Fall

Protection
Basics
 Today We Will:
• Standards • Special Systems
• Hierarchy of – Rope Grabs
Control – Lifelines
• Components – Ladder Systems
– Connectors • Confined Space
– Anchorages • Rescue Systems
– Lanyards • Training
– Harnesses
 Regulations
• 57.15005 • General
statement
• 57.9200e1 • Car
• 57.16002c droppers
• Bins & silos
• 57.7004
• Drill masts
3 Blinks = 1 Second

• First blink 18” from start

• Second blink 6’ from start

• Third blink 16’ from start

 Types Of Falls
• Same surface falls
– Slips
– Trips (very common, not very severe)
• Falls on stairs
– More severe than same surface falls
• Falls from heights
– Lower frequency, but most severe
 Falls From Heights
• A Few Examples:
– From machinery
– From overhead cranes
– Working on conveyors
– From silos
– Working at roof edges and openings
– From scaffolding
 Phases of a Fall
• Onset
• Free fall
• Deceleration
• Rebound
• Suspension
 The Fall...
On a 5 foot platform, you slip….
• Fall 2 feet, arrester locks & applies
stopping force to your body
• Time of fall is 1/3 of a second
• Stopping force is applied to strong
bones & muscles under buttocks
• You decelerate to complete stop
• You hang until rescued
 3-2-1 STOP!!
• In a 3’ fall a 200 pound person will
generate enough speed & inertia that
it will take almost 1 ton of energy
(2000 foot pounds) to stop
Hierarchy of Controls
• Remove fall hazard through
engineering redesign
• Implement collective fall protection
measure
• Implement personal fall protection &
arrest system
Fall Arrest Components
• Full body harness
• Connectors
• Lanyards
• Anchorages
• Mechanicals
 Preventing Injury
• Use full body harness with fall arrester
prior to climbing (with built-in shock
absorber)
• Connect arrester to harness d-ring on
back between shoulder blades
• Fall arrester connected to anchor
 Connectors
• D-rings
• Carabineers
• Locking snap-hooks
• Oval rings
 Connectors
• Most frequently used part of system
because of worker movement
• Used to connect different parts of
system
• Also called “hardware”
Snaphooks
 Carabineers
• Trapezoid or oval shaped
• Gate opens to connect
• Different sizes (width)
• Aluminum or alloy steel
• Pulling force of 5000 lbs
• Normally independent
component, but may be
attached
 D-rings
• Used on lanyards,
lifelines, & anchorage
points
• Attachment element on
harness
• Made of steel
• Minimum strength of
5000 lbs
• Corrosion resistant
• Max on harness is 6
Anchorage Connectors
• Permanent
– Remains in
place for long
time
• Temporary
– Removed once
use is
completed
 Lanyards
• Wire rope
• Web
• Synthetic rope
 Lanyards
• Used for fall arrest
and positioning
and personal
restraint
• Incorporate an
energy absorber
when used for fall
arrest
• Most common
connector is the
snap-hook
 Lanyards
• Wire rope lanyards
– High heat
applications
– Only fixed lengths
– Less “stretch”
• Rebar lanyard
– At least 9/32 inch
diameter
– Snaphooks at each
end attached to hip
d-rings
 Dyna-Brake Lanyards ®

• Fixed or adjustable lengths

• Shock absorber limits fall arrest forces
• Twin leg for continuous connection
• Polyester or nylon material
Rope & Wire Lanyards

• Rope available in nylon

• Fixed or adjustable lengths
• Shock absorber limits fall arrest forces
• Available in twin leg model
 Shock Absorbing
• Elastic material reduces possibility of
trips and snags
• Available in twin leg model
• Shock absorber limits fall arrest
forces
 Tie-Back Lanyard ™

• Nylon material
• Shock Absorber
• Twin leg style available
• Integral D-ring
• Meets ANSI regulations
 Mechanicals
• Self-retracting
• Lanyards
• Hoists
• Rope grabs
• Ladder grabs
Self-Retracting
• Minimizes freefall
distance & fall
arrest forces
• Arrests fall within
inches
• Meets ANSI
A10.14
regulations
 Self-Retracting
• Contains a drum- would line
• Slowly extracted or retracted
from housing
• Connects to fall arrest
attachment on harness
• Device locks drum at onset of a
fall
Self-Retracting
• SRL with emergency retrieval
capability
• Able to be reset from retrieval
mode to fall arrest mode
• Unique “key” feature, enables
only authorized people to reset
• Used with Lynx Tripod or Ropod
• Does not replace Dynevac II
 Remote System
• Telescoping pole allows
for connections up 20’
overhead
• Connect before leaving
ground
• System includes pole, AC
strap, strap tool,
connect/disconnect tool,
and carrying bag
 Full Body Harness
• Nylon or polyester
• Webbing
• Metal d-rings
• Highest level of
protection and
force distribution
 Full Body Harnesses
• Preferred for most
applications
• Highest degree of
protection
• Distribute forces to
strongest part of human
body
• Better for suspension
• Straps color coded for
easy identification
 Straps
• Thigh straps
• Sub pelvic straps
– Under the buttocks
– Strongest part of body
– Natural seated
position during
suspension
• Shoulder straps
Fall Arrest Attachment
• Usually a d-ring
• Dorsal (back) d-ring
– Between shoulder
blades
– Adjustable
 D-Rings
• Shoulder
– Retrieval from confined
spaces
• Chest
– Personnel riding, climbing
– Not for positioning
– Not used in fall arrest
• Hip
– Positioning
– Personal restraint
 Materials
• Nylon
• Polyester
• Back pads
• Comfort pads
Pullover Harness
• Single point of
adjustment
• Easy donning and
doffing
• Nylon or polyester
• Sub-pelvic support
strap
• Color coded straps
 Vestype Harness™

• Three shoulder strap

adjustment points
• Nylon or polyester
• Sub pelvic support
strap
• Color coded straps
Tradesman ™
Harness
• 6” wide back pad
with hip d-rings
• Tool belt support
straps
• Permits hands-free
climbing
 Rope Grab
• Device which travels on
a lifeline & will
automatically engage
lifeline to arrest a fall
• Classified by horizontal
or vertical lifeline style
Rope Grab
• Hands free operation while
ascending or descending
• Versatile, lightweight, and
economical
• Easy to install
• Limits free fall distance to
6’ or less
 Horizontal Lifeline
• Below beam system
• Stanchion system
• Continuous connection
• Shock absorber
reduces fall arrest
forces
• Versatile
 Descender
• Rescue & evacuation
device
• Automatically controls
rate of descent to ground
• 50’ or 105’ wire rope
• Descent rate of 6.5’ per
second
 Descender
• Rescue & Evacuation Device
• User controls rate of descent
• Versatile
• 50’, 100’ or 150’ rope
 Dyna-Glide™ System
• Permanent system
• Vertical or horizontal
• Hands-free climbing,
work positioning, travel
restriction, and fall
arrest
• Mounted to existing
ladders or structures
• Used by more than one
person at a time
 MSA President’s
Promise
• A fall is experienced
– Harness & lanyard
• One time use
• Contact MSA/distributor
– Complete incident report
• MSA will replace at no charge