Unlike the personal fall-arrest system, which is designed to stop a fall, a personal fall-restraint system prevents a worker from reaching an unprotected edge and thus prevents a fall from occurring. The system consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a body harness or a body belt. The attachment point to the body belt or full body harness can be at the back, front, or side D-rings.
The anchorage for a fall-restraint system must support at least 3,000 pounds or be designed and installed with a safety factor of at least two. If you're not sure how much an anchorage will support, have a qualified person evaluate it.
Positioning-device systems make it easier to work with both hands free on a vertical surface such as a wall or concrete form. Positioning-device systems are also called Class II work-positioning systems and work-positioning systems.
The components of a positioning-device system - anchorage, connectors, and body support - are similar to those of a personal fall-arrest system. However, the systems serve different purposes.
A positioning-device system provides support and must stop a free fall within 2 feet; a personal-fall-arrest system provides no support and must limit free-fall distance to 6 feet.
1. Which of the following systems makes it easier to work with both hands free on a vertical surface such as a wall or concrete form?
a. Personal fall-arrest system (PFAS)A guardrail system consists of a top rail, midrail, and intermediate vertical member. Guardrail systems can also be combined with toeboards that prevent materials from rolling off the walking/working surface.
Guardrail systems must be free of anything that might cut a worker or snag a worker's clothing. Top rails and midrails must be at least 1/4-inch thick to reduce the risk of hand lacerations; steel or plastic banding cannot be used for top rails or midrails. Other requirements for guardrails:
2. The top rail or a guardrail must be _____ inches plus or minus _____ inches above the walking/working surface.
a. 42, 3Safety-net systems consist of mesh nets and connecting components.
The minimum horizontal distance to the net's outer edge depends on how far below the working surface the net is placed.
See the
Net's distance below work surface | Minimum horizontal distance from edge of working surface to net's outer edge |
---|---|
Up to 5 feet | 8 feet |
5 to 10 feet | 10 feet |
More than 10 feet | 13 feet |
3. Safety nets must not be installed more than _____ below the working surface.
a. 10 feetA warning-line systems consist of ropes, wires or chains, and supporting stanchions that mark off an area within which work can be done without guardrails, personal fall-arrest systems, restraint systems, or safety nets.
Warning-line systems can only be used for roofing work on roofs that have slopes of 2:12 or less, vertical to horizontal. The purpose of the line is to warn roofers that they are near an unprotected edge.
The warning line must be at least 6 feet from an unprotected edge and meet the following criteria:
Those who do roofing work between the warning line and an unprotected roof edge must be protected with personal fall-arrest systems, restraint systems, guardrail systems, safety monitoring systems, or safety nets.
4. While roofing work is taking place the warning line must be at least _____ from an unprotected edge.
a. 6 feetEmployees engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels must be protected by guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another provision in 1926.501(b) provides for an alternative fall protection measure.
Exception: When employers can prove that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the following applies:
5. Employees performing residential construction activities _____ must be protected by fall protection systems.
a. at least 4 feet above ground levelWhen other fall protection methods are not feasible and a competent person has developed a written plan, safety monitoring systems may be used. This is a method in which a person, rather than a mechanical system, warns workers doing repairs when they are in danger of falling. The monitor, who must be a competent person, is responsible for recognizing fall hazards and warning workers about them. Safety monitoring systems must meet the requirements of OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(h).
Safety monitoring can be used only to protect those who do roofing work on roofs that have slopes less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal) and widths no greater than 50 feet. Safety monitoring on roofs wider than 50 feet is not permitted unless a warning-line system also protects the workers.
The safety monitor's responsibilities:
Only those who are doing roofing work are permitted in the area controlled by the safety monitor. Mechanical equipment can't be used or stored in the area.
6. The safety monitor used during roofing work must be a _____.
a. qualified personCatch platforms, which consist of a stable platform and an attached standard guardrail, can protect roofers when other systems or methods are not feasible. Platform guidelines:
Simple and effective when they're properly installed, rigid covers prevent workers from falling through skylights or temporary openings and holes in walking/working surfaces.
Safety criteria for covers:
Fences and barricades are warning barriers, usually made from posts and wire or boards, that keep people away from hazards such as wells, pits, and shafts.
7. Hole covers will support at least _____ times the maximum expected weight of workers, equipment, and materials.
a. 2You need to be aware of those working above or below you. Protect yourself and others from falling objects with one of the following methods:
When doing overhand bricklaying, keep materials and equipment (except masonry and mortar) at least 4 feet from the working edge. When doing roofing work, keep materials and equipment at least 6 feet from the roof edge unless there are guardrails along the edge. All piled, grouped, or stacked material near the roof edge must be stable and self-supporting. No amount of precaution will work if employees do not use safe work practices.
8. Toeboards must _____.
a. be made of a water-resistant hardwoodRead the material in each section to find the correct answer to each quiz question. After answering all the questions, click on the "Check Quiz Answers" button to grade your quiz and see your score. You will receive a message if you forgot to answer one of the questions. After clicking the button, the questions you missed will be listed below. You can correct any missed questions and check your answers again.
This California Public Health video explains the events that led to a roofing supervisor's death after he fell 30 feet through a warehouse roof skylight onto a floor. Photographs from the fatality investigation are supplemented with scenes recreated by co-workers who were there that day.