PREVENTION OF FALL FATALITIES AND

INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION

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Overview

OSHA Alliance Program OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable U.S. Construction Accident and Fall Statistics Safe Practices Resources Summary

*Through the OSHA Alliance Program, this presentation was developed by members of the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor . (September 2008)

Alliance Program

OSHA and the participating organizations define, implement, and meet a set of short- and long-term goals that fall into three categories:• Training and education• Outreach and communication• Promoting the national dialogue

on safety and health

Sharing technical expertise, developing and disseminating compliance assistance products with participants

Provides OSHA access to millions of employers and employees

John R. Miller, President, SIA.; Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA; and

Richard J. Marshall, then-Executive Vice President, SIA; sign a national Alliance

agreement on February 25, 2008

OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable

Purpose of Alliance Roundtable

Success of Alliance Program Construction Roundtable:

Fall Protection Workgroup

Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup

Presentations

OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable: Members

American Industrial Hygiene Association American Society of Safety Engineers Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association Construction Institute-American Society of Civil Engineers Independent Electrical Contractors Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America National Association of Home Builders National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute National Safety Council Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute Washington Division of URS Corporation

Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Products

Design for Safety Workgroup Design for Construction Safety Web site

“Introduction to Designing for

Construction Safety” presentation Design for Construction Safety

2 – 4 Hour Course Washington Division of URS

Case Study, "Washington Group International Designs and Builds a Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility." February 2007

Fall Protection Workgroup Safety Tips Sheets “Fall Protection” presentation Toolbox Talks Picture of Toolbox Talks: Ladder Safety

Screen Capture of Design for Construction Safety Web site

Design for Construction Safety Web Site

Screen Capture of OSHA’s Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Web Page

Alliance Program Construction Roundtable

U.S. Construction Accident Statistics1

Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,226 deaths each year

5.5% of workforce but 21.5% of fatalities

Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry sector

SIGNIFICANCE: NEARLY 100 DEATHS PER MONTH

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

U.S. Construction Fall Fatality Statistics1

Total Falls 433 From roof edge 74 From scaffold, staging 70 From ladders 68 To lower level 48 Through floor opening, floor surface, ground to lower level 31 From structural steel 24 Through skylight 23 From non-moving vehicle 22 Through roof surface, roof opening 20

1Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

Good body reactiontime= 0.5 seconds

Travel distance in 0.5 seconds = 4 feet

In 1 second your body will fall 16 feet

Fall Speed vs. Reaction Time

By the time you react your body will be 4 feet below where you were standing

When Do You Need Fall Protection?

OSHA’s Regulation 29 CFR 1926.501 (b) under Subpart M requires fall protection wherever the potential to fall six feet or more exists. Fall protection is required when you are:

• Near an unprotected roof edge; • Working in a unguarded mezzanine and balcony edges;

When Do You Need Fall Protection?

Fall protection is also required in the followinglocations:

• Working off aerial lift; • Unguarded scaffolding 10 feet or higher

Reducing Fall Fatalities and Injuries

Design Professionals – Design Professionals’ need to be cognizant to design with health and safety in mind. Design permanent building features so that fall protection is not needed. This eliminates the chance of an accident if fall protection is not provided, provided but not used, or not used properly

Contractors – It is the contractor’s responsibility to enforce compliance with safety practices with regard to ladders, scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is necessary

Workers – It is the worker’s responsibility to apply the safety practices with regard to ladders, scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is necessary

Types of Fall Prevention and Protection Systems

Passive Systems prevent falls by placing a physical barrier between the worker and the hazard (e.g. guardrails).

Active Systems protect workers by limiting the fall to a specified distance and also limit the amount of force the worker is subjected to in the event of a fall (e.g. personal fall arrest systems).

A Personal Fall-Arrest System is a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level.

Any person ordered to work with at height who has an increase risk of falling off of structures/buildings should wear a personal fall arrest system.

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems, when stopping a fall shall be rigged such that a worker can neither free fall more than six feet, nor contact any lower level.

Must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

A personal fall-arrest system shall consist of the following:

Anchorage points, Full body harness, Shock Absorbing Lanyard, Lifeline, Rope-grabs, Connectors

All components of the fall arrest system shall be fully compatible.

Full Body Harness

Must be the right size for you.

The attachment point of a body harness shall be located on the:

Rear D-ring between shoulders when working from a suspended scaffold or an aerial lift Front D-ring when working from a bosun’s chair.

Harness must be adjusted snugly starting with leg straps, then waist, shoulders and chest.

Lanyards

Used to connect a body harness to a lifeline, rope-grab, or anchorage point. Shall be the appropriate length:

◦ Bosun’s chair – 2 feet or less◦ Suspended scaffold – 3 to 4 feet◦ Aerial lift – 4 to 6 feet

Attach to:◦ Rear D-ring on harness between shoulders when working on suspended scaffolds and aerial lifts.◦ Front D-ring when working from a bosun’s chair.

Be protected against being cut or abraded.

Lifelines Vertical - connected to an anchorage at one end to hang

vertically. Horizontal - connected to anchorages at both ends to

stretch horizontally.

Lifelines

Are used as a means of connecting other components of a Personal Fall-Arrest System.

Shall be protected from contact with any surface that may abrade, weaken, damage or sever it.

Shall be removed from service as recommended by the manufacturer.

Falls From Roof Edge

Falls From Roof Edge-Specify Parapets

IBC paragraph 704.11.1 requires that a parapet wall be at least 30 inches high

OSHA 1926 Subpart M requires a 39-45 inch guardrail or other fall protection

If the design professional specifies a 39-45 inch high parapet wall, fall protection would not be required

Falls From Roof Edge

Other features that Design Professionals should consider: Locate mechanical equipment away from the roof

edge or on the ground

Design Permanent Anchorage Points

Design Professionals can design fixed anchorage points so that workers will have a convenient, safe point to tie off when personal fall arrest systems are needed.

Design of Anchorage Points

An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines lanyards or deceleration devices;

Must be independent of any anchorage being used for equipment tiebacks;

Must be independent of the means of supporting or suspending the worker; Must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker; Sound anchorages include certified roof anchors as well as structural members.

Design Permanent Anchorage Points: Residential Fall Protection

Falls From Scaffolds/Staging

Falls From Scaffolds/Staging

Scaffolds shall be fully planked

Scaffolds shall have guardrails or personal fall arrest systems

Scaffolds shall have a safe means of access

Falls From Aerial Lifting Devices

Falls From Ladders

Falls From Ladders-Specify Fixed Ladders or Stairways

Specify fixed ladders or stairways whenever possible

Falls From Ladders

Position portable ladders to the side rails to extend at least 3 feet above the landing

Secure side rails at top or use a grab device when 3 foot extension is not possible

Use “3-point” contact rule Position base of ladder one foot

away from wall for every four feet of ladder length

Falls From Height

OSHA Office of Training & Education20

If you work on roofs and can fall more than 6 feet, you must be protected

Roofs

Falls From Height-Specify 39-45 Inch High Window Sills

Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabrication Building Components

Steel Stairs

Concrete Wall Panels

Concrete Segmented Bridge

Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabricated Steelwork1

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabricated Service Risers1

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Falls from Floor Openings

OSHA Office of Training & Education17

• Cover completely and securely• If no cover, can guard with a guardrail

Floor Holes

ImproperlyCovered

Falls From Floor Openings-Guardrails

Perimeter guarding shall consist of a mid-rail, top rail, toe-board system. The top edge height of the rail shall be

42+/-3 inches and the mid-rail should be between the top and the walking/working level.

Falls From Floor Openings-Specify Cast-in Sockets For Railings1

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Falls From Floor Openings

Contractor can: Install temporary guardrails for temporary

floor openings Install a cover for temporary floor

openings and holes

Falls From Structural Steel

Falls From Structural Steel

Avoid hanging connections; design to bear on columns instead using safety seats

Require holes in columns for tie lines 21” and 42” above each floor slab

Specify shop welded connections instead of bolts or field welds to avoid dangerous positions during erection

Consider approximate dimensions of connection tools to prevent pinches or awkward assemblies

National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel Erectors Association of America. Detailing Guide for the Enhancement of Erection Safety. 2001

Falls Through Skylights

OSHA Office of Training & Education16

• Holes more than 6 feet high must be protected• This opening could be made safe by using a

guardrail, or strong cover

Sky Lights and Other Openings

Falls Through Skylights-Specify Guards

Falls Through Roof Surface/Roof Opening

Provide Dedicated Walkways to Access Equipment on Roof

Design roof structure so that it can carry stacks of roofing materials

Highlight hazardous and “no-walk” areas with red highlighting paint or other visual warnings.

Falls From Non-Moving Vehicles

Falls From Non-Moving Vehicles-Trailer Access Platform

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Fall Prevention ResourcesOSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Web Page http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/roundtables/roundtablesconstruction.html

Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics Page http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html

OSHA’s Construction Pocket Guide http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3252/3252.html

Other Design for Construction Safety Web Site http://www.designforconstructionsafety.org NIOSH Prevention Through Design Web Page http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PTD

Safety in Design www.safetyindesign.org

Picture of OSHA's Construction Pocket Guide