Ihab Saad – Fall protection Part 1

Welcome to another safety class, and today we talk about one of the

very important issues in safety, which is fall protection, as we

have mentioned before. OSHA right now focuses on four areas that

cause most of the injuries and the fatalities in the construction

industry, and these four, which are called the focus four areas

are fall protection, electrocution, caught in between

and struck by so we have initially talked about caught in between,

and that can be something related to excavation, for example, cabins

of trenches and things like that. So today we're going to talk on

about fault protection, which is subpart m of our code.

Just having a look at this picture here, for example, we see some

levers standing on some scaffolding at a relatively high

level, so it's definitely above six feet from the ground. They are

not protected in any way from falling. So if any one of them

falls, there might be an injury or even a fatality if they fall on

their heads or things like that. So this is definitely a fault

hazard, and it causes a violation. And as you can see, we have three

employees working in this area, so that's three violations at the

same time.

So the workers could fall while climbing on the shoring structure

to set it up and remove it, ladders and lifts must be provided

in addition to fall protection, as we're going to discuss it in a

minute.

Here's another example, a carpenter working on some

formwork, and he's getting close to an open edge, open end, and he

doesn't have any fault protection,

protective equipment. So again, and we have, we can see also the

power cable around him

for his drill. And if he trips on that cable, he might fall. And

again, that's probably at the second floor level, so there might

be an injury here as well.

So workers must be protected from falls over six feet. That's one of

the magic numbers that we're going to learn about in this lecture.

And workers are exposed to a fall hazard greater than six feet while

working near stairwell opening, so that open edge that they

definitely need to be protected.

A third example here, also on residential construction. Here we

have someone working on the second level floor with an open edge

around them, and it doesn't seem that they have any fault

protection whatsoever. So here again, unprotected, open sided

floors six feet or more above ground level, there should be a

guardrail system and safety net system for personal fall arrest

system, or for a personal fall arrest system, or PFAs, any

one of these would be required to stop the fall in case that person

falls from that location.

This is definitely, obviously, again, a violation here working at

a relatively high level. We're talking here about at least 20

feet from the ground and no protection whatsoever. They're

working on a sloped roof open edge. So definitely workers are

installing new metal roof without fault protection. So again,

obviously there's, there's a problem here. We can see there's a

ladder in the background, and it seems that the ladder is fine.

It's extending three feet beyond the or above the landing area. I'm

not sure whether it's tied in here or not, and whether it's resting

on a flat surface or not. But again, the ladder seems okay, but

obviously we have a problem with fault protection, or the lack of

fault protection devices.

Another example here we have, again, obviously there's no one

working in the area, but we have what seems to be a guardrail, but

there's no mid rail.

So again, that can be a fault hazard. So the photo shows,

this is the floor. Actually, this is not the mid drill. Shows a

guardrail and toolbar, yeah, a midriel and a tool board are

missing on an open sided floor of the building. This could expose

workers to a 12 foot

tall fall

and two boards are required to protect workers below from falling

objects. Again, if somehow something falls from this level

on, the workers below that can also cause an injury.

Same thing here, working on a platform, working on a scaffold

above six feet.

It no fault protection whatsoever, and even this set of blocks,

again, some of it may fall and injure people standing underneath

this scaffold.

So lack of fault protection for workers on fabricated frame

scaffolds, planks appear to be overloaded, and there is no safe

access for workers. The workers are exposed to a 35 foot fall

hazard from scaffold while stacking blocks prior to overhand

brick laying operations.

Another example here we're having a ladder leading to something like

a walkway that's not very well fortified or reinforced. No,

definitely, these tapes are not going to be resisting a 200 pound

force as is required for the guardrails. And someone to access

this level, they have to step on that top of the ladder, which

should not be used whatsoever. The ladder should extend three feet

above or beyond the landing surface. So several violations

here.

So the ladder to work platform is not of sufficient length. It must

extend three feet above the working surface,

another one

standing on the top of the ladder, which should not Do above six

feet. No fault protection.

Here again,

more than six feet, no guardrails for the window, no fault

protection devices for this person, no hard hat for this one.

Here at the bottom, several problems.

So workers, working from a carpenter scaffold that has no

guardrails, extends too far beyond either end is not wide enough.

Worker does not have proper access to the scaffold. How did he get

there? Just by jumping or climbing from the window. The worker inside

of the window is not provided with fault protection. There's no

standard guardrail, and the worker working below is exposed to the

struck by hazards of tools and equipment falling from the

employees. Working above is not wearing a hard hat.

Another example here, although this one seems to be wearing some

sort of fall protection device, maybe that's a hardness, but this

one is not open edge above six feet, no guardrails.

Rambo

is working on that sloped roof. Again, that rope cannot be

considered a fault protection device, God knows how, how high

above the ground that is. This is definitely not a hard hat.

