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- Course # 1
Four Basics of Fall Protection
1.Fall Arrest 2.Positioning 3.Suspension 4.Retrieval
Duration: half-day
Fee: $ 85.00
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These Fall protection basics are
available as a classroom-based course, at your site or convenient location.
Description:
A program that provides workers
with the basic knowledge required to work safely in areas exposed to fall
hazards. Upon completion, participants will be able to recognize fall
hazards and identify and apply fall protection controls. A review of
legislative requirements will also be discussed. This program can able
design to cover site-specific equipment and procedures. A wallet card will
be provided upon successful completion
1.Fall Arrest
A fall arrest system is required if any risk exists that a worker may fall
from an elevated position, as a general rule, the fall arrest system should
be used anytime a working height of six feet or more is reached. Working
height is the distance from the walking/working surface to a grade or lower
level. A fall arrest system will only come into service should a fall
occur. A full-body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard or a retractable
lifeline is the only product recommended. A full-body harness distributes
the forces throughout the body, and the shock-absorbing lanyard decreases
the total fall arresting forces.
2.Positioning
This system holds the worker in place while keeping his/her hands free to
work. Whenever the worker leans back, the system is activated. However, the
personal positioning system is not specifically designed for fall arrest
purposes.
3.Suspension
This equipment lowers and supports the worker while allowing a hands-free
work environment, and is widely used in window washing and painting
industries. This suspension system components are not designed to arrest a
free fall, a backup fall arrest system should be used in conjunction with
the suspension system.
4.Retrieval
Preplanning for retrieval in the event of a fall should be taken into
consideration when developing a proactive fall management program.
Fall Protection Systems
Listed
below are different types of fall safety equipment and their recommended
usage.
Class 1 Body belts (single or double D-ring) are designed to restrain a
person in a hazardous work position and to reduce the possibility of falls.
They should not be used when fall potential exists; positioning only.
Class 2 Chest harnesses are used when there are only limited fall
hazards (no vertical free fall hazard), or for retrieving persons such as
removal of persons from a tank or a bin.
Class 3 Full body harnesses are designed to arrest the most severe
free falls.
Class 4 Suspension belts are independent work supports used to
suspend a worker, such as boatswain's chairs or raising or lowering
harnesses.
Rope Lanyard Offers some elastic properties for all arrest; used for
restraint purpose.
Web Lanyard Ideal for restraint purposes where fall hazards are less
than 2 feet.
Cable Positioning Lanyards Designed for corrosive or excess heat
environments and must be used in conjunction with shock absorbing devices.
Shock Absorbers When used, the fall arresting force will be greatly
reduced if a fall occurs.
Rope Grabs A deceleration device which travels on a lifeline, used
to safely ascend or descend ladders or sloped surfaces and automatically,
by friction, engages the lifeline and locks so as to arrest the fall of an
employee.
Retractable Lifeline Systems Gives fall protection and mobility to
the user when working at height or in areas where there is a danger of
falling.
Safety Nets Can be used to lesson the fall exposure when working
where temporary floors and scaffolds are not used and the fall distance
exceeds 25 feet.
Rail Systems When climbing a ladder, rail systems can be used on any
fixed ladder as well as curved surfaces as a reliable method of fall
prevention.
Effective
January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall
arrest system.
(Note: the use of a body belt in a positioning device system is acceptable
and is regulated under paragraph (e) of 29 CFR 1926.502). An employee who
uses a body belt as a personal fall arrest system is exposed to hazards
such as falling out of the belt, serious internal injuries, and technical
asphyxiation through prolonged suspension.
Inspection and Maintenance: To maintain their service life and high
performance, all belts and harnesses should be inspected frequently. Visual
inspection before each use should become routine, and also a routine
inspection by a competent person. If any of the conditions listed below are
found the equipment should be replaced before being used.
Harness
Inspection
1. Belts and Rings: For harness inspections begin at one end, hold
the body side of the belt toward you, grasping the belt with your hands six
to eight inches apart. Bend the belt in an inverted "U." Watch
for frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts or chemical damage.
