why are our workers still falling? fall prevention and protection steve johnson 416.540.2673...
TRANSCRIPT
Why are our workers still falling?
Why are our workers still falling?
Fall Prevention and Protection
Steve Johnson
416.540.2673 [email protected]
Steve Johnson
416.540.2673 [email protected]
Session Objectives
Who is STACS and what do we do?
Who is STACS and what do we do?
Understand why our workers are still falling…
Understand why our workers are still falling…
2 Key Objectives…2 Key Objectives…
We’ve been in the position to witness many different fall
protection solutions!
We’ve been in the position to witness many different fall
protection solutions!
Client Base
supplying more and better equipment each year
supplying more and better equipment each year
Equipment Manufacturers
Equipment Manufacturers
Why are our workers still falling?
Employers Employers
Are conducting more training than ever before
Are conducting more training than ever before
Yet we’re still killing 2 people
every week of the year!!
Yet we’re still killing 2 people
every week of the year!!
Many simply supply a
harness and lanyard
Many simply supply a
harness and lanyard
People argue it’s better than nothing…
People argue it’s better than nothing…
It’s the same as nothing
It’s the same as nothing
can you still fall … die?can you still fall … die?
The Traditional Approach
Safety NetsSafety Nets
Warning LinesWarning Lines
GuardrailsGuardrails
Fall RestraintFall Restraint
PositioningPositioning
Fall ArrestFall Arrest
Re-design TaskRe-design Task
Fall Prevention
Fall Protection
Safety MonitorsSafety Monitors
The Hierarchy of Controls
careful!!careful!!
Fall arrest gets complicated in a hurry!
Fall arrest gets complicated in a hurry!
The Traditional Approach
I always ask a potential client…I always ask a potential client…
They typically tell me: we showed the video!!!
They typically tell me: we showed the video!!!
How is your fall protection training going?How is your fall protection training going?
Here’s a tool you can use to measure the quality of their knowledge
Here’s a tool you can use to measure the quality of their knowledge
FREE TAKE AWAY!
ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS….ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS….
If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die?If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die?
If I fall, how far am I going to go?If I fall, how far am I going to go?
What does my anchor need to hold?What does my anchor need to hold?
3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS
ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS….ASK THESE 3 BASIC QUESTIONS….
If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die?If I fall & don’t hit the ground, can I still die?
If I fall, how far am I going to go?If I fall, how far am I going to go?
What does my anchor need to hold?What does my anchor need to hold?
If your folks don’t know, they need to stay on
the ground!
If your folks don’t know, they need to stay on
the ground!
3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS
#1. If I fall, how far am I going to
go?
#1. If I fall, how far am I going to
go?
3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS
A basic consideration is “free fall”
A basic consideration is “free fall”
Maximum allowable free fall is?
Maximum allowable free fall is?
The maximum free fall allowed is 6 feetThe maximum free fall allowed is 6 feet
How do you achieve a 6 foot free fall?How do you achieve a 6 foot free fall?
#1. If I fall, how far will I go?
What happens when you fall?What happens when you fall?
What is this?What is this?
How much can it elongate?
How much can it elongate?
The maximum elongation is 3.5 feet according to ANSI
The maximum elongation is 3.5 feet according to ANSI
#1. If I fall, how far will I go?
how high does my anchor have
to be located?
how high does my anchor have
to be located?
Using a 6 foot shock absorbing lanyard….Using a 6 foot shock absorbing lanyard….Your anchor must be at
least 18.5 feet high…Your anchor must be at
least 18.5 feet high…
#1. If I fall, how far will I go?
or you’ll hit the ground!or you’ll hit the ground!
What if I’m closer to the ground than
18.5 feet?
What if I’m closer to the ground than
18.5 feet?
Use a retractable!Use a retractable!
#1. If I fall, how far will I go?
