Residential fall protection safety talk
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires workers to have a fall protection system when working at the height of six feet or more above a lower level, regardless of the pitch on a roof. Workers face fall hazards in various ways from working around the unguarded edge of a home or building, working from scaffolding to fall hazards related to working from lifts.
Areas to consider:
- Ensure the appropriate ladder is being used for the task and that it is in good condition as well as ensuring it is properly anchored
- Maintain 3 points of contact while ascending and descending from the ladder
- A full body harness should be worn and connected to a lifeline or lanyard
- Ensure the lanyard is long enough to do work but will not allow the worker to hit the ground if a fall occurs
- Take swing radius into account and ensure workers are moving the line as they go
- Connect to a secure and proper anchor point
- Do not travel to heights with tools in hand; pull tools up afterwards
- When scaffolds are used, they should be erected, inspected and dismantled by a competent person
- Any time work is done from an aerial lift, the worker should be tied of with a fall arrest system
Detailed below are some of the conventional methods of fall protection available to protect workers:
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)
- PFAS consists of a worker wearing a full body harness attached to a fixed anchor point via a lanyard or cable.
PFAS + Rope Grabs
- A rope grab system consists of a worker wearing a full-body harness attached to a fixed anchor point via a rope
- The harness is connected to the rope by a rope grab that allows the user to move up and down the rope fluidly
- If the rope is jerked or if a fall occurs, it locks into place and keeps the worker from falling further
PFAS + Horizontal Lifeline
- When used as part of a PFAS, a horizontal lifeline can be used to increase the area in which a worker is protected
- A horizontal lifeline consists of a cable connected horizontally between two or more anchors extended along the roof peak