Rules / PPE Requirements > Personal Protective Equipment

Fall arrest equipment must meet appropriate CSA standards as follows:

•Safety belt and lanyards shall meet CSA Standard Z259.1-95 (R1999).

•Snap hooks used on lanyards and lifelines must be self-locking, and must meet the requirements of CSA standard 2259.12-01.

•Body Harnesses are to be the full body type and shall meet CSA Standard Z259.10-M90 (R2003).

•Fall arresting devices, personnel lowering devices and lifelines must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z259.12-01.

•If a shock-absorbing lanyard is used, it must meet the requirements of CSA standard CAN/CSA Z259.11-M92 (R1998).

Requirements for use and care of fall arrest equipment are as follows:

General:
Each year hundreds of injuries and deaths are attributable to work-related falls. The AWCB of Canada show falls as one of the leading causes of occupational death. An OSHA (US) study involving 99 fall-related fatalities suggests that all of the deaths could have been prevented by the use of fall protection. Fall protection can be in the form of guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or under specific conditions, travel restraint systems in a control zone.

An employee must be protected from falling when working on a surface that has an unprotected side or edge, which is 3 meters or more above an adjacent lower level, or when working from bucket trucks or other personnel lifts with articulating booms.

In each of these cases, the fall hazards must be evaluated to determine the preferable method to protect the employee. Fall protection systems should be selected based on:

•Eliminate the fall from heights risk

•Prevention by engineering out the hazard with barriers, guardrails systems, work platform, or modify the work procedure, etc.

•Use fall arrest systems when the first two approaches are not feasible

Training:
Each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards will be trained to recognize the hazards and the procedures to follow to minimize the hazards. A competent person will provide the training.

The competent person must train employees in the following areas:

•Fall hazards in the work area

•Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling and inspecting the fall protection systems used

•Use and operation of the fall protection systems used

•Role of employees in fall protection plans

•What rescue procedures to follow in case of a fall

•Overview of the OH&S fall protection regulations

A training record will be maintained for each employee. The record will contain the name of the employee trained, date of training and the signature of the person who conducted the training. Retraining should be done every 3 years, if there is a change in the fall protection system being used or if an employee’s actions demonstrate that the employee has not retained the understanding or skills important to fall protection.

Fall Protection Systems:
One of the following systems should be in place whenever an employee is exposed to a fall of greater than 3 meters.

Scaffold / Guardrail systems:
Scaffolds / Guardrails are needed at the edge of work areas 3 meters or more in height to protect employees from falling. This includes the edge of excavations greater than 1.2 meters in depth. Scaffold / Guardrail systems need to meet the following criteria:

•Top rail is not less than 920 millimetres and not more than 1070 millimetres above the walking/working level

•Midrail is located midway between the top rail and the walking/working level

•It is important to remember that the working level is that level where the work is being done. Someone working on a stepladder next to an edge may raise his/her working surface well above the walking surface.

•Both top and midrails should be constructed of materials at least 38 X 89 millimetres if constructed of wood. If wire rope is used for top rails it must be 9.5 millimetres in thickness, and have turnbuckles or other means to provide adequate tension on the wire rope. Manufactured railing systems made of light weight metal are also available for use as a guardrail system.

•The system should be smooth to prevent punctures, lacerations or snagging of clothing

•The ends of the top rail should not overhang the terminal posts, except when such overhang does not present a projection hazard

•When a hoisting area is needed, a chain, gate or removable guardrail section must be placed across the access opening when hoisting operations are not taking place.

•All Scaffold systems must be equipped with guardrails, toeboards, and have any planks used for walk secured to the Scaffold framework.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems:
Personnel requiring the use of personal fall protection equipment shall employ the "Buddy System" or have an observer to render assistance when and if required.

There are three main components to the personal fall arrest system. This includes the personal protective equipment the employee wears, the connecting devices and the anchorage point. Prior to tying off to perform the work, a means of rescue must be immediately available. The system needs to meet the following criteria for each component:

Personal Protective Equipment:

•If a fall occurs, the employee should not be able to free fall more than 1.2 meter (4 feet) nor contact a lower level.

•To ensure this, add the height of the worker, the lanyard length and an elongation length of 1.07 meters (3.5 feet). Using this formula, a six-foot worker with a six-foot lanyard with a shock absorber and allowances for .4318 meters (1.5 feet) for D ring slide and .6069 meters (2 foot) safety factor would require a tie-off point at least 5.64 meters (18.5 feet) above the next lower level.

•Full body harnesses are required. The use of body belts is prohibited.

•Use the shortest possible lanyard for the job.