Another example here as well, walking on that walkway, no guard

trails.

This is definitely above six feet.

So all of these were examples of fall protection violations. All of

these lead can lead to falls which lead to injuries or fatalities. So

these are some of the appendices that are associated with this

subpart. Appendix A, determining roof widths. Appendix B, talking

about guardrail systems. Appendix C, talking about personal fall

arrest systems or PFAs. Appendix D, talking about positioning

device systems which cannot be used as fault protection, for

fault protection and Appendix E, small sample fault protection

plans, because, again, we should have a plan that's observed and

maintained by a competent person,

some fatal facts about falls. The falls are the leading cause of

death. Falls have been, and continue to be the leading cause

of death in construction in 2010 for example, based on statistics

from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we had 370

people killed on construction sites

resulting from faults.

Most fatalities occur when the employees fall from open sided

floors and through floor openings. This is very dangerous. We have

several hazards here. We have a hazard of impalement because of

these rebars. Pro.

From the slabs like that. So if that person falls on the rebar,

they can penetrate their chest and kill them. This is an open end.

Obviously. He's standing beyond the guardrail, which does not have

a midrail. So several violations here. He does not have any fault

protection devices. The

A falls from as little as four to six feet can cause serious, lost

time, accidents and sometimes death, if that person falls on his

or her head that can cause death, or if they fall on an arm or a

shoulder or something like that, that can cause some injury. So

guards are required at six feet. Remember that number? That's the

magic number for working on an elevated platform, open sided

floors and platforms six feet, six feet or more in height, must be

guarded. And we're going to talk about the shape of the guardrail.

We talked about it briefly when we were talking about stairways and

ladders, but we're going to discuss it in more detail in this

lecture,

some of the most frequently cited violations related to lack of

fault protection measures, 501 b1, unprotected size and edges. We had

16 152 violations. 501 B, 13, fault protection, residential

construction, six feet or more lack of that fault protection.

1090 violations, 501503

A, one, fault hazards training program, the lack of a training

program. 730 450, 1b 10. Fault protection, roofing work on low

slow proof, 501 violations and 501 B, 11, fault protection on steep

proofs, 289

violations.

So sub part M covers all fault hazards except those which are

covered in other subparts, including subpart L, scaffolds.

We're going to discuss that later. Subpart R, steel erection, subpart

V, electrical transmission, subpart N, cranes and derricks.

Subpart s, underground construction and subpart X,

stairways and ladders, which we have discussed in a previous

lecture.

The fault protection locations covered by subpart M, which is

what we're discussing right now, are unprotected sides and edges,

open edges, leading edges, hoist areas, holes in floors, if you're

gonna have a hole for a stairway or an elevator shaft, or some a

pipe bank or something like that, four more can reinforcing steel

wall openings if you have a window or a Door, precast concrete

eruption and dangerous equipment, something like a man lift or a

scissor lift, where an employee stands on an elevated platform to

make some usually electrical work or utility work.

It also covers ramps, runways and other walkways, roofs, we define a

steep roof as having a slope greater than four to 12,

and a low slope roof as having a slope less than four to 12, rise

over run. The Four is a rise and the 12 is a run.

Protection from falling object is going to be covered in subpart M,

overhand brick laying, one of the areas that cause many problems

with fall protection, excavations, pits, wells and shafts, and

finally, walking and working surfaces not otherwise addressed

by any of the previous categories. So

so in this presentation, we're going to learn when is fault

protection required, and we're going to talk about the four main

methods of fault protection which might be included as part of the

PPE personal protective equipment or other safety devices, like the

safety nets, for example, which are not PPE but still a fault

protection method.

So when is fall protection needed, it's needed on all of these on

walkways and ramps, open sides and edges, holes, concrete forms and

rebar excavations, roofs, whether there's slow, low slope or high

slope,

wall openings, brick laying and residential construction.

So when we talk about walkways and ramps, the issue here is twofold.

One is the person falling from the walkway or the elevated ramp, or.

Have tools or equipment falling from that and injuring people

standing underneath that ramp or at the lower level. So we have to

guard the ramps and the runways and other walkways to guard them

using a guard rail like this one, for example, which has a top rail

and a mid rail, and it should also have a tool board at the bottom.

So the top trail we mentioned before, it should be at about 42

inches plus or minus three inches, and the mid rail is going to be at

the mid height between the top Trail and the floor.

We're going to need fault protection in residential

construction, you must be protected if you can fall more

than six feet. So obviously, this is on the second level, so, or at

least the second level. So there's a height at least here of six

feet. We don't have a guardrail here, so there's that's a

violation

on unprotected edges. Again, if it's above six feet, unprotected

sides and edge. Sides and edges must have guardrails or

equivalent. This one does not so again, this is a violation.

