Purpose
This section is provided as guidelines for University managers,
supervisors, and other employees who are involved with worksite operations
4 feet or more above ground level.
Goals
Falls are preventable through use of appropriate employee training,
use of appropriate fall protection devices, and proper supervision
to prevent the likelihood of employee falls when working at elevated
worksites as outlined in the ASU Fall Protection Program.
Responsibility
Supervisors and managers are responsible for training and insuring
the use of safe fall protection work practices by employees working 4 feet
or more above ground level and, in turn complying with North Carolina Department
of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Division (NCOSHA) Fall Protection
Standards.
Fall Protection Program Strategies
• Increase employee awareness and recognition of potential fall hazards
at various worksites (e.g. exposed elevated worksites with unprotected perimeters,
elevated areas without guardrails or other barriers).
• Implement appropriate measures to eliminate or control potential fall
hazards
(e.g. effective planning and use of engineering controls, such
as guardrails, scaffolds and platform barriers) to provide protection from
falls and establish employee working levels at safe, desired heights.
• As a last option, Implement appropriate employee training to properly
select and use fall protection equipment to avoid the likelihood of falls from
elevated worksites.
Employee Fall Protection Safety Practices
• Personal fall arrest systems are designed to stop a person in a fall.
• Equipment selected will depend on specific job tasks and working environment.
• Basic fall arrest systems consist of an anchorage point, connectors, a
full body harness, and a lanyard. Additional features include a deceleration
device or a lifeline.
• Fall protection equipment must be inspected by a "competent",
trained individual prior to each use. As noted in the Fall Protection Standards,
a "competent" person is defined as a person who is capable of identifying
hazardous or dangerous conditions in the personal fall arrest system or any component
thereof, as well as in their application and use with related equipment.
• Defective equipment must be immediately removed from service and tagged
or marked as unusable.
• Fall protection equipment can be washed in warm water, using a mild detergent,
rinsed thoroughly, and allowed to dry at room temperature prior to re-use.
Employee Fall Arrest System Equipment Safety Features
• Full Body Harness
• Consists of a set of straps worn around the shoulders, thighs, buttocks
and hips.
• Includes an attachment point (Ring) located at the back of the harness
for joining to the connecting device.
• Full body harness is the only acceptable body holding device for use in
a personal fall arrest system. Body belts and other devices may only be used
as positioning devices; these do not prevent the person from slipping out of
the belt during a fall.
• Full body harness lessens the jolt to the body by spreading most of the
impact forces over the buttocks, thighs, chest, and shoulders.
• Connector
• Most common type of connecting device to a body harness is a lanyard;
lanyards join the full body harness to a secure anchorage point.
• Type of connecting device used depends on the potential fall distance,
work being performed, and the work environment.
• Additional connecting devices include a shock-absorbing lanyard, self-retracting
lifeline, rope grabs, and fall limiters.
• Lanyard
• Short, flexible lines (device) made of rope, high-tensile webbing or steel
cable.
• Maximum length must not permit a fall greater than 6 feet.
• Maximum length must not allow the employee to come in contact with lower
level hazards.
• Lanyards are attached to an anchorage point by a means that will not reduce
its strength, using a locking snap-hook.
• Lanyards must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
• As a reminder, never tie a knot anywhere in a lanyard; it could reduce
its strength by more than 80 percent or more!
• Anchorage
• A secure point of attachment for a personal fall arrest system.
• Must be independent from the means supporting or suspending an employee.
• Must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per attached employee.
• Must be reachable for attachment without exposure to nearby hazards.
• Must be located (positioned) to prevent the worker from contacting a lower
level hazard in the event of a fall.
• Anchorage height must allow the fall arrest system to reduce free fall
to the shortest possible distance, not to exceed 6 feet.
• Anchorage height must not allow the employee to contact any lower level
hazard during a fall.
If you have questions or need additional information concerning
fall protection, please refer to the ASU Fall Protection Plan or
contact the Safety & Workers' Compensation Office at Extension
4007.
(Revised 6/23/2003)