Check D-rings and D-ring metal wear pads for distortion, cracks, breaks,
and rough or sharp edges. The D-ring bar should be at a 90 degree angle
with the long axis of the belt and should pivot freely.
Attachments
of buckles and D-rings should be given special attention. Note any unusual
wear, frayed or cut fibers, or distortion of the buckles. Rivets should be
tight and un-removable with fingers. Body side rivet base and outside
rivets should be flat against the material. Bent rivets will fail under
stress.
Inspect
frayed or broken strands. Broken webbing strands generally appear
as tufts on the webbing surface. Any broken, cut or burnt stitches will be
readily seen.
2.
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.
Rollers should turn freely on the frame. Check for distortion or sharp
edges.
3.
Friction Buckle: Inspect
the buckle for distortion. The outer bar or center bars must be straight.
Pay special attention to corners and attachment points of the center bar.
Lanyard Inspection
When
inspecting lanyards, begin at one end and work to the opposite end.
Slowly rotate the lanyard so that the entire circumference is checked.
Spliced ends require particular attention. Hardware should be examined under
procedures detailed below.
Hardware
Snaps: Inspect closely for hook and eye distortion, cracks,
corrosion, or pitted surfaces. The keeper or 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
rocks must provide the keeper from opening when the keeper closes.
Thimbles: The thimble
(protective plastic sleeve) must be firmly seated in the eye of the splice,
and the splice should have no loose or cut strands. The edges of the
thimble should be free of sharp edges, distortion, or cracks.
Lanyards
Steel Lanyards: While rotating a steel lanyard, watch for cuts, frayed
areas, or unusual wear patterns on the wire. The use of steel lanyards for
fall protection without a shock-absorbing device is not recommended.
Web
Lanyard:
While bending webbing over a piece of pipe, observe each side of the webbed
lanyard. This will reveal any cuts or breaks. Due to the limited elasticity
of the web lanyard, fall protection without the use of a shock absorber is
not recommended.
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 in original diameter. The rope diameter
should be uniform throughout, following a short break-in period. When a
rope lanyard is used for fall protection, a shock-absorbing system should
be included.
Shock-Absorbing
Packs
The outer portion of the shock-absorbing pack should be examined for burn
holes and tears. Stitching on areas where the pack is sewn to the D-ring,
belt or lanyard should be examined for loose strands, rips and deterioration.
Visual Indication of Damage to Webbing and Rope Lanyards
Heat
In excessive heat, nylon becomes brittle and has a shriveled brownish
appearance. Fibers will break when flexed and should not be used above 180
degrees Fahrenheit.
Chemical
Change in color usually appears as a brownish smear or smudge. Transverse
cracks appear when belt is bent over tight. This causes a loss of
elasticity in the belt.
Ultraviolet
Rays
Do not store webbing and rope lanyards in direct sunlight, because
ultraviolet rays can reduce the strength of some material.
Molten
Metal or Flame
Webbing and rope strands may be fused together by molten metal or flame.
Watch for hard, shiny spots or a hard and brittle feel. Webbing will not
support combustion, nylon will.
Paint
and Solvents
Paint will penetrate and dry, restricting movements of fibers. Drying
agents and solvents in some paints will appear as chemical damage.
Cleaning of Equipment
Basic care for fall protection safety equipment will prolong and endure the
life of the equipment and contribute toward the performance of its vital
safety function. Proper storage and maintenance after use is as important
as cleaning the equipment of dirt, corrosives or contaminants. The storage
area should be clean, dry and free of exposure to fumes or corrosive
elements.
Nylon
and Polyester
Wipe off all surface dirt with a sponge dampened in plain water. Squeeze
the sponge dry. Dip the sponge in a mild solution of water and commercial
soap or detergent. Work up a thick lather with a vigorous back and forth
motion. Then wipe the belt dry with a clean cloth. Hang freely to dry but
away from excessive heat.
Drying
Harness, belts and other equipment should be dried thoroughly without
exposure to heat, steam or long periods of sunlight.
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