Obviously. This is definitely not a guardrail. This cannot be

considered a guardrail. It does not resist 200 feet. It does not

have a mid rail, it does not have a tool board, so this quarter of

inch nylon rope alone is not a proper way to guard this open

floor. And imagine the height here. We're talking about probably

a 10th floor height, or something like that. So definitely, a fall

from here will definitely result in a fatality,

skylights and other openings in roofs. Again, obviously, that's a

falling hazard, so holes more than six feet above lower level must be

protected. This opening could be made safe by using a guardrail or

a stronger cover to protect from falling.

Here we have another hole. Again, it might be for pipes or might be

for other purposes, but the hood is not properly covered, so you

have to cover completely and securely. If no cover, you have to

guard with guard drills. So these are the two options to protect

against falls in this hole.

We when working on concrete forms and around rebar, to place rebar

or to work on concrete work use PFAs, which is the personal fall

arrest system, when working on formwork or rebar, cover or cap

protruding rebar, so the rebar itself has to be capped to prevent

the hazard of impalement. If someone falls on the edge of the

rebar that might penetrate through their chest or their midsection

and can cause severe injury or even can kill them,

guard excavations more than six feet deep again, we see the six

foot number repeating over and over again when they are not

readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barriers.

In addition to needing guarding, this excavation is not properly

shored. Obviously, these two by force probably are not a proper

shoring device. We do not have any excavation boxes. We do not have a

proper sloping or banking, and this does not appear to be rock.

So definitely, it has to have better

protection against caving in as well.

If you work on roofs and you can fall more than six feet, you must

be protected. So here we have definitely above six feet. So it

seems that we have a PFAs here, whether it's properly tied or not,

it doesn't appear from the picture, but that might be okay if

it's properly tied.

Here we are at the second level, or maybe even the third level. We

have a wall opening for a future window or door, probably a window,

and it's not properly guarded with a guardrail. So if you work near

wall opening six feet or more above lower levels, you must be

protected from falling.

So duty to have fall protection is required at six feet or greater

protection to be at six feet or greater above work or walk

surfaces, and you have to inspect the work surface. Walk or work

surface is to be inspected prior to work commencing to make sure,

for example, there's no slippery material or something that cause

trips and so on.

Work surface strength, again, if you're going to be working on a

the cover of the hole, for example, if that's going to be a

working surface, then you may you have to make sure that it's not

going to break under the weight of the employee and any tools or

equipment used by that employee.

Have one, but it doesn't seem to be properly tied to to any anchor

points. And here we have a ladder doesn't seem to be extending three

feet above the landing surface, if there's going to be a landing

surface here. So there might be some issues in this picture,

in residential construction.

Again, same thing, each employee engaged in residential

construction six feet or more above lower levels must be

protected from falls using one of the three systems. If none of them

works, then again, we have to work with an alternative plan. And the

burden of proof, as usual, is on the employer.

We talked about the guardrail system. We mentioned that the top

rail should be at 42 inches, but we have some flexibility here. If

it's up to 45 inches or as low as 39 inches, that's fine. So we have

a tolerance of plus or minus three inches, and it must meet the 200

pound force resistance requirement. The midrail is going

to be installed at the mid level. So if we are at 42 then the midra

is going to be at 21 if we are at 40 then it's going to be at 20 if

we are at 39 then it's going to be at 19 and a half. If we are at 45

then it's going to be at 22 and a half. And it must resist 150

pounds of force. And then we're going to have a tool board which

is four inches high. So a two by four can work as a tool board,

and this is an example here. So the tool board is three and a half

inches, which is a two by four. The mid rail height is 21 inches,

and the top trail is going to be 42 inches. So

So here we have, for example, a guard rail that's properly

installed. It seems to be strong enough to resist the 200 pounds.

It's all around the opening, and it has the top rail, it has the

mid rail, and it has the tool board. So this is very well

constructed.

Another one. The ladder extends three feet above the landing

surface. We have the guardrail system very well installed, and

even in a different color, so that it can be seen from the distance

at all the openings.

Now this one's going to get a bad surprise, he's stepping into a

hole without even seeing seeing that hole because he's focusing on

what's in front of him or her.

Now, that hole had a cover, but the cover and it seems like a good

cover, but it was not positioned properly. So again, if someone

steps on that, they're gonna fall through that hole.

So here you have to show how you can position that cover so that it

doesn't shift, doesn't move from its place.

And now it's properly installed and it's strong enough for a

person to stand on top of it. This is proper protection.

Again, it shows here the steps of the installation, and we can see

that the cover is much wider than the hole to make sure that we

cover the whole open area.

Here we have guardrail.

I'm not sure if the toe board is high enough, but

might be a little bit short.

