for you when you are exposed to a fall hazard.


**Ensure proper scaffold construction **
Employers must construct all scaffolds according to the manufacturer’s instructions.


Ensure safe ladder use and condition
Employers are required to provide ladders where necessary and maintain the ladders in proper condition. Employers must also train workers to recognize ladder and stairway hazards.


Conduct worksite maintenance
Employers are required to keep worksites free of form and scrap lumber with protruding nails and other waste and trash, including combustible debris.


Provide training
As discussed, your employer must provide you with training on fall hazards and the required personal protective equipment.


Preventing Falls

Guardrail and Safety Net

Fall Hazards
Personal Fall Arrest System


Snaphooks and D-rings
Your employer should provide you with snaphooks that are ** locking type.**
They should have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 lbs.


Horizontal Lifelines
This system increases the protected area of your PFAS. They should maintain a safety factor of at least two.


Vertical Lifelines & Lanyards
Lanyards must be protected against cuts and abrasions. They should have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs.
Note: Each worker must be attached to a separate vertical lifeline.


Self-retracting Lifelines and Lanyards
There are two types:
Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that can automatically limit free fall distance to 2 ft. or less should be able to withstand a load of at least 3,000 lbs.
Those that do not have this capability should sustain at least 5,000 lbs.


Ropes & Straps
Webbings of straps and ropes must be made of synthetic fibers.


Anchorages
Anchorages should be able to support at least 5,000 lbs per worker. They should not be attached to any anchorage used to support or suspend a platform.


Use your PFAS properly.
Your fall protection is only as effective as your commitment to using it the right way.


Do not directly connect snaphooks to:
webbing, rope or wire,
to other snaphooks,
to a  D-ring to which another snaphook or other connector is attached,
to a horizontal lifeline,
to any other object that can accidentally open the snap


Your body harness should be a snug fit for you.
When straps and buckles are too loose or in the wrong places, they can cause injury to your ribs, arms or groin.


The attachment of the body harness should be centered at your back between your shoulder blades.
Adjust the straps so that they are not too loose, or not too tight. If you can slip two fingers under the leg straps, then you have the perfect fit.


Which among the images show a proper way to wear a body harness?
There may be more than one correct answer.


Personal Fall Arrest System Checklist
You can use a checklist for systematic pre-use inspection of your PFAS.
Here's a template you can use:
iAuditor PFAS Checklist


Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Ladders are one of the most common pieces of equipment on a construction site. But that doesn't mean they are safe.


There are construction workers who  are injured or killed falling from  a height every day.
Using ladders more safely is one way to start preventing falls at your work site.


Make sure that a ladder is the best equipment for what you need
to do.
Many times, the ladder is the only physical support you have while you are working. If it fails, you can fall.
That's why it is so important to **find the right ladder **when you need to use one.
The three main types of ladders that are commonly used in construction are:
Straight/Extension ladders
Stepladders
and Job-made Wooden Ladders


The first step in using ladder safely is choosing the right ladder for the job.


Question:
If you weigh 220 pounds and your gear weighs about 15 pounds, which ladder-type should you use?


Safety tips when using extension ladders:


Extend the top of the ladder 3 feet above the landing.


Do not use a stepladder with spreaders unlocked.
Do not use the top step or cap as a step.


Safety tips when using job made wooden ladders:


What is the worker in the picture doing wrong?
Select all that apply


While contractors and foremen can do many things to organize the worksite to be safer...
...you yourself can also make some inexpensive, simple changes to the way you work to save your life.


Remember, falls from portable ladders can be prevented.


Safe Ladder Use

What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a temporary structure in the form of a timber or steel framework over which the workmen can sit and carry on the construction work.


It is needed for the **new construction, repairs of structure **or even demolition of a building.


Scaffolding is generally needed when the height of the structural member (wall, column, etc.) is greater than 1.5m.


Scaffolding is made from sufficient strong and stable materials to easily support and carry workman and construction materials placed on it.


Overloading Hazard
Scaffold boards when overloaded can break or shatter.


Risk of scaffold collapse
When scaffolds are not designed or installed properly, they may collapse from their own weight or the load (worker and materials).


Struck by Falling Objects
Materials and tools may fall down from the scaffolding and hit a worker underneath.


Risk of Falling
Because scaffolds are used when working at a height, a fall can cause minor to fatal injuries.


OSHA outlines the requirements for scaffold design, installation, and use.
These requirements provide guidelines on the following:
Capacity
Platform Construction
Access
Fall Protection
Safe Use
*Let's explore each of these requirements. *


How can we work safely with scaffolds?


Employers must provide access when the scaffold platforms are more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) above or below a point of access.


Direct access is acceptable when the scaffold is NOT more than 14 inches (36 centimeters) horizontally and NOT more than 24 inches (61centimeters) vertically from the other surfaces.


Steps and rungs of ladder and stairway type access shall line up vertically with each other between rest platforms.


The OSHA standard strictly prohibits the use of crossbraces as a means of access.


There may be more than one correct answer


What types of access are acceptable?


The OSHA standard strictly prohibits shore and lean-to scaffolds.


Employees are also prohibited from working on scaffolds  prior to removing snow, ice, or other slippery materials on its surface.


The OSHA standard for the specific distance clearance between scaffolds and powerlines must be strictly followed.


Scaffolds and scaffold components shall be inspected for visible defects before each work shift, and after any occurrence which could affect a scaffold's structural integrity.


Any part of a scaffold damaged or weakened shall be immediately repaired, replaced, or removed from service until issue has been fixed.


Never load scaffolds and its components beyond their rated and maximum capacities.
Do not move scaffolds when employees are on them.
Maintain a safe distance from energized power lines.
Do not work on scaffolds until snow, ice and other materials that could cause slipping and falls are removed.
Protect suspension ropes from contact with sources of heat (welding, cutting, etc.) and from acids and other corrosive substances.
Do not use scaffolds during storms and high winds.
Remove debris and unnecessary materials from scaffold platforms.
Never use ladders and other devices to increase working heights on platforms.


Guidelines for Use


LEARN MORE
To learn more about scaffold safety and related OSHA standards, you may download this booklet:
A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry


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