•It is preferable to use the Type 1 SRL (Self Retracting lifeline) for lower altitude work as it reduces the user’s free fall, therefore keeping impact forces lower.

•The attachment point of the body harness is the center D-ring on the back.

•Employees must always tie off at or above the D ring of the harness except when using a lifeline; always calculate your fall distance when using fall arrest equipment.

•Harnesses or lanyards that have been subjected to an impact load must be destroyed.

•Load testing shall not be performed on fall protection equipment.

Connecting devices:
This device can be a rope or web lanyard, rope grab or retractable lifeline.

•Only locking snaphooks may be used.

•Horizontal lifelines will be designed by a professional engineer and installed in accordance with the design requirements.

•Lanyards and vertical lifelines need a minimum breaking strength of 22.2 KN or approximately 5,000 pounds.

•Lanyards may not be clipped back to itself (e.g. around an anchor point) unless specifically designed to do so.

•If vertical lifelines are used, each employee will be attached to a separate lifeline.

•Lifelines need to be protected against being cut or abraded.

Anchorage:
Secure anchor points are the most critical component when employees must use fall arrest equipment. Some buildings may have existing structures (e.g., steel beams that may meet the criteria for a secure anchor point). Other work locations and assignments may require the installation of a temporary or permanent anchor. As a minimum, the following criteria must be considered for each type of anchor point:

•Structure must be sound and capable of withstanding a 22.2 KN or approximately 5000 lb. static load/person attached.

•Structure/anchor must be easily accessible to avoid fall hazards during hook up.

•Direct tying off around sharp edged structures can reduce breaking strength by 70% therefore; chafing pads or abrasion resistant straps must be used around sharp edged structures to prevent cutting action against safety lanyards or lifelines.

•Structures used as anchor points must be at the worker's shoulder level or higher to limit free fall to 1.2 meters (4feet) or less and prevent contact with any lower level. (See fall distance calculation.)

•Choose structures for anchor points that will prevent swing fall hazards. Potentially dangerous "pendulum" like swing falls can result when a worker moves horizontally away from a fixed anchor point and falls. The arc of the swing produces as much energy as a vertical free fall and the hazard of swinging into an obstruction becomes a major factor. Raising the height of the anchor point can reduce the angle of the arc and the force of the swing. Horizontal lifelines can help maintain the attachment point overhead and limit the fall vertically. A professional engineer must design a horizontal lifeline.

Permanent Anchor Requirements:
In addition to all the criteria listed above, the following points must be considered:

•Environmental factors and dissimilarity of materials can degrade exposed anchors.

•Compatibility of permanent anchors with employee's fall arrest equipment.

•Inclusion of permanent anchors into a Preventive Maintenance Program with scheduled annual re-certification.

•Visibly label permanent anchors.

•Anchors must be immediately removed from service and re-certified if subjected to fall arrest forces.

•Include in the design/planning of new/renovated buildings.

Reusable Temporary Anchors:

•Reusable temporary roof anchors must be installed and used following the manufacturer's installation guidelines.

•Roof anchors must be compatible with employee's fall arrest equipment.

•Roof anchors must be removed from service at the completion of the job and inspected prior to reuse following the manufacturer's inspection guidelines.

•Roof anchors must be immediately removed from service and disposed of if subjected to fall arrest forces.

Fitting and use Tips:

•No loose straps should be hanging

•The D ring should only be 2 inches above/below shoulder blade line.

•Should be able to fit one flat hand under the leg straps

•The chest strap should be at the top of your shirt pocket.

•A personal fall arrest system that was subjected to an impact needs to be removed from service immediately.

•Personal fall arrest systems need to be inspected prior to each use and damaged or deteriorated components removed from service.

•Personal fall arrest systems should not be attached to guardrails or hoists.

Work from Aerial Lifts and Self Powered Work Platforms:
Body harnesses must be worn with a shock-absorbing lanyard (preferably not to exceed 3 feet in length) and must be worn when working from an elevated work platform. The point of attachment must be the lift’s boom or work platform. Personnel cannot attach lanyards to adjacent poles, structures or equipment while they are working from the aerial lift.

Personnel cannot move an aerial lift while the boom is in an elevated working position and the operator is inside of the lift platform. (Truck Mounted Lifts)

Personal Fall Arrest System Inspection:
The employee will inspect the entire personal fall arrest system prior to every use. The supervisor will inspect the entire system in use at the initial installation and periodically during its use. The visual inspection of a personal fall arrest system must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations at least annually. The supervisor’s inspection will be documented for future reference. Any fall protection system components that fail inspection will immediately be taken out of service and destroyed.

