Fall Protection

Reference Guide (OSHA)

What are the four primary types of fall protection?

Guardrail Systems.

Fall Arrest Systems.

Positioning Device Systems.

Safety Netting.

What are guardrail systems?

Guardrail systems, sometimes called handrail systems, are barriers erected to prevent a person(s) from falling to a lower level or against a hazard such as a moving conveyor belt. These barriers have a top rail, middle rail and toe board that are typically supported by vertical posts and/or parts of the structure.

Where are guardrail systems typically used?

Around openings in floors and platforms where conveyors, hoppers, chutes, etc. pass through the floor or platform.

Along the outside edge of floors in structures, towers, platforms, etc that do not have exterior walls or other forms of fall protection.

Along the outside edge of conveyor walkways. Inside handrails must be provided unless an emergency stop device is provided.

Along the edge of elevated crossovers, access platforms, landings, scaffolds, ramps and stairs.

What are fall arrest systems?

Fall arrest systems are fall protection systems designed to limit a persons fall and reduce the possibility of injury resulting from the fall. These systems consist of the following three components:

Body Harness.

Connecting Device.

Anchoring Device.

What is a body harness and how is it worn?

A body harness is a series of straps that when properly worn and secured, will distribute fall arrest forces over the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders. The steps in donning a body harness are:

Hold the harness by the back D-ring and shake the harness to allow all straps to fall in place.

If any straps are fastened (buckled), unbuckle all straps.

Slip shoulder straps over the shoulders so the D-ring is located in the middle of the back and between the shoulder blades.

Pull the leg strap between the legs and connect to the corresponding buckles. Repeat the process for the other leg strap. If the harness has a waist strap, fasten the waist strap. All straps should be tight but not binding.

Connect the chest strap and position it in the midchest area. Tighten chest strap to keep shoulder straps taut.

After all straps are fastened (buckled), tighten all straps until harness fits snug but is not binding or limits movement.

Secure the loose ends of all straps.

What are examples of connecting devices and how are they to be used?

Lanyards are used to connect the body harness to an anchoring device and/or lifeline. The lanyard should be fitted with double-locking hooks. One hook must be securely attached to the D-ring that is located in the back of the body harness and the other hook is attached to the anchorage point. Examples are:

Rope lanyard.

Web lanyard.

Deceleration (shock-absorbing) lanyard.

Self-retracting lanyard.

What is a deceleration or shock-absorbing lanyard?

There are several types of deceleration or shock-absorbing lanyards. One type uses a shock-absorbing material as its inner core with a full-strength outer sheath that acts as a backup lanyard. The outer sheath is longer than the inner core and allows the inner core to stretch in order to absorb the shock of a fall. Shock-absorbing lanyards may stretch as much as 42 inches.

Other shock-absorbing lanyards absorb the energy of a fall by means of controlled destruction. Several layers of nylon webbing are woven together. The stitching holding these layers together rips or tears during the fall, which allows the lanyard to grow in length, slow the fall and absorb the shock of the fall.

What are self-retracting lanyards?

Self-retracting lanyards incorporate a nylon strap or lanyard that is wound or wrapped onto a spring-loaded drum or sheave. The drum or sheave is enclosed in a housing, which has a snap hook that is used to attach the self-retracting lanyard to the anchorage point. The drum or sheave allows the strap or lanyard to be pulled out of the housing, if the strap is pulled slowly. However, if the strap is pulled quickly, such as during a fall, the drum or sheave locks, thus not allowing additional strap or lanyard to be pulled out of the housing.

What are anchorage points and how should they be selected?

Anchorage points are secure points of attachment for connecting devices. Examples are structural beams, eyebolts, etc. Anchorage points must be capable of supporting 5,000 lbs. for each person attached to the point. Anchoring points must be approved by management prior to attachment. In some instances where mobility is a concern, a vertical or horizontal lifeline is attached to secure anchoring points and the connecting device (lanyard) is connected to the lifeline by means of a rope grab or shuttle.

How can these fall arrest system components be combined to provide fall protection?

What are positioning device systems?

Positioning device systems are fall protection systems designed to keep a person(s) away from a fall area through the selection of an appropriate length lanyard. These systems consist of the following components:

Body Harness.

Connecting Device.

Anchoring Device.

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