Page 17 - Occupational Health & Safety, November/December 2019

5. Try to limit tool weight to six pounds per Tool Tether when connected to a worker’s body. The greater the tool weight, the greater chance of the worker’s balance being disrupted in the event of a drop, and this especially when using a wrist style Anchor At- tachment. Consider the potential effects on a worker’s balance if a six pound grinder were dropped at arm’s length and was attached to the worker’s wrist versus their waist.
6. Like every other piece of fall protection equipment, all dropped objects solutions should be inspected before each use and replaced immediately if found to be damaged or otherwise com- promised.
100 Percent Tie Off Isn’t Just for Workers
The phrase “100 Percent Tie-Off ” has been around the fall protec- tion industry for quite a while, and for good reason; there is just no excuse for a worker to not be tied off while still at risk of fall- ing. One of the most dangerous moments for a worker at height is during the transition phase between one anchorage connector to another. To help mitigate risks during this process, manufacturers have developed advanced connectors with twin legs that allow a worker to make the transition from one to another while at least one of the legs is attached to the anchorage connector.
This same idea applies to a worker’s hand tools. While it’s com- mendable when a worker properly secures a hand tool to a suitable
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Anchor Attachment point, the prevalence of hand-to-hand trans- fers of tools means that—like the worker transitioning between anchorages—the tool itself must always also be connected to one Anchor Attachment point or another. When designing a dropped objects prevention program, ensure that all workers have the neces- sary Anchor Attachments and Tool Tethers needed in anticipation of tool hand offs that may occur as work progresses. And it’s not a bad idea to have workers who will be performing tool transfers at height go over the process while at ground level. The last phrase anyone wants to hear as a tool disappears into the void beneath them is, “I thought you had it.”
Taking care that workers not only have the right tool for the job, but also the right dropped objects prevention solution, is as neces- sary on the modern jobsite as designing an effective fall protection plan. Familiarizing yourself with the requirements of ANSI/ISEA 121-2018 and how it fits into your overall safety plan will go a long way in helping you both talk the talk and walk the walk.
Baxter Byrd is a technical writer with Pure Safety Group, the world’s largest independent provider of fall protection equipment and train- ing. His primary mission is translating dense regulatory standards to increase understanding and practical applicability. When he’s not writing, he’s reading. Byrd holds a B.A. in Communication from the University of Washington.
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