551 M.F. JHOCSON ST.

, SAMPALOC, MANILA
CIVIL ENGINEERING

FALL PROTECTION AND LADDER SAFETY

By: Corbilla, Vincent Allen B.
Miranda, Charlamagne F.
CIVP33

FALL PROTECTION
Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and
deaths. Employers must set up the workplace to prevent employees from falling off
overhead platforms, elevate workstations or into holes in the floor and walls.
Historically, falls are leading causes of fatalities in construction, accounting for
about one-third of all fatalities in the industry. For example, there were 291 fatal falls
to a lower level in construction in 2013, out of 828 total fatalities reported. It is also said
that over 40,000 deaths and disabling injuries result from falls every year worldwide.
What is Fall Protection?
- Fall Protection is the use of controls designed to protect personnel from falling or in
the event they do fall, to stop them without causing severe injury. Typically, fall
protection is implemented when working height, but may be relevant when working
near any edge, such as near a pit or hole, or performing work on a steep surface.
- OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards recognizes that incidents
involving falls are generally complex events, frequently involving a variety of factors.
Consequently, the standard for fall protection deals with both the human and
equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards.
Common Fall Hazards
Overhead Platforms Overhead Runways

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Elevated Workstations Floor Opening/Pits

Wall Opening Shelving Units

Stationary Storage Tanks Tanker Trucks

Industrial Production Units

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Fall Prevention
Hierarchy of Fall Hazard Control:
1. ELIMINATE
- Eliminate the fall hazard by working from the ground. Gauges at top of tanks,
if possible, can be moved to ground level. This will eliminate the need for fall
hazard exposure. Covering floor openings is a very effective way to eliminate
a fall hazard, especially If access to the hole is rarely necessary. They must
also be secured – bolted, hinged, latched, or locked – to prevent accidental
displacement as well. Employers must also communicate who is authorized to
open or remove the cover, and if cover is opened or removed, another means
of protection is necessary.
2. PREVENT
- Prevent the fall by putting guardrails. Guardrail systems are vertical barriers
consisting of top rails, mid-rails, and intermediate vertical members. Guardrail
systems can also be combined with toe-boards, which are barriers that prevent
materials and equipment from dropping to lower levels. Standard railing
consists of top rail, mid rail, and posts. Height from the upper surface of top
rail to floor level is 41 inches (+/-3 inches) and mid-rail height is 21 inches.
Standard toe-board is 3.5 inches high with not more than 1/4 -inch clearance
above the floor.

- Fences, barricades, and locked doors can be used to prevent unauthorized

access to areas where a fall hazard exists. Only authorized and trained
employees would have access.
- Fall restraint systems prevent falls by keeping the worker from reaching a fall
hazard. A fall restraint system is comprised of equipment that will protect the
worker from a fall. OSHA recommend that fall restraint systems have the
capacity to withstand 3,000 pounds of force or twice the maximum expected
force that is needed to restraint the worker from exposure to the fall hazard.

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Restraint System Gears for Fall Protection:

a. Safety Harness
- A system of belts or restraints
to hold a person to prevent from
falling or injury.

b. Anchor Points
- Usually installed on the
roof and are used to
connect lanyards, lifelines,
and other forms of tie-off
which prevent a worker
from falling.

c. Safety Lanyards
- Lanyards are typically short
sections of a webbing cable
that are usually attached to
the D-ring of a worker’s
safety harness. It has a
shock absorbing feature or
simply be a short connection
to a lifeline of fall protection
anchor point.

d. Self-Retracing Lines
- A vertical lifeline that is used
as part of a complete fall
arrest system.

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e. Warning Line
- A barrier such as rope, wire,
or chain that warns workers
they are approaching an
unprotected edge of a roof,
floor, or other work surface.

f. Fall Arrest Accessories/Kits

- Used to stop a person or a
worker that is already
falling.

g. Rescue Equipment
- Used for rescuing workers
that suffer from accidents.

3. CONTROL
- Position-device system enables the worker to work with both hands free on
a surface such as a wall or other vertical structure. They are typically used as
protection for concrete form work and placing rebar. The difference between
a positioning-device system and a personal fall-arrest system is that
positioning-device system supports the worker on an elevated surface and
limits fall to two feet.
- Safety net systems consist of mesh nets, panels, and connecting
components. They are typically used as protection for those who work 25 feet
or more above lower levels.
Employer’s Requirements for Fall Protection (OSHA Requirements)
TRAINING
- Employers must train their workers on the following:
• Fall hazards associated with your facility and your work

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• Methods used to protect you from those hazards

• Proper and safe use of any personal fall arrest, positioning, or fall restraint
systems
• Applicable OSHA Standards
INSPECTION
- Employers must inspect the following:
• Workplace for existing and potential fall hazards
• Fall hazard controls used such as guardrails, covers, grates, and anchorage
points
• You must inspect your PFAS, positioning, and fall restraint hardware before
each use
RESCUE
- Personal fall arrest systems require a rescue plan and employers must develop and
communicate the rescue plan to all involved.

LADDER SAFETY
OBJECTIVES:
- To discriminate between safe and unsafe ladder practices
- Describe correct practices when ascending and descending a ladder
- Describe correct practices for using extension ladders

Ladders are indispensable tools and there are many types of ladders base on
size, shapes and material. Every year in the US, there are about 300 people die from
ladder-related accidents and injury and most of this injuries fall of more or less than
10 feet. Most of this falls involve portable ladders.

