Fall Hazards Assessment

The new walking-working surfaces standard was published in November 2016. It had several new requirements. One of which includes conducting a fall hazard assessment and regular inspections of walking-working surfaces. Another of which included training. Are you compliant?

 

Site Survey:

•A Site Survey can focus on one (1) specific area of concern or an entire facility. The Site Survey should include: –A review of the company's current safety program –Walk-through of the facility –Digital photographs and the collection of site-specific information

 

Hazard Analysis:

•The Hazard Analysis should verify that the current safety program and work practices comply with all OSHA, ANSI and other applicable regulations.

 

The Hazard Analysis includes:

•Any safety deficiencies or hazards identified should be detailed

•The necessary control measures and any recommended inspection procedures should be outlined 

 

Who Falls?

•53% of the falls occurred a distance of 10 feet or less.

•Most victims were not using fall protection.•More accidents occur in the morning than any other time of day.

•Falls are the leading causes of fatalities and catastrophes investigated by OSHA

 

Fall Protection Training has been mandatory for years.  Are you compliant?

Employers must provide a training program for each employee who may be exposed to fall hazards.

This training program must include:

• Employee training on the recognition of fall hazards and the procedures necessary to minimize fall hazards.
• A written certification record to document training including employee name, training date(s), and signature of the trainer. 
• Retraining for employees who do not have the understanding or skill to recognize fall hazards.
• Training must include: Where, when, how to use, Proper Anchorage and Tie-off Locations, How to determine free fall distance, How to determine total fall distance, and Environmental and workplace factors Inspection and Storage

OSHA Regulation 1926.503(a)(1)

"Training Program."

The employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.

The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained, as necessary, by a competent person qualified in the following areas:

• The nature of fall hazards in the work area;
• The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection systems to be used;
• The use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line systems, safety monitoring systems, controlled access zones, and other protection to be used;
• The role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when this system is used;
• The limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs;
• The correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials and the erection of overhead protection; and
• The role of employees in fall protection plans;
• The standards contained in this subpart.

"Certification of training."

The employer shall verify compliance with paragraph (a) of this section by preparing a written certification record. The written certification record shall contain the name or other identity of the employee trained, the date(s) of the training, and the signature of the person who conducted the training or the signature of the employer. If the employer relies on training conducted by another employer or completed prior to the effective date of this section, the certification record shall indicate the date the employer determined the prior training was adequate rather than the date of actual training.

• The latest training certification shall be maintained.
• "Retraining." When the employer has reason to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained does not have the understanding and skill required by paragraph (a) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee. Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are not limited to, situations where:
• Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete; or
• Changes in the types of fall protection systems or equipment to be used render previous training obsolete; or
• Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the employee has not retained the requisite understanding or skill.

 

 

 

 

Need help setting up a fall protection program?

Author: Deborah Grow, Safety Consultant

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