Page 18 - OHS, October 2024

P P E : F A L L P R O T E C T I O N
Considerations for Selecting Fall Protection PPE
Understanding types and classes of SRDs, leading edge vs. non-leading edge, solutions for
aerial lift s and more.
BY DENNIS CAPIZZI
OSHA’s list of the top 10 most fre-
Fall Protection continues to top
quently cited workplace standards,
coming in at number one in 2023
for the 13th year in a row.1 OSHA 1926.501
addresses Fall Protection for the construc-
tion industry, requiring the use of guardrail
systems, safety net systems or personal fall
arrest systems for employees working at a
height of 6 feet or more.2
Separate from OSHA, the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a
private, non-profi t organization that ad-
ministers and coordinates the U.S. volun-
tary standards and conformity assessment
system. ANSI works in close collabora-
tion with stakeholders from industry and
government to identify and develop stan-
dards- and conformance-based solutions
to national and global priorities.3
ANSI Z359 fall protection and fall re-
straint standards address “fall protection
equipment and systems for climbing, work
positioning, fall arrest, rescue, evacuation
and other fall hazards. Th ese standards
also address training, and how to identify
and abate hazards to prevent injuries when
working at height.”4
OSHA oft en references these ANSI
standards as providing guidance related to
worker protection.5
Understanding OSHA requirements
and ANSI standards, along with identify-
ing the risks of your jobsite and application
through a comprehensive hazard assess-
ment – and what OSHA and ANSI require
for those specifi c applications – are factors
in helping keep workers safe at height. Th e
below considerations about fall protection
ABCs, industry standards, leading edge vs.
non-leading edge and other unique appli-
cations, are additional factors that may be
benefi cial to keep in mind when choosing
proper PPE and safety equipment.
The ABCs of Fall Protection
Selecting proper fall protection begins with
an understanding of the components of a
personal fall arrest system, oft en referred
to as the “ABCs of Fall Protection” includ-
Image courtesy of MSA
ing Anchor Points, Body Harnesses, and
Connecting Devices. Whether you have
worked in the construction industry for
years or are new to the job, a refresher on
the ABCs can help prepare you and your
team for working at height.
■ Anchor points. Th ese are the foun-
dation of any fall arrest system. Positioned
securely on the structure being worked on,
anchor points must be capable of support-
ing the considerable forces exerted during
a fall. According to OSHA, there are two
options when considering the strength of
an anchor point: A non-certifi ed anchor
point should be able to withstand 5,000
pounds and does not need to be deter-
mined by a Qualifi ed Person; a Certifi ed
Anchor Point does require analysis from a
Qualifi ed Person to determine if the struc-
ture can withstand two times the force at
impact that will result from a fall, known as
a safety factor of two.6
■ Body harnesses. Acting as the pri-
mary connection between the worker and
the fall protection system, body harnesses
help distribute the force of a fall across the
more resilient parts of the body, such as the
thighs, chest and shoulders. Th is distribu-
tion helps reduce the risk of injury.
■ Connecting devices: Th ese include
energy absorbing lanyards, self-retracting
lifelines (SRLs) and personal fall limiters
(PFLs), and serve as the link between the
harness and the anchor point. Th eir fl ex-
ibility and functionality help provide free-
dom of movement while working at height.
Updates to ANSI Z359.14:
Types, Classes, and Performance
Requirements
Originally published in 2012 and updated
in 2014, ANSI Z359.14 defi nes both types
and classes of self- retracting devices
(SRDs). Th e latest edition of Z359.14, pub-
lished in July 2021, features several updates
to Types, Classes, and Performance Re-
quirements of SRDs,7 including:
■ Types. SRD “Types” are simply a
way of helping the manufacturer deter-
mine what type of tests they should per-
form based on the SRD design. Th e 2021
updates have added a new type of SRD and
removed another from the previous list.
New. Type SRL-P. A device compact
enough and approved by the manufacturer
to be worn on a full-body harness.
18 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2024 www.ohsonline.com