Common Ladder Accidents

1. The Ladder moves, tilts or Shifts

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2. Unstable and Slippery base surfaces

3. Misstep or Slip of foot

4. Loss of Balance

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5. Struck by a vehicle or a person

There are preventive programs to reduce these accidents, these are;

Frequently inspect and maintain ladders, match tasks to appropriate ladders, Set up
ladders correctly, Climb and descend ladders properly, and for employers – to
conduct training for ladder safety.

TYPES OF PORTABLE LADDERS

1. Non-self-supporting ladders - which must lean against a wall or other support,
are to be positioned at such an angle that the horizontal distance from the
top support to the foot of the ladder is about 1/4 the working length of the ladder.
There are two different types:
a.Single portable or Straight Ladder
- Slip - Resistant feet
- 30 feet maximum length
- One worker
- Wood, metal, fiberglass
b. Extension Ladder or Section Ladder
- Two or more section
- Upper section on top
- Minimum section overlap
- One person
- Wood, metal, fiberglass
- Maximum length of 72 feet
- Individual Section not more than
30 ft
- Non – slip base – tie off top

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2. Self-supporting ladders - non-adjustable in length, consisting of two sections,

designed to be able to be climbed on by two (2) individuals simultaneously, one
(1) per side and hinged at the top to form angles with the base. There are five
different types:
a. Standard stepladder
- Flat Steps
- Hinged back
- Used on firm level footing
- Metal, Wood, Fiberglass
- One worker
- Metal Spreader or Locking
Arms
- No work from top step
- 20 ft maximum length

b. Two-way stepladder
- Similar to standard
- Step on both sides
- Two people
- Not more than 20 ft

c. Platform Ladder
- Special purpose
- Maximum 20ft to platform
- Stable platform is the highest
working height

d. Orchard ladder
- Special purpose for
pruning/harvest use
- One person
- 16ft maximum
- Wood, metal fiberglass
- Do not Stand on top step

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e. Trestle Ladder
- Two sections
- Used in pairs to support planks or
staging
- Angle of spread = 5.5 inches per ft of
length
- Max height of 20 ft
- Spreaders Required

How to properly use a Ladder

Accidents happen during the use of ladder for some reason. Some of these
are failure to inspect the ladder before using, the ladder was placed inappropriately,
and workers ignored safety practices and protocol when climbing the ladder.
Therefore, before using a ladder to begin a job, worker must select the appropriate
ladder for the task, and inspect the ladder to make sure it is clean and undamaged.

Placing a Ladder
To properly place a ladder before using it, workers must follow the following
instructions; place the ladder near the working area (failure to do this will result to
overreaching while in the ladder that may cause loss of balance and accident), proper
angle, solid rest across openings, protect base from bumps and uneven surfaces,
orchard ladder pole on the ground. Workers must also avoid placing ladder in front
of an unlocked and unguarded door, and placing ladder on boxes, table, truck or
other movable objects.

Securing a Ladder
Workers must secure that the ladder was properly installed. Make sure that it
was nailed/lashed in placed to prevent slipping, and extend at least 36 inches above
access area. Avoid using ladder in exposed areas during storm or wind, using ladder
covered in snow or ice, and using a ladder even a staircase is accessible.

Ascending and Descending to a Ladder

When ascending and descending to a ladder, workers must follow these
pointers to ensure safety; face the ladder, grasp rails on both hands and avoid
grasping tools while ascending and descending to a ladder, raise/lower heavy loads
with hand line or hoist and workers must only attach light tools. Workers must
remember not to do the following: sliding down the ladder, climbing with slippery
hands/shoes, using hands to carry tools or items, carrying heavy loads.

Basic Steps to Ensure Ladder Safety:

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• Use the right ladder for the job

• Inspect the condition of the ladder
• Set-up the ladder properly
• Follow rules for climbing and using the ladder
Dos and Donts:

Do’s:

• Move the ladder

• Get a taller ladder
• Use fiberglass only
• Use a tool belt
• Get a second ladder

Don’ts:

• Overreach from a ladder

• Use the top two rungs
• Use wood or metal ladders
• Move a ladder while on it
• Climb with a material
• Share a ladder

Safety Reminders:

1. Maintain 3 points of contact with the ladder at all times

2. Maintain the center line of your body between the ladder’s vertical support
rail while working
3. Check bottom shoes and ladder rungs for grease and dirt
4. Make sure that the ladder has non-skid pads
5. Ensure spreaders are fully extended and locked
6. Test pullies, springs, rung locks, and ropes on extension ladders
7. Store the ladder on their side or secure with a chain or cable when stored in
an upright position

Extension Ladder Safety Reminders:

1. A minimum of 1 m overlap is required

2. Must be secured at the top
3. Must have area secured with cones or barrier tape
4. Follow the 4:1 rule when using an extension ladder

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References:

Fall Protection. https://slideplayer.com/slide/4596900/

OSHA 10-Hour Outreach Training General Industry: Fall Protection.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. https://www.osha.gov/fall-protection

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fall Protection in Construction.

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3146.pdf

Simplified Safety: Fall Protection Equipment.

https://simplifiedsafety.com/fall-protection/?fbclid=IwAR0610E6ocfy-
9VBJQEtGcMXSLKVbpAM9DXwtTgx1Dxyqa9ghUUrPGZZs6E

Ladder Safety
https://www.slideshare.net/Hvacmach/ladder-
safety?fbclid=IwAR121uY20NOfpS88eqVgUFcj80OvnutOaMUyM0j4INmvEym0_Z7
W4r2IfRU

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