MSA Fall Protection

Your Partners in Safety!

Fall Protection A Closer Look

Fall ProtectionA Closer Look

Your Partners In Safety!The Best Value In Safety Solutions Since 1946

Mark Blake

Construction Sales Manager

303-886-6239

[email protected]

www.MSAnet.com



MSA—”The Safety Company”

Who we are•Started in 1914•Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA•Largest manufacturer of sophisticated safety equipment•40 locations worldwide covering 140 countries•85 sales reps covering US market•Market specific reps as well as geographical•Rose MFG founded in 1930•Purchased by MSA in 1996



Statistics: 2010

Construction “Fatal Four” (57%)

1.Falls = 260

2.Electrocutions = 76

3.Struck-by = 63

4.Stuck-in-between = 32

Total deaths in construction = 751

Falls account for 35%Source – OSHA.gov



OSHA—Compliance

Fall protection standards•The 29 CFR 1926 construction

– 1926.500 – Scope, applications and definitions

– 1926.501 – Duty to have

– 1926.502 – Fall protection systems criteria

– 1926.503 – Training requirements

•The 20 CFR 1910 general industry– 1910.66 Appendix C – Powered Platforms

– Ladders, Scaffolding

– Vehicle mounted platforms, Manlifts

– General Duty Clause



Consensus Standards

• ANSI—American National Standards Institute– Committees made up of manufactures,

researchers, end users, regulators– May or may not be required by OSHA

• Incorporation by reference– ANSI Z89.1 – required for hard hats (1926.6(h)(28))– ANSI Z359.1 – (General Industry) not

required for fall protection (1926.6)– ANSI A10.32 - (Construction) not

required for fall protection (1926.6)

– Standards creation similar to that used by OSHA• Proposed, commented on, final rule, promulgated



Program Hierarchy

• Corporate policy– Top of the hierarchy

– Includes regulatory requirements

– Includes consensus standards

– Reflects best practices

• Be careful only to include what you are

willing to execute.

ANSIBest

Practice

OSHA

CorporatePolicy



What Manufacturers’ Build Too

• OSHA – Required for compliance

• ANSI– Required by policy

• ISO– Required to prove manufacturer

has a quality program• Third party testing

– Verifies the manufacturers design and testing



Common Misnomers

• Harness• Lanyards• Retractables• Rescue



Harnesses

Common questions•“How long can a harness stay in service?”

– 5 Years or Follow the Manufacturer’s guidelines

•When do I inspect my harness?”– Before each use by user and every 6 Months by competent person

•“Is there a weight limit?”– 400 lbs (product specific) Older styles = 310 lbs

•“Can I right on my harness or mark it with my name?”– Yes, any non-toxic marker (Sharpie, Marks-a-lot) meeting the ASTM

D-4236 Standard and stamped



Harnesses

Styles of harnesses•Vest style•Pullover style•Cross–over

Materials used•Nylon•Polyester•Kevlar/Nomex

All synthetic fibers for strength requirements



Specialty Harnesses

• Construction• Welding• Oil rig• Rescue• Tower climbing• Arc rated• High visibility



Lanyards

Shock absorber technologies•Rip-stitch•Tear-tape•Partially orientated yarn (POY)•Self retracting lanyards



Lanyards

Common questions•Can I attach 2 lanyards to 1 D-ring?”

– No, each lanyard works independent and as a “System”,1 point of contact to a D-ring only

•“On what end do I connect the shock pack, harness or anchor?”– The shock pack always attaches to the harness

•“How far will I actually fall?”– Free fall + deceleration distance + harness effect + height of

worker = TFD



Lanyards

A. Free fall – 6’

B. Shock absorber – 3.5’

C. Body length – 6’– Harness stretch – 1’

– Safety factor – 1.5’

D. Total fall distance – 18’



Specialty Lanyards

• Twin leg• Tieback• Pigtail• Welding• 12’ freefall• Arc rated



Lanyards

Self retracting lanyards•Limit fall distance•Allow more flexibility than conventional lanyards•Lengths from 6’ – 95’



Lanyards

Specialty SRL’s•Twin leg•Twin leg tie-back•Leading edge



Self Retracting Lanyards

Common questions•“Can I attach my web lanyard to an SRL to make it longer?”

– No, proper use of an SRL is to be connected between a harness and anchor point.

•“What is the difference between an SRL and a PFL?”– They are both “SRL’s”, a PFL is tested to be worn by the user.

•“How do you know when they are deployed?”– Integral load indicators





Rescue

Why is rescue so important?

Suspension Trauma!!!

The worker has 15 – 20 minutes to suspend before the effects set in



Rescue

What is suspension trauma?•Leg straps on the harness begin to stop the blood flow back to the heart•Venus pooling•Effects can be deadly



Rescue

What can be considered a rescue plan?•911•Ladder•Scissor Lift•JLG•Mobile staircase



Rescue

Other rescue devices:•Block & tackle systems•Tripods•Hoists & rescuers



On-Site Training Is Available



MSA Products For Construction

• Eye, face, hearing• V–guard helmets• Respiratory• Instrumentation• SAR/SCBA



QUESTIONS

Health & Medicine

MSA Fall Protection