addressing fall protection anchorages

LJB University™ has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association forContinuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. .

ASSESSING FALL PROTECTION ANCHORAGES

TKramer@LJBInc.com; Phone: (937) 259-5120KIM MESSER, KMesser@LJBInc.com; Phone: (937) 259-5000

THOMAS E. KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. - PRINCIPAL

22

INTRODUCTION

Thom Kramer, P.E., C.S.P.＞ Principal in LJB Safety division

> 17+ years experience in fall protection industry

＞ ANSI Z359 Senior Executive Committee

• Chairman of ANSI Z359.6

• Chairman of ANSI Z359.17

＞ American Society of Safety Engineers

• 2012 and 2013 PDC Planning Committee Chair

＞ International Society for Fall Protection

• President and Board Member

33

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

Options other than PPE should always be considered

first

If using PPE, the anchorage is the first thing to

consider:＞The best equipment won’t matter with an inadequate

anchorage

＞Overall lack of guidance

44

AGENDA

OSHA and ANSI requirements

Main considerations

Case studies

Closing

55

LEARNING OBECTIVES

Summarize the regulations and standards that

address fall protection anchorages

List the main items to consider for assessing fall

protection anchorages

Identify action steps to improve the anchorages at

your site

66

CALL TO ACTION

1. Determine where your fall protection anchorages are:＞ Certified

＞ Non-certified

＞ Other

2. Evaluate your documentation

3. Use fewer anchorages in the future＞ Prevention through Design (PtD)

77

OSHA VS. ANSI

OSHA

Is the law

Regulations are created

through the legislative

process

Significant challenge in

creating and updating

regulations

ANSI

Voluntary standard

Establish state of the art

requirements and are

created by experts from all

sides of the industry,

sometimes including OSHA

VS.

88

OSHA REGULATIONS

Anchorages shall be:＞Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per attached worker

＞Or designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified

person as part of a complete personal fall protection system

maintaining a safety factor of at least two

99

ANSI Z359.2 STANDARD

Non-certified anchorages ＞Shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds for fall arrest

＞Designated by a competent person

Certified anchorages:＞Shall support two times the arresting force

＞Designed by a qualified person

1010

ANSI Z359.6 STANDARD

Drawings and specifications

Equipment, materials, and other design requirements

Safety criteria

Fall protection system loads and forces

Clearances for fall arrest systems

Design assumptions and analytical methods

1111

TYPES OF ANCHORAGES

System types＞Fall arrest

＞Work positioning

＞Travel restraint

＞Horizontal lifeline

＞Rescue

Options＞Certified vs. non-certified

1212

ANCHORAGE V. ANCHORAGE CONNECTOR

1313

Anchorage

Anchorage Connector

ANCHORAGE V. ANCHORAGE CONNECTOR

1414

AGENDA

OSHA and ANSI requirements

Main considerations

Case studies

Closing

1515

MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

Strength

Serviceability＞ Fall clearance

＞ Consistency of options

＞ Compatibility

＞ Procedures

＞ Installation

1616

STRENGTH AND SERVICEABILITY

ANSI Z359.6-2009＞ Best resource

＞ Considers types of multiple worker falls

ANSI Z359.2-2007＞ Certified: 2 times the arresting force for fall arrest

＞ Non-certified: 5,000 pounds for fall arrest

1717

STRENGTH AND SERVICEABILITY

Don’t＞ Have a competent person designate a 5,000-pound anchorage

without any guidance

＞ Have a P.E. without fall protection experience designate

anchorages

＞ Assume a Qualified Person has expertise to understand strength

aspects

＞ Forget documentation

1818

FALL CLEARANCE

Horizontal lifeline on a roof

1919

FALL CLEARANCE

Rigid rail on a roof

2020

FALL CLEARANCE

Sliding anchorage

2121

FALL CLEARANCE

Anchorage at or below feet

2222

FALL CLEARANCE

Overhead anchorage

2323

USE OF EQUIPMENT

Consistency＞ Fewer options is generally better

＞ Use and limitations

Compatibility＞ Geometric

＞ Environmental

＞ Capacity

2424

PROCEDURES

Requirements＞ OSHA: “…designed, installed and used…”

＞ Per ANSI Z359.2, section 4

Overall＞ Do they exist?

＞ Are they written and available?

＞ Are they specific to the system?

＞ Do they address rescue?

2525

INSTALLATION

Consider fall protection for the person installing the system

Load testing＞ Existing systems

• Testing of individual anchorages can be impractical

• Target load to be carefully determined by a qualified person

＞ New systems

• Horizontal lifeline – swaged fitting test

• Horizontal lifeline – system load test

＞ Anchorage connectors vs. system components

2626

AGENDA

OSHA and ANSI requirements

Main considerations

Case studies

Closing

2727

CASE STUDY #1

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Installation concerns＞ Baseplate with sizeable adhesive anchorages in each corner

＞ Stainless steel eyebolt at center of baseplate

2828

THE DIFFERENCE IS LIFE V. DEATH

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Load testing＞System failed at just over 1,000 pounds, even though it

was designed for 5,000 pounds

2929

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Installation concerns＞ Anchorage designed to be attached to building column

＞ Instead, used adhesive to attach it to masonry wall

3030

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Installation concerns＞ Baseplate supposed to be attached to concrete roof deck

＞ Instead, anchorages connected to topping concrete

3131

ADEQUATE ANCHORAGE?

3232

CASE STUDY #2 – STRENGTH

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Strength concerns＞ Observed rope attached to steel step

3333

I WONDER WHAT THIS IS FOR . . .

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Strength concerns＞ Tied off to a system used for window cleaning

• Not strong enough for active fall protection or window

cleaning tie back

3434

CASE STUDY #2

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Strength concerns＞ Wire rope through hole in bottom chord of angle from roof

structure

＞ Had stamped calculations from PE allowing use for two workers

• Not strong enough for those loads

• Not enough documentation

3535

CASE STUDY #3

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Swing fall and clearance issues＞ Lift system with guardrail

• Workers lean out over guardrail to perform work

• Good anchorage and equipment, but not enough clearance

– Would hit ground before system engages

3636

CASE STUDY #4

CANNOT PUBLICLY SHARE PHOTO

Lack of procedures＞ Workers attaching fall restraint to warning line cable, rather than run

pole

3737

AGENDA

OSHA and ANSI requirements

Main considerations

Case studies

Closing

3838

SHORT ANSWER

1. Besides strength, what is your biggest concern with

anchorages?

2. Why do you think anchorages are an often

overlooked aspect of fall protection?

3. What do you do if you cannot find a qualified

person?

3939

CALL TO ACTION

1. Determine where your fall protection anchorages are:＞ Certified

＞ Non-certified

＞ Other

2. Evaluate your documentation

3. Use fewer anchorages in the future＞ Prevention through Design (PtD)

LJB University™ has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association forContinuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102. .

ASSESSING FALL PROTECTION ANCHORAGES

TKramer@LJBInc.com; Phone: (937) 259-5120KIM MESSER, KMesser@LJBInc.com; Phone: (937) 259-5000

THOMAS E. KRAMER, P.E., C.S.P. - PRINCIPAL