Tying Off and Safety Nets

These tailgate/toolbox talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The complete set is available from the Labor Occupational Health Program at UC Berkeley. For ordering information, visit the website (www.lohp.org) The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. To contact ACGIH, visit its web site (www.acgih.org).

Date Prepared:_________________________	By:_______________________
Project Name/No.______________________	Location:__________________

• Check the box if the statement is true.
  
  
• Fill in the blanks where the appears.

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

• The company has a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) that meets all Cal/OSHA requirements. It includes identification of hazards on the site that could cause falls, as well as regular inspections, accident investigation, and correction of hazardous conditions. [1509]

SAFETY BELTS AND LIFELINES

• Whenever guardrails are not practical, employees tie off using safety belts with lifelines, or harnesses with lifelines, when working:
  
  
  • On any structure at heights over 7½ feet (if there is danger of falling from the perimeter; through elevator shafts, other shaftways, or openings; or from steep sloped surfaces). [1670(a)]
    
    
  • From thrustouts, trusses, beams, purlins, and plates at heights over 15 feet. [1669(a)]
    
    
  • On skeleton steel of a multistory structure at heights over 15 feet. (Not required when connecting beams.) [1710(g)(2)]
    
    
  • On a steep roof (1/3 pitch or steeper) while using tools such as pneumatic nailers and staplers. [1704(d)]
    
    
  • From a boatswain chair [1662(c)], floating scaffold [1663(a)(5)], needle-beam scaffold [1664(a)(12)],orsuspended scaffold [1660(g)].

   

Locations on this site where workers will have to tie off: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

• Although jobs on this site meet some of the criteria above, workers do not tie off because: (1) the job is of limited duration, (2) the hazard involved in setting up the safety device is equal to or greater than the hazard of the job, and (c) immediate competent supervision
  is provided. [1669(c)].

(If applicable:) Name of competent supervisor:_____________

SELECTION AND INSPECTION OF SAFETY BELTS AND LIFELINES

• Belts, harnesses, and lanyards are labeled as meeting American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard A 10.14 1975, Requirements for Safety Belts, Harnesses, Lifelines and Drop Lines for Construction and Industrial Use. [1670(i)]
  
• Belts are made of reinforced mylar, not leather. [1670(i)]
  
• All hardware is made of drop-forged steel or its equivalent, with a corrosion-resistant finish and surfaces that are smooth and free of sharp projections. [1670(i)]
  
• Fall arresting, descent control, and rescue equipment is of an approved type, and used only according to the manufacturer’s instructions. [1670(d) and 1505(a)]
  
• Drop lines and anchorage's can support a dead weight of at least 5400 pounds. [1670(g)]
  
• Lines and belts exposed to potential fraying or rope damage are protected and have wire rope centers. [1670(h)]
  
• Lines and belts are inspected for signs of wear. All seriously frayed, worn, or damaged equipment is removed from service. [1670(h)]
  
• Safety hooks and belt clasps are of an approved type and functioning properly. [1670(i)]
  
• Lanyards, safety belts, and drop lines are removed from service if they have been subjected to in-service loading (i.e. if they have broken someone’s fall). [1670(f)]

CORRECT USE OF SAFETY BELTS AND LIFELINES

• The anchor end of a lifeline is secured to a substantial structural member or to securely rigged lines (nylon is recommended), with a positive descent-control device. [1670(c)]
  
• The line is secured at a point higher than the waist, so that the fall distance will not be more than 4 feet. [1670(b)]
  
• If horizontal movement is required, the rigging allows an attached lifeline to slide along (for example, on staging, advertising signs, floats, catwalks, or walkways more than 7½ feet above the ground). [1670(e)]
  
• Workers tie off before they get on a floating scaffold. [1663(a)(5)]

SAFETY NETS

• Nets are used when safety belts or harnesses are clearly impractical, if employees are working:
  
  
  • 25’ or higher generally. [1671(a)]
    
    
  • 15’ or higher when on thrustouts, trusses, beams, or similar locations. [1669(a) and (b)]

   

Locations on this site that require nets: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

• Nets are labeled as meeting the requirements of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard A 10.11 1979, Safety Nets Used During: Construction, Repair, and Demolition Operations. [1671(c)]
  
• The integrity of the net is checked on a regular basis.
  
• Nets at exterior or interior perimeters hang no more than 10 feet below the work surface and extend at least 8 feet horizontally from the perimeter. [1671(a)]
  
• Nets are hung with enough clearance to prevent a falling person from hitting the surface or structure below (as determined by impact load testing). [1671(a)]

OTHER

• Workers using fall protection are also protected from the hazard of loads coming in overhead. [5002]
  
• Temporary floors and guardrails are used whenever possible, instead of relying on tying off and nets for fall protection. [1669 and 1710(e)]
  
• No work proceeds unless the necessary fall protection is in place. [1635(a)(8)]

GENERAL INSPECTION
Other Hazards Noted	Action
Near Miss Reports:
Other: