Page 90 - OHS, September 2022

PPE: FALL PROTECTION
86 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2022 www.ohsonline.com
ENRIQUE ALAEZ PEREZ/Shutterstock.com
Comprehensive maintenance does not stop at PPE.
dismantled, inspected, repaired or cleaned ■ Fragile surfaces such as rusty metal
roofs and skylights
■ Potentially unstable surfaces
■ Elevated work platforms or portable
ladders
■ Sloping or slippery surfaces such as
glazed tiles
■ Unprotected open edges
■ Holes or pits
Inspecting the workplace also
means talking to workers and technical specialists to check various aspects such as the design, layout and ultimately, stability of these structures and their load bearing capacity. The proximity and number of workers that work in unsafe areas and the quality of lighting are also aspects that should be considered.
Lastly, a proper assessment also includes reviewing all the available documents for a site including incident records and “near miss” incidents, which include events where no one was injured but if there was a slight shift in time or the worker’s position an injury could have occurred. It is useful to check information available from regulators, industry associations, unions and safety consultants so that dangerous situations are not repeated.
Learning the ABCs
of Fall Protection
There are three core components of a fall arrest system, and they can easily be remembered as the ABCs of fall protection: anchors, body wear and connectors. Each of these components is critical for helping protect workers at height, and if one component is missing, then the system cannot work. Individually, these components will not provide protection from a fall. However, when used properly and in conjunction with each other, they can help keep workers safe.
Finding the Right Anchor Point
Commonly referred to as the tie-off point, anchors are secure points of attachment for horizontal or vertical lines, lanyards and other equipment to support the loads imposed during a fall. They can be permanent or temporary and vary to suit the type of structure available. When looking to establish an anchor point, workers should look for things that are structural, like beams, columns, channels, floors or roof trusses. They should avoid less stable options like conduit, PVC pipe, light cross bracing, power lines, fences, handrails or suspended ceilings.
The position of the anchor point is key. An incorrectly positioned anchor point which is not directly overhead can expose workers to the so-called pendulum effect, where the worker swings back and forth after a fall. This can cause serious injuries if a worker hits nearby surfaces such as a wall or beam. Installing the anchor point directly above the work area and ensuring that that angle between the worker and the anchor does not exceed 30 degrees can help prevent such accidents.
Safety is enhanced by positioning anchor points overhead, but this is not always possible on a flat roof, for example, or on a scaffolding structure being assembled floor by floor in an upward direction. When workers risk falling
over an edge and do not have the option to use a higher anchor point, it is vital to use self-retracting lifelines that are fully edge-tested and approved to be attached at ground level.
Using the Correct Body Wear
For body wear, it is absolutely critical for workers to wear PPE such as full- body harnesses, and they must be worn at all times when working at height. Unfortunately, PPE for workers at height is not always used consistently, particularly when workers are moving between areas of a site and only spending part of their day near a potentially dangerous edge. Luckily, there are options available today that set new standards for ergonomics and user comfort. For example, there are harnesses with stretch-flex webbing around the legs and shoulders to accommodate the body’s movement and breathable shoulder and back padding to minimize overhead muscular fatigue and to keep workers cool. As manufacturers embrace these types of innovations in PPE, it means that more workers can consistently wear their PPE without discomfort all shift long.
Connecting Anchor Points
To Body Wear
Connecting devices are the intermediate attachments that connect the worker’s