Fall Protection Training Guide
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Fall Protection - LOHP
The Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at UC Berkeley developed toolbox talks and forms for 28 subject areas. You can access the introduction and reference sections in the "More like this" area and the other subjects by searching on 'LOHP'.
Summary Statement
A guide on fall protection training including questions to ask, subjects to cover and a sign-off form. Part of a collection. Click on the 'collection' button to access the other items.
These tailgate/toolbox talks were developed for use under California OSHA regulations. The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has adapted these talks to apply to federal OSHA regulations. TO contact ACGIH, visit its website (www.acgih.org) |
Before you begin
the meeting...
- Does this topic
relate to the work the crew is doing? If not, choose another topic.
- Did you read
this Training Guide and fill in the blanks where the
appears? (To find the information you need, look over the Safety Walkaround Checklist for this topic.)
Begin: How
many times have you heard people make excuses for not tying off or using
safety nets? Maybe you’ve heard comments like this: “Tying off
is dangerous, because you can’t move out from under an incoming load.”
Falls are the leading cause of death in construction. Fall protection
may have its problems,
but think of the alternative—a fall without protection. It’s
not a risk worth taking.
You or a crew member may want to add a personal story about fall protection.
ASK
THE CREW THESE QUESTIONS:
After each question,
give the crew time to suggest possible answers. Use the information
following each question to add points that no one mentions.
1. What are the
two basic types of fall protection?
- Fall restraint
systems, like guardrails. These keep you from falling.
- Fall arrest systems,
like safety nets. These break your fall.
- Never use any type of fall protection unless you have been trained.
- Cal/OSHA’s
main rule is that you should tie off when the drop is 7½ feet
or more.
- There are exceptions to the 7½ foot rule for some trades, like roofers and ironworkers.
- Safety nets should
be used if it is not practical to tie off.
- Safety nets should
be placed no more than 30 feet below the work area.
- Nets should extend
from 8 to 13 feet beyond the structure you’re working on.
- No work can proceed unless the net is in place.
4. If you use
fall protection equipment, what do you need to check?
- Be sure all equipment
is safety-approved. Look for a label showing that it meets American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety requirements.
- Be sure the equipment
is installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Be sure everything
is in good condition. Remove from service any lanyard or drop line that
has broken someone’s fall, or is frayed or worn.
- Be sure you have the right equipment for the job. For example, safety belts are not allowed in fall arrest systems.
- Anchor it at
a level no lower than your waist. That way, you limit any fall to a
maximum of four feet.
- Anchor it to
a substantial structural member, or to a securely rigged catenary or
pendant line.
- Don’t anchor it to a pipe.
- A drop line (and
its anchorage) must be able to support at least 5000 lbs.
- Drop lines should
be made of synthetic fibers (except near heat or flame).
- If a drop line is subject to fraying or rock damage, it must have a wire rope center.
- If the usual fall
protection measures are impractical or create a greater hazard than
they prevent, Cal/OSHA allows an employer to develop a fall protection
plan.
- The plan allows
work to be done in a designated area without the normal fall protection.
Alternate measures must be used to reduce fall hazards in that area.
These include special training for workers, and constant observation
of the work by a safety monitor.
- The plan must
be drawn up by a qualified person, and a copy of the plan must be available
on the site.
- The areas without fall protection are called “controlled access zones.” Only certain trained workers can enter these areas.
- There should
be a barrier (ropes, wires, or caution tape) to restrict access to the
zone.
- Warning signs
should be posted around the zone.
- In many cases,
there must be a designated safety monitor for the zone, who is in
communication with anyone working in the zone at all times.
CAL/OSHA REGULATIONS
Explain: Most of the safety measures we’ve talked about are
required by Cal/OSHA. We have
to take these precautions—it’s the law. I have a Checklist of
the Cal/OSHA regulations on fall
protection. If you’d like to know more, see me after the meeting.
COMPANY RULES
(Only if applicable.) Besides the Cal/OSHA regulations, we have
some additional company rules about fall protection.
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COMMENTS FROM
THE CREW
Ask: Do you have any other concerns about fall protection? Do you
see any problems on our
job? (Let the steward answer first, if there is one.)
What about other jobs you’ve worked on? Have you had any experience
with fall protection
that might help us work safer on this job?
Sign Off Form
Fall Protection
Date Prepared:_________________________ | By:____________________ |
Project Name/No.______________________ | Location:_______________ |
NAMES
OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THIS SAFETY MEETING
|
Printed
Name
|
Signature
|