All fall protection equipment shall be inspected before each use in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Any fall protection system components that fail inspection will immediately be taken out of service and destroyed.
The following is general guidance for the inspection of this equipment.

•All manufacturers and inspection labels must be present.

Harness Inspection

Webbing:

•Inspect the entire surface of webbing for damage. Beginning at one end, bend the webbing in an inverted “U”. Holding the body side of the belt toward you, grasp the belt with your hands six to eight inches apart. This surface tension makes the damaged fibers or cuts easier to see. Watch for frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts, burns, and chemical damage.

“D” Rings/Back Pads:

•Check “D” rings for distortion, cracks, breaks, and rough or sharp edges. The “D” ring should pivot freely. “D” ring back pads should also be inspected for damage.

Attachment of Buckles:

•Note any unusual wear, frayed or cut fiber, or distortion of the buckles.

Tongue/Grommet:

•The tongue receives heavy wear from repeated buckling and unbuckling. Inspect for loose, distorted or broken grommets. The webbing should not have any additional punched holes.

Tongue Buckle:

•Buckle tongues should be free of distortion in shape and motion. They should overlap the buckle frame and move freely back and forth in their socket. The roller should turn freely on the frame. Check for distortion or sharp edges.

Friction and Mating Buckles:

•Inspect the buckle for distortion. The outer bars and center bars must be straight. Pay special attention to corners and attachment points of the center bar.

Lanyard Inspection

Hardware:

•Snaps: Inspect closely for hook and eye distortions, cracks, corrosion, or pitted surfaces. The keeper (latch) should seat into the nose without binding and should not be distorted or obstructed. The keeper spring should exert sufficient force to firmly close the keeper. Keeper locks must prevent the keeper from opening when the keeper closes.

•Thimbles: The thimble must be firmly seated in the eye of the splice, and splice should have no loose or cut strands. The edges of the thimble must be free of sharp edges, distortion, or cracks.

Lanyards:

Web Lanyard:

•While bending the webbing over a curved surface such as a pipe, observe each side of the webbed lanyard. This will reveal any cuts or breaks. Examine the webbing for swelling, discoloration, cracks, or burns. Observe closely for any breaks in the stitching. 1/8” hole/burn fails the lanyard or 3 threads or more gone fails the lanyard.

Rope Lanyard:

•Rotation of the rope lanyard while inspecting from end to end will bring to light any fuzzy, worn, broken or cut fibers. Weakened areas from extreme loads will appear as a noticeable change from the original diameter. The rope diameter should be uniform throughout, following a short break-in period. Make sure the rope has no knots tied in it. Knots can reduce the strength of the rope by up to 60%.

Shock-absorbing Lanyard/Energy-absorbing Lanyard:

•Energy/Shock-absorbing lanyards should be examined as a web lanyard. However, also look for signs of deployment. If the lanyard shows signs of having been put under load (e.g. torn out stitching), remove it from service.

Fall Protection Rescue Plan Considerations

Rescue Plans:
All sites where fall protection systems are used must have a site specific rescue plan and procedure. Supervisors are responsible to ensure that rescue plans are in place. In the unlikely event that a fall arrest occurs on site, personnel, using an articulating man lift or ladders where feasible, will rescue all employees. Alternate rescue would be through local emergency services.

Communication Issues:

In the event of a fall, the following people will be notified as soon as possible:

•Rescue personnel.

•Manager or supervisor.

•Safety officer/coordinator.

•Fire department and emergency medical services, if necessary.

At the beginning of any work activity where fall protection is an issue, rescue plans must be identified and discussed with all employees. The senior Power Tech employee on site will develop the rescue plan(s).

All employees involved in a fall arrest or fall will immediately be sent for a medical evaluation to determine the extent of injuries, if any.

Fall Investigation:

•All fall investigations will be conducted by Senior Power Tech Management, Safety Administrator, and the OHS Committee members.

•The following documentation will be completed as part of the fall investigation:

▪Interviews with staff and witnesses.

▪Employee injury/accident report.

▪Supervisor injury/accident report.

Fall Protection Program Evaluation
This fall protection program will be evaluated periodically to determine its effectiveness. The following criteria will be used to evaluate its performance:

•Accident reports.

•Number of accidents.

•Management/staff compliance with program components.

•Periodic on-site audits.

•Staff feedback and interviews.

Contractors Guidelines
All outside contractors working in or on the premises of Power Tech Industries will be required to follow the guidelines set forth in this fall protection program. Contractors in the post-award meeting will be informed of these requirements as well as the on-site construction rules that apply.