A Fresh New Means To Improve Elimination and Fall Hazard Control J. Nigel Ellis, CSP and John T. Whitty, PE “Competent Person” “Qualified Person”
Presentation Objectives • Promote collaborative solutions to fall protection challenges via synergistic team involvement – it’s an effort between authorized, competent and qualified persons. • Present four specific fall protection hazards to illustrate the outcome of the collaborative process: – Opening/edge – Standing on top – “No Anchorage” – Aerial Work Platforms – Truck Tarping congress.nsc.org
What Function Best Describes Your Role Within Your Company? A. Health and Safety B. Engineering C. Operations D. Plant Maintenance E. Management F. Other 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Management Other Engineering Operations Health and Safety Plant Maintenance congress.nsc.org
Are The Joists Shown Suitable For Anchorage? 0% 0% Yes No A. Yes B. No congress.nsc.org
The Answer • It Depends!!! • Short free fall • Overhead mounted SRL or • RCD (remote connect/disconnect device) • Arresting distance – small (activation + deceleration) • What force to use (5,000 lbs or 2:1) • Clearance and pendulum effects congress.nsc.org
Rank YOUR Solution Best To Worst For An Air Handler Located Within 4’ Of An Unprotected Edge A. Move the air handler more than 10’ away from the roof’s unprotected edge. B. Add guard rail around the unprotected edge of the air handler – at least 6’ beyond the equipment in each direction required C. Have anchorage points installed in and around the air handler suitable . . . . . . . 0 . a . . . 1 e o n t r n o i a a d r p a h e for one to anchor to. t n e l l r u e a a r t e o s e h n m n t i i s l d r d t e n n e l u d i g o o D. Place a raised, flagged line area n g p r a a a h e l f l g i r , a a d i a r r e o d e s h i h r a around the air handler. a c t n r u e a a g v e d e o v c d M a a A l H P congress.nsc.org
Any Structural Engineer Can Serve As A Qualified Person A. True B. False 0% 0% False True congress.nsc.org
All Anchorage Points Must Be Rated For At Least 5,000 Lbs Per Person Attached A. True B. False 0% 0% False True congress.nsc.org
The Goal!!! • Free from RECOGNIZED fall hazards This facility shall be free • Proactive NOT Reactive from • Eliminating Fall hazards all recognized fall hazards eliminates the need for: – Training – Preventive Maintenance – Troubleshooting – Safety By Design!!! congress.nsc.org
Recipe for Success • Follow the hierarchy Eliminate the Hazard (most desired) Prevent the Hazard – Elimination Effectiveness – Prevention Active Fall Protection: Fall Restraint – Arrest Fall Arrest – Administrative Administrative • Implement Z359.2 Guidelines for Manage Approach to Fall Protection • Engage the input of those who will risk their quality of life when using systems implemented congress.nsc.org
Two Approaches To Fall Safety • Reactive – a response to an adverse event • Proactive – a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating and addressing fall hazards congress.nsc.org
Fall Hazard Elimination • Bring the work down to chest level • Needs engineering focus • Easy to do on the drawing board • The difference between pennies & REAL dollars • Eliminate exposures, reduce durations Keeping the worker’s • Fall Hazards are best addressed by feet on the ground. avoidance! If you eliminate the hazard you eliminate all the training and maintenance challenges associated with it! congress.nsc.org
It’s NOT Just About Compliance • Are WE working safely or just trying to meet the minimum standard??? • When in doubt, err on the side of safety • What’s minimally required is not necessarily the safest congress.nsc.org
What Are The Costs??? Per OSHA: • Falls from Elevations by roofers cost approximately $106,000 each • Falls from Elevations by Carpenters cost over $97,000 each • The average cost of a fall from elevation for all other occupational classifications was under $50,000 • Falls from ladders or scaffolds by roofers cost approximately $68,000 each • Falls from ladders or scaffolds by carpenters cost nearly $62,000 each. congress.nsc.org
Plan the Work – Work the Plan! Establish Policy AUDIT • It’s a systematic process & Develop Rules • Walk – recognize, document Walk; Document! Inspection & Conduct Fall Maintenance – Fall Hazard Analysis Hazard Analysis • Plan & choose proper Eliminate using Observation, Eng. Controls OR control measure Enforcement • Orient and Train Plan & Choose Orientation Appropriate Hazard & Training Program • Observe and Enforce Control Measure • Inspect and Maintain B. Arrest A. Prevention Select Personal Fall e.g. floors, walls • Audit Arrest Equip System • Involve YOUR contractors!!! congress.nsc.org
What Are You Looking/Asking Us For? • Training (30%) • General Industry clients (85%) • Fall Hazard Assessment Surveys (25%) • Construction clients (15%) – Safety Assessment • Average Height of Hazard 30 ft – Engineering Assessment • 10% Reactive approach to a • Engineering (20%) – anchor point violation, citation, safety surveys most common request audit, injury/fatality • Installation (25%) Sell the SOLUTION – don’t sell A PRODUCT Construction is a LARGE driver in fall protection statistics – low contact in this area congress.nsc.org
What Do We See? • Severe lack of Qualified Persons on staff • 40% of “recognized” fall hazards exist without resolution • Inadequate levels of worker/supervisor training • Fall protection plans/policies that do not adequately address Z359 provisions • No “real” plans for rescue • Systems that are not “effective” • Fall arrest control measures are still most utilized congress.nsc.org
What Do We See? • Not enough ELIMINATION • System FAILURES – resulting in injury or death • Consistent rising/levels statistics of injury and fatality • Incorrect usage of PPE • Lack of CP/QP involvement or supervision When “WE” leave – you have a NEW beginning!!! congress.nsc.org
Grab The Low Hanging Fruit? • Ladders (20%) • Roofs (18%) • Same level Falls (15%) • Non moving vehicles (12%) • Statistics indicate 65% of the persistent problem areas!!! • Focus on these areas!!! (65% of fatal falls) congress.nsc.org
What Does the Qualified Person Bring To The Table? • Already trained to the Competent Person Level – Knows the work involved – means/methods – Familiar with Fall Protection PPE, systems – use, limitations, inspection, etc. – Can stop the work and implement corrective measures • Can take loadings associated with fall protection systems – quantify, design/analyze, validation • Up to date with latest methods/systems, etc. congress.nsc.org
A Tool to recognize ALL Worksite Hazards Redundancy Reliability Eliminate Guard Safety Recognized Factor Hazard / List Safety Safety List Hazard List Safet Admin List Safet y Hazard Sol’n Sol’n Sol’n Hazard y Solutions Hazard Sol’n Human Factors. Sequence Natural Ergo Falls, Water Structural/ Mechanical Lightning Electrical Corrosion Chemical Fire, uv, RadiantEnergy microwave, nuclear Virus Biological Computers Failure Rate Artificial Software Intelligence congress.nsc.org
Openings and Edges • Skylights – an opening in a roof surface – synthetic materials susceptible to weakening under sustained environmental exposure • Critical issue – all skylights degrade! • Good – wire screens/protectors • Better – perimeter railing • Best – skylights properly rated to resist same level falls!!! • 20 year lifetime goal… • 300 lbs – lead shot, 10” dia 3’ drop congress.nsc.org
Use Tool to recognize Skylight Fall Hazards Recognized Eliminate Guard Safety Factor Redundancy Reliability Hazard / Safety Sol’n Safety Sol’n Safety Sol’n List Hazard List Hazard Safety List Hazard List Hazard Admin Solutions Sol’n Fall Remove sky Fall Screen or Fall Stronger Fall Guardrail & Planning & Gravity skylight curb at 42” light cover surveys Fall Through Inspect Structural/ Collapse Cover & collapse Burglar collapse Test for Screen & bars Strength secure bars 97%ile male Mechanical* report weight Radiant Energy UV Screen 20 yrs Crazing Screen leaks Test for 20 Exposure to Use change- Test Miami or yrs, replace out tool Dade 5 yrs Degrad’n at screw holes And Less than 12” Replace Replace Firefighter gap Access *Attractive Sit on screen Bounce* Guard rail Stand on screen Two person screen Add warnings Trampoline nuisance *Burglar entry Burglar Secure access Fill opening Add grill Screws Larger w/tool Two hazards Screen & bars Evaluatburgl access & Grill under remove ar method dome *Maintain Replace Use change No barrier Use DBI Weak Alum. Ribs in Not enough Add PFAS to Design skylight/screen skylight out tool net frame structure skylight protect Burglar B screen limited opening Natural Hazards include Gravity congress.nsc.org
Recommend
More recommend