Now, this is not very this is not very sturdy. It's not strong

enough. I'm not sure if it can meet the 200 pound requirement.

This one is well reinforced, so this is a good practice,

and since we have installed it away from the opening, then in

this case, we don't need the tool board, because nothing is going to

fall directly on the People standing under under this opening.

So this is fine.

This is fine as well.

Here we have a wall opening with no handrail. If someone is leaning

out of this window to make any work, they may fall.

Here we have a top rail, but no mid rail, and no two board. And

even with the top rail, it's like a C channel, it's like a metal

stud. So yes, it can resist the 200 pounds, but it has sharp edges

which might injure the person it's trying to protect

if you're going to use wire rope guard rail, can this be used? It

can, because it can provide the 200 pound resistance, but you have

to flag it because it's not going to be visually clear as as well

seen as two by four, for example. So you have to flag it.

For visibility. Every six feet the wire rope deflection, it may not

deflect more than three inches maximum, so not below the 339

inches. So you're gonna install it at 42 inches, and when you pull it

down, you should not deflect more than three inches. So the bottom

is going to be at the 39 so satisfying the 42 plus or minus

three inches required.

So here, for example, we have a wire rope, but obviously that is

more than three inches, and it's not properly flagged every six

feet.

This one probably is a better one. It's properly flagged, and as you

can see, with different color flags, so it can be seen from a

distance, and it's it has enough tension, most likely it's not

going to deflect more than three inches. And we have the tool

board. We have the mid line as well, mid drop.

This one has slicing. So

that is not going to work well, because this is going to be a

weakness point. It's not strong enough. Most likely is going to

deflect more than three inches.

Obviously, this is not a proper

a proper guardrail. It's deflating under its own weight. So it's not

strong enough to resist the 200 pounds. So this is not gonna work.

And it flies, and it has so many defects,

definitely, this is not gonna work. This cannot be considered as

a guardrail. It does not support the 200 pounds, the mid rail, or

the mid tape, or whatever you want to call it, is not satisfying. The

21 inch average. We don't have a tool board. It's not flagged. So

many different problems here. This one seems to be okay, whatever,

however. So although we don't have it's missing the tool board. But

we have a mid rail, and we have a top rail.

Now, although here we have the lines and everything, they're not

flagged, but now he's working outside of that line, so it

defeats the purpose, as if the line doesn't exist. So definitely

this is not a good idea.

Now, if you're going to be working on stilts, so for example,

glazers, the ones who are installing glass for Windows and

things like that, sometimes they use stilts to reach higher levels

on the same floor. So if you're going to use stilts, then you have

to raise the top rail to match the height of these stilts as well. So

when employees are using stilts, the top rail must be increased by

an amount equal to the height of the stilts.

Here, for example,

use chain gate and movable guard rail when guardrails are used at

hoisting areas if you're gonna have a lift or a winch or a crane.

So in this case, you need lifting material or equipment, then you're

gonna use a hoisting a movable guardrail, guardrail, like a gate,

to open and close.

You can use a chain or a gate or removable guardrail section that

should be placed across the opening. Use PFAs during hoisting

operations, when removed to receive when the guardrail is

removed to receive materials, employees must be protected by a

PFAs.

Now if you have holes in a floor,

even if that hole is small, even if it's

two inches,

so any hole two inches or more in diameter must be covered. So if

it's going to be for a pipe that's more than two inches. It has to be

covered, and you have to mark the cover mark as whole, or it could

be covered color coded, most likely is going to be orange,

since it's a color that can be very attractive to the eye, so

you're going to notice it as soon as you step on that elevated

floor. Secure the cover so that it doesn't move on you, and cover to

support twice the load that's going to be imposed on it. So if a

person is going to be 180

pounds, for example, then this whole this cover of the hole has

to withstand a force of 360 pounds.

So here, for example, we have a hole that's about maybe four

inches in diameter. This should be covered. And here's the good cover

that has been fixed in play, in place with nails to make sure that

it's not going to move.

Now this is a plywood cover. It doesn't seem strong enough to

support the weight of a person or twice the weight.

Of a person. So this is not proper.

This is an open hole. It's not protected.

And again, the cover here, although it's marked as hole and

everything, but it's plywood and it's damaged, so it definitely

will not withstand twice the weight or twice the load it should

be imposed on top of it.

Same thing here.

So this should be definitely replaced

here. The cover does not cover the whole area, so this is not going

to work.

So let's pause here, and then we're going to resume this lecture

in another file, so that it wouldn't be too big of a file.

We're going to start talking about PFAs, which is the personal fault

protection protection system, personal fault arrest system. And

then we're going to talk about the safety nets, and we're going to

talk about the different zones on a roof, for example, and talk

about the program, the training program for fall protection. I'll

see you in the continuation of this lecture. You.