In the ever-evolving landscape of workplace safety in the construction industry, few considerations are as critical as fall protection and scaffolding safety. As industries continue to expand and construction projects reach new heights, the need to ensure the well-being of workers at elevation becomes vital, with competent persons playing crucial roles