TBUTBUFALL PROTECTION OVERVIEWFALL PROTECTION OVERVIEW

JJJ Quarterly Safety MeetingJJJ Quarterly Safety Meeting

June 25, 2004June 25, 2004

FATAL FALL FACTSFATAL FALL FACTS

YearYear Nationally Nationally New New England England 19971997 700 700 202019981998 623 623 222219991999 634 634 202020002000 659 659 151520012001 698 698 1212

One of the “GEMS” G = Gravity One of the “GEMS” G = Gravity

Why are we here?Why are we here?

To discuss, and adequately cover the To discuss, and adequately cover the

concept of fall protection.concept of fall protection.

To clarify certain requirementsTo clarify certain requirements

To provide potential solutionsTo provide potential solutions

To listen to real world issuesTo listen to real world issues

What are we going to cover?What are we going to cover?

Rules and RegulationsRules and Regulations

Recent IncidentsRecent Incidents

Fall Protection ToolsFall Protection Tools

Your Best JudgmentYour Best Judgment

When Fall Protection is Infeasible When Fall Protection is Infeasible

Rules and RegulationsRules and Regulations

Rules and RegulationsRules and Regulations

OSHAOSHA

Construction CFR 29 1926Construction CFR 29 1926

General Industry CFR 29 1910General Industry CFR 29 1910

NH APMNH APM

TBU RulesTBU Rules

Contractor Work RulesContractor Work Rules

OSHA: When to WearOSHA: When to Wear

Construction Industry:Construction Industry: Steel Erection: 15’ & 30”Steel Erection: 15’ & 30”

Scaffolding Work Surface: 10’Scaffolding Work Surface: 10’

Scaffolding ramps: 6’Scaffolding ramps: 6’

Roof work: 6’Roof work: 6’

Over Dangerous Equipment: ALL TIMESOver Dangerous Equipment: ALL TIMES

OSHA: When to WearOSHA: When to Wear

General Industry:General Industry: Aerial Lifts/Manlifts: ALL THE TIMEAerial Lifts/Manlifts: ALL THE TIME

Wall/Floor/Roof Opening: 4’Wall/Floor/Roof Opening: 4’

While on equipment: 4’While on equipment: 4’

While climbing: 4’ (see fall protection matrix)While climbing: 4’ (see fall protection matrix)

Unattended pole holes: ALL THE TIMEUnattended pole holes: ALL THE TIME

System RequirementsSystem Requirements

All system components are to be rated at All system components are to be rated at 5,000 pounds per person. This includes 5,000 pounds per person. This includes the lanyard, body harness, and anchorage the lanyard, body harness, and anchorage point.point.

Exception to the above statement: If you Exception to the above statement: If you are using a retractable device, the ratings are using a retractable device, the ratings can be at 3,000 lbs.can be at 3,000 lbs.

System RequirementsSystem Requirements

Fall arrest systems must be rigged Fall arrest systems must be rigged such that the employee neither free such that the employee neither free falls more than 6 feet nor contacts falls more than 6 feet nor contacts any lower level.any lower level.No more than one employee may be No more than one employee may be attached to any one vertical lifeline.attached to any one vertical lifeline.Snap-hooks shall not be connected Snap-hooks shall not be connected to each other.to each other.

NH APMNH APM

NH APMNH APM

NH APMNH APM

TBU RulesTBU Rules

Policy Statement:Policy Statement: Whenever performance of any task would Whenever performance of any task would

expose a worker to fall in excess of 4’ from expose a worker to fall in excess of 4’ from structures that support overhead lines, or 6’ structures that support overhead lines, or 6’ from all other walking and working surfaces, from all other walking and working surfaces, or any distance where the likelihood of a or any distance where the likelihood of a serious or fatal injury exists, the hazards of serious or fatal injury exists, the hazards of falling must be identified, evaluated and falling must be identified, evaluated and controlled utilizing personal fall arrest system, controlled utilizing personal fall arrest system, work positioning system, a travel restraint work positioning system, a travel restraint system or a combination of systems.system or a combination of systems.

TBU RulesTBU Rules

Fall protection shall be used by all transmission Fall protection shall be used by all transmission employees performing activities more than 6 feet employees performing activities more than 6 feet above a lower level.above a lower level.

Only approved fall arrest equipment shall be used.Only approved fall arrest equipment shall be used.

A body harness shall be used for a personal fall A body harness shall be used for a personal fall arrest system. Body belts are not allowed (for work arrest system. Body belts are not allowed (for work position only).position only).

Equipment must be inspected before each use to Equipment must be inspected before each use to determine that the equipment is in safe working determine that the equipment is in safe working condition.condition.

Defective/unsafe equipment shall be immediately Defective/unsafe equipment shall be immediately removed from service.removed from service.

Contractor Work RulesContractor Work Rules

Fall Protection – 100% fall protection is Fall Protection – 100% fall protection is required whenever the fall hazard is six (6) required whenever the fall hazard is six (6) feet or greater unless the competent feet or greater unless the competent person possesses documentation clearly person possesses documentation clearly describing why using 100% fall protection describing why using 100% fall protection or restraint is not feasible or creates or restraint is not feasible or creates greater hazards. The documentation shall greater hazards. The documentation shall also describe the methods that will be also describe the methods that will be implemented to achieve as close to 100% implemented to achieve as close to 100% fall protection or restraint as possible.fall protection or restraint as possible.

Recent IncidentsRecent Incidents

Falling from a poleFalling from a pole

Bucket failureBucket failure

Falling from a 34.5 breakerFalling from a 34.5 breaker

Fall Protection ToolsFall Protection Tools

Body HarnessBody Harness

LanyardLanyard

Retractable LanyardRetractable Lanyard

UnihoistUnihoist

Beam ClampBeam Clamp

Some Common Fall Protection Equipment

Full body HarnessLanyards (shock absorbing)

Rope grab with lanyardRetractable lifeline

Unihoist System for Unihoist System for Transformers…..Transformers…..

Unihoist Beam ClampUnihoist Beam Clamp

Best Judgment…Best Judgment…

You have the tools to work safely. You have the tools to work safely. Decide how to use them.Decide how to use them.

Squirt boomsSquirt booms

LaddersLadders

Unihoist systemUnihoist system

Lanyards & HarnessesLanyards & Harnesses

Infeasible Fall ProtectionInfeasible Fall Protection

Work with your supervisor & safety Work with your supervisor & safety

representativerepresentative

Document why fall protection is infeasibleDocument why fall protection is infeasible

Document how you will be protectedDocument how you will be protected

Work SmartWork Smart

Go home safely Go home safely everyday.everyday.

Questions???Questions???