2020 Empower People

Inspire Innovation

Working at Heights Fall

Protection

Development Date : March 2019 Revision Date : July 2020 Approval by: Mohmed Maitieg - QHSE Manager
Introduction

Falling during work can cause severe injury or death. Any work where a
worker may be injured from falling is considered working at a height. This is
intended to prevent workers from falling off, onto or through working levels and
preventing workers from being struck by falling objects.

Scope
All businesses, employees and contractors must follow the safety practices outlined

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Fall safety hierarchy
1. Eliminate (redesign work process move work to ground level)
2. Prevent (prevent hazard provide guarding)
3. Arrest (Fall arrest system )

Fall safety hierarchy

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 Control Risk
• Potential On-Site Hazards Must Be Identified
• Ladders, ramps/walkways, scaffolding, near raised work area,
hoist area, roofing work, forklift platforms or other work at height.

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Control Risk

• Work Instruction Must be Developed When Applicable and Reasonable

• Assess against work instruction to ensure compliance on high risk activities.
• Permit to Work Must be In Place
• Risk assessment must be completed prior to work over 1.8m (6ft).

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Control Risk
• Crew Briefing Must be Conducted Prior to Work at Height
• Crew must be trained on equipment limits, set-up, inspection,
and storage
• Fall restraint or fall arrest must be used at heights over 1.8m
(6ft) and fall restraint and fall arrest must both be used at
heights over 3m (10ft).
• Post warning signs to stop entry into areas where work from
above is being conducted.
• Establish and mark unsafe clearance areas where
tools/materials may be dropped.
• Close off all points of access.

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Rescue Plan, Equipment and Crew
Must be ready where crew could become
suspended/stuck, or anytime fall arrest is used

Some Days all

you can do is
smile and wait
for some kind
soul to come
pull your butt
out of the bind
you’ve gotten
yourself into!

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Remove Equipment from Service
• Remove equipment from service after it has been used to stop a fall
• Remove equipment exposed to heat or chemical that may corrode or cause damage
• Send equipment removed from service to manufacturer to determine it is safe for
use.

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 Scaffolding/Platforms
• Crew must be trained in assembling, securing, and working
on equipment;
• Safe access to the work surface must be provided
• Scaffolding without ladder or steps must not be climbed
• Nothing must be carried while climbing on or off scaffolding
• Tools/materials must be stored neatly to prevent objects from
falling below
• Waste or other fall/drop hazards must be removed
immediately;

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 Physical Requirements

• Equipment must be secured to a permanent structure

• Equipment must be able to support four times the maximum intended load
• Equipment must be on clean even level surface that is free of debris
• Equipment must not be altered or moved while in use
• Rolling scaffolds must have firmly attached wheels with brakes applied
• Rolling scaffolds must be secure and have horizontal bracing

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Ladders

• Ladders must be used as per manufacturer

specifications
• Ladders must be inspected for deficiency or hazards
prior to use
• Do not conduct work on ladder (install
scaffolding/temporary work surface)
• Do not place in front of doors opening toward ladder or
door must be locked

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 Physical Requirements

• Rungs/steps/feet must be textured with skid-resistance to reduce slipping

• Ladders must not have damaged rungs or steps, or broken side rails
• Rungs, cleats and steps must be free of splinters and sharp edges
• Distance between rungs/steps must not exceed 12” and must be uniform
• Minimum width of rungs/steps must be 16
• Metal ladders must be painted or treated to resist corrosion and rusting
• Joints must be tight, hardware/fittings secure and moving parts work easily
• Pitch angle of permanent ladders must be within 75 and 90 degrees

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 Fall Protection Systems
Fall Restraint (to prevent a fall from height)

• Guardrails must be used for workspaces over 1.8m (6ft) where

fall arrest is not used
• Guardrails must be used where moving/hazardous parts may
cause injury
• Guardrails must be at least 45” where work is within 2m (6.5ft)
of exposed edge
• Guardrails must withstand 200lbs of force, applied within 2” of
top edge in any direction
• Guardrails must be at least ¼” thick and must not have sharp
edges

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 Fall Protection Systems
Fall Restraint (to prevent a fall from height)
• There must be no more than 19” between each guardrail
panel
• Toe boards must be installed where guardrails are not
feasible and must be 4” tall
• Handrails must be used on stairs/platforms where applicable
and feasible
• Manufacturer instructions must be followed.

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 Fall Arrest
Fall Restraint (to prevent a fall from height)
• Equipment must meet Personal Protective Equipment requirements
• Must only be used by certified and approved crew
• Full body harnesses must be worn over 1.8m (6ft) where guardrails are not feasible
• Body belts must not be worn as fall arrest
• At heights over 3m (10ft) full body harnesses must be worn (with guardrails in place)

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Harness Pressure Points
Spread load across
butt strap and belt
strap if on the
harness
Some studies have
indicated permanent
damage to the lower
extremities when the
worker hangs for
more than 20
minutes. Excess pressure here can cut
blood flow to the legs

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 Fall Arrest
Fall Restraint (to prevent a fall from height)
• System must prevent contact: consider length of lines, lanyards and activation
distance
• Follow manufacturer instructions and store in clean, non-toxic atmosphere
• Ropes and strength components must be made from synthetic fibers/materials
• Fall arrest equipment must not be used to hoist materials

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 Fall Arrest
Fall Restraint (to prevent a fall from height)
• Lifelines, lanyards, d-rings, and snap-hooks must be capable of supporting 5,000lbs
• Anchors must support 5,000lbs and only one person at a time
• Shock absorber must be used, and arresting force must be limited to 1,800lbs
• Connectors/anchors must be forged/pressed corrosion-resistant steel
• Connectors and anchors must be inspected for smooth surfaces/edges before use
• Anchors/lifelines must be secured separately from support lines and scaffolding
• System must fully stop 1.07m (3.5ft) after activation
• System must withstand twice the potential impact of free-falling maximum of 1.8m
(6ft)
• When self-retracting lifelines are used, free fall distance must be

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Fall Protection Equipment
Climbing Safety Systems:
When loaded by downward pull, slide locks up to minimize fall
distance to a few feet

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