Let’s learn how to calculate Let’s learn how to calculate
Calculating Fall Clearance
We’ll review 3 examples We’ll review 3 examples
19
18.5’
Permanent D Ring Anchor Point
6 FOOT LANYARD
3.5 FOOT DECELERATION
6 FOOT WORKER
3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR
Fall Clearance Calculation
20
20.5’
CROSS ARM STRAP ANCHOR
2 FOOT EXTENSION
6 FOOT LANYARD
3.5 FOOT DECELERATION
6 FOOT WORKER
3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR
That’s 2 stories high!!
Fall Clearance Calculation
15.5’
USING A RETRACTABLE 21
2 FOOT HOUSING
4.5 FOOT FALL ARREST
DISTANCE
6 FOOT WORKER
3 FOOT SAFETY FACTOR
Fall Clearance Calculation
Employee was working 11.5 feet off the ground
Employee was working 11.5 feet off the ground
Employee chokes lanyard around
diagonal
Employee chokes lanyard around
diagonal
Fall Clearance Mishap
1 standard lanyard 1 standard lanyard
To gain mobility, a second lanyard was connected in series
To gain mobility, a second lanyard was connected in series
Fall Clearance Mishap
1 shock absorbing lanyard
1 shock absorbing lanyard
The snap hook was measured 26”
from the floor
The snap hook was measured 26”
from the floor
Both ankles and legs were fractured
Both ankles and legs were fractured
Why didn’t the anchor break?
Why didn’t the anchor break?
Fall Clearance Mishap
#2. If I don’t hit the ground, can
I still die?
#2. If I don’t hit the ground, can
I still die?
3 TRAINING QC QUESTIONS
Too much force can be lethal…Too much force can be lethal…
Maximum Arrest Force:Maximum Arrest Force:
1,800 lbs!1,800 lbs!
How much is too much?How much is too much?
#2. If I don’t hit the ground…
Remember this?Remember this?
The purpose….?The purpose….?
Most SAL’s limit fall forces to 900lbs* (ANSI)Most SAL’s limit fall forces to 900lbs* (ANSI)
#2. If I don’t hit the ground…
Impossible to maintain the MAF…Impossible to maintain the MAF…
…a 6 foot free fall or greater
…a 6 foot free fall or greater
Must use a shock absorberMust use a shock absorber
>220lb working weight
>220lb working weight
When can’t I use a shock absorbing
lanyard?
When can’t I use a shock absorbing
lanyard?
#2. If I don’t hit the ground…
It’s not just the weight of
the person…
It’s not just the weight of
the person…
What else adds
weight?
What else adds
weight?
#2. If I don’t hit the ground…
The maximum working weight in a standard system is 310lbs (OSHA)The maximum working weight in a standard system is 310lbs (OSHA)
Remember the videos, how much force can you
potentially generate?
Remember the videos, how much force can you
potentially generate?
What’s the maximum allowable force you’re permitted to generate?
What’s the maximum allowable force you’re permitted to generate?
#3. What’s my anchor need to hold?
5,000 lbs per worker attached 5,000 lbs per worker attached
2 x MAF (1800lbs)… 2 x MAF (1800lbs)…
OR … if you’re using an engineered system designed by
a qualified person…
… if you’re using an engineered system designed by
a qualified person…
#3. What’s my anchor need to hold?
Connecting the snap hook onto
the lanyard
Connecting the snap hook onto
the lanyard
1. Lanyard can break
1. Lanyard can break
2. Snaphook gate can break
2. Snaphook gate can break
Courtesy of Clarke Phillips
Choking the lanyard
Common Mistakes
Problem?Problem?
1. Sprinkler line for an anchor
1. Sprinkler line for an anchor
2. Choking the lanyard
2. Choking the lanyard
3. Fall clearance3. Fall clearance
Common Mistakes
Problem?Problem?
1. Guardrail for an anchor
1. Guardrail for an anchor
2. Choking the lanyard
2. Choking the lanyard
3. Condition of the lanyard
3. Condition of the lanyard
Common Mistakes
Ask the 3 Training QC QuestionsAsk the 3 Training QC Questions
If I fall, how far will I go?If I fall, how far will I go?
If I fall and don’t hit the ground, can I still die?
If I fall and don’t hit the ground, can I still die?
What’s my anchor need to hold?What’s my anchor need to hold?
Session Summary