CB30012: 5. Protect and Prevent Falls of People, Equipment, and Materials

View

Prevention and Protection

A textbook definition of fall protection could read: “A method to prevent a person from falling or reducing the distance of a fall to limit physical damage.” Most would agree the first part of the above definition addresses fall prevention and is the more preferred strategy.

However, reality shows us prevention methods are not always available and in many situations fall protection is our only option. If the fall hazards cannot be eliminated, the next approach is to select the appropriate fall protection system.

Of course, no single fall protection system provides adequate fall protection for all job activities. As the type of system will vary from job to job, we must always assess each job and activity to determine the proper type of fall protection.

A task-specific/job-specific Fall Protection Plan shall be developed and approved by a competent fall protection plan developer for any activity where there is a risk of a fall.

A competent fall protection plan developer must be appointed according to regulation 10(1)(a) of the Construction Regulations.

The Fall Protection Plan Shall Include a Task/Job-specific Risk Assessment and Requirements Relating to the Following:

The training programme for employees working from a fall risk position.
Appointments and authorizations.
The procedure addresses the inspection, testing and maintenance of all fall protection equipment.
A risk assessment that is site-specific with regard to fall risks for work to be performed.
The processes for the evaluation of the employees’ medical fitness necessary to work in a fall risk position and the records of this (medical surveillance programme).
Equipment use and specification.
Fall prevention, fall arrest and fall rescue.
Method statements or safe work procedures/task analysis/work instructions.

Adherence to the Fall Protection Plan is Mandatory:

The Fall Protection Plan must be suitably amended in accordance with the risk assessment, equipment technology, standards and legislation.
The Fall Protection Plan must be monitored and reviewed as required by the work performed and changes in hazards.
The Fall Protection Plan must include the rescue plan.
Adherence to the Fall Protection Plan is mandatory.
The use of a work-positioning belt with a work-positioning lanyard (safety belt) without a full body harness and fall arrest system is strictly prohibited for fall arrest purposes.
Equipment should not place a load greater than 6kN or as per relevant SANS or accepted international standards on the user in the event of a fall. The equipment should protect the user from impact with the ground or surrounding structures, as well as injury from the harness in the event of a fall.
Expiration dates for FAS equipment as determined/specified must be adhered to during usage and inspections in terms of the retirement of equipment and suitability for usage stipulated by the manufacturer.

Anchor Points:

The selection of anchor points is determined by the type of work and structure involved.
Certain structures may not provide adequate strength for fall arrest purposes. In such cases, alternative means of fall protection have to be developed, based on an appropriate risk assessment.
Dedicated fall arrest anchor points shall be tested annually, according to SANS, and records of such tests kept.
Dedicated anchor points must be clearly marked as such, with the load-bearing capability, direction of use, date of inspection, standard to which it was tested, and unique serial number.
If there is any doubt about the structural adequacy of the anchor structure, a structural engineer will make an assessment and sign off the structure.
Employees have to be able to connect to anchor points before they enter a fall risk position.
Anchor points must, as far as practicable, be placed above the worker to minimize the fall distance and pendulum effect.
Rope or webbing anchor slings may not be placed around a structure with sharp edges without adequate protection.
In vertical or diagonal orientation, sufficient means must be used to prevent the sling from sliding, for example by double-wrapping the attachment sling or by attaching it to a cross member and choking is only allowed for slings designed for choking.
Handrails may not be used as anchor points for any fall arrest equipment or fall arrest systems unless they have been specifically engineered and certified for this purpose.

Safe Use of Equipment and Systems:

The following applies to any work where fall arrest is required:

The user of fall arrest equipment should be connected to at least one anchor point/fall arrest system whenever that user is at risk of falling.
Equipment and systems must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Equipment must be carefully handled to ensure that no parts are damaged.
The user must ensure that the equipment is in good working order and has been serviced, inspected and maintained before and after use.
Defective equipment may not be used and must be removed from circulation, destroyed or marked as defective.
Users must check the correct assembly of the equipment before use, for example, check that all buckles are used correctly; no clothing is caught in snap hooks, etc.
The carrying of hand tools must not interfere with the movement of the operator or the working of the system; a tool bag with a rope must be used to attach tools.
Equipment shall be stored in a cool, dry environment away from chemicals.
If the equipment has arrested a fall, it must be withdrawn from service and referred for inspection.

Fall Over Sharp Edges:

Where lanyards can strike a sharp edge in the event of a fall, the result may be a failure to arrest the fall safely or a complete break in the lanyard. Selecting a different anchor point or protective covering can overcome this hazard.

Fragile Work Surfaces:

As far as reasonably practicable, avoid work or movement over fragile surfaces.
Provide and use, as far as is reasonably practicable, suitable and sufficient platforms, coverings, guardrails or similar means of support or protection so that any foreseeable load is supported by such supports or borne by such protection.
Where a risk of a person at work falling remains despite the measures taken, suitable and sufficient measures must be taken to minimize the distances and consequences of a fall.
Prominent warnings notices are, as far as is reasonably practicable, affixed at the approach to the place where the fragile surface is situated, or persons are alerted to the risk by other means if this is not practicable.

On fragile surfaces such as roofs, where there is a risk of falling through or over the edge, the following must be taken into account:

- Potential fall distance: A fixed-length lanyard can cause an unacceptably long fall close to the anchor if the fall is through the surface.
- Fall clearance: The areas around and underneath the surface have to be checked for potential obstructions:

Restraint Systems:

Restraint systems are suitable for areas where the users can maintain a secure footing without tensioning the system or using their hands to do so. Fall arrest systems should be used in the following situations:

If the users can reach a point where they can fall over an edge.
If the restraint line can be adjusted in length, resulting in a fall position.
If the user can fall through a fragile surface.
If any other reasonable misuse of the system could result in a free fall.
Where restraint systems are in use, adequate controls and supervision must be in place to prevent the misuse of the system.

Work Platforms and Access to Work Areas:

Make sure that access to work areas does not present any fall hazards, for example, open holes or fragile surfaces.
Select the correct means of access to the work area, taking into account the job requirements. For example, use a scaffold to create a safe work platform for a longer job duration and heavier work, and use rope access instead of a scaffold for jobs of shorter duration.
Make sure that the operator, for example, a mobile elevated-platform operator, of the access equipment is properly trained in the use of the equipment.

Every Work Area or Means of Access or Egress at Height Must:

Be stable and of sufficient strength and rigidity for the purpose for which it is intended to be or is being used.
Where applicable, rest on a stable, sufficiently strong surface.
Be of sufficient dimensions to permit the safe passage of persons and the safe use of any.
Plant or materials required to be used and to provide a safe working area, having regards to the work to be carried out there.
Possess suitable and sufficient means for preventing a fall.
Possess a surface that has no gap through which a person could fall or through which any material or object could fall and injure a person.
Be constructed, used and maintained in a condition to prevent, as far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of slipping or tripping; or any person being caught between it and any adjacent structure.
Where it has moving parts, be prevented by appropriate devices from moving inadvertently during work at height be so erected and used as to ensure that its components do not become accidentally displaced so as to endanger any person when altered or modified, be so altered or modified as to ensure that it remains stable and does not alter the integrity, and be dismantled in such a way as to prevent accidental displacement.
A working platform and any supporting structure may not be loaded to the point where it presents a risk of collapse or any deformation that could affect its safe use. A safe workload shall be displayed.
Scaffolding may be assembled, dismantled or significantly altered only under the supervision of a competent person and by persons who have received appropriate and specific training in the operations envisaged, which training addresses specific risks that the operations may entail and the precautions to be taken and, more particularly, in:

understanding the plan for the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding concerned safety during the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding concerned,
measures to prevent the risk of persons, materials or objects falling,
safety measures in the event of changing weather conditions which could adversely affect the safety of the scaffolding concerned,
permissible loadings; and any other risks that the assembly, dismantling or alteration of the scaffolding may entail.

Personal fall-arrest systems consist of an anchor, connectors, and a full body harness that work together to stop one from falling and to minimize the arrest force. Other system components may include a lanyard, a deceleration device, and a lifeline. However, the personal fall-arrest system is effective only if you know how all of the components work together to arrest the fall.

Guardrail systems are vertical barriers consisting of top rails, mid rails, and intermediate vertical members. Guardrail systems can also be combined with toe-boards, which are barriers that prevent materials and equipment from dropping to lower levels.

Safety net systems consist of mesh nets, panels, and connecting components. They are typically used as protection for those who work ≥7 meters or more above lower levels.

Warning-line systems consist of ropes, wires or chains, and supporting stanchions (vertical metal columns with fence-like rails mounted on them) that form a barrier to warn those who approach an unprotected roof side or edge. The lines mark off an area in which one can do roofing work without using guardrails or safety nets.

Safety-monitoring system is a set of procedures assigned to a competent person for monitoring or warning workers who may be unaware of fall hazards. Safety-monitoring systems are appropriate for roofing operations on low-slope roofs and used in conjunction with a controlled access zone and a fall-protection plan is also appropriate in situations where conventional fall protection is not feasible.

Controlled-access zones are work areas designated and clearly marked in which certain types of work may take place without the use of conventional fall protection systems – guardrail, personal arrest or safety net – to protect the employees working in the zone.

Tool Safety Lanyards securing your tools with a tool tether ensures that, if dropped, the tools will not pose a hazard to yourself or anyone down below.

Training:

Every employer shall ensure that no person engages in any activity in relation to work at height unless they are competent to do so.
All persons who work from height or who will be required to rescue from height shall receive rescue training in accordance with the unit standard.
The date of training shall be indicated on the certificate with no expiry date.
One job observation per annum shall be conducted on each person working at height.
The employer shall determine the need for refresher training, taking into account factors such as periods of inactivity and changing circumstances as determined from risk assessments and job observations.
Rescue training shall expire after three years.
Documented training records for all work-at-height training must be maintained and filed for auditing purposes.

Disposal of Working at Height Safety Equipment:

There must be a work instruction for the disposal/destruction of all withdrawn height safety equipment that cannot be satisfactorily repaired.

Falling Objects:

A drop zone must be established and demarcated.
Suitable steps must be taken to prevent any material or objects from falling which could cause harm to people or property.
Where it is not reasonably practicable to comply with the requirements every employer must take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent any person from being struck by any falling material or object that is liable to cause personal injury.
No material or object shall be thrown or tipped from height in circumstances where it is likely to cause injury to any person.
Materials and objects must be stored in such a way as to prevent risk to any person arising from the collapse, overturning or unintended movement of such materials or objects.

CB30012 Fall Protection Plan

5. Protect and Prevent Falls of People, Equipment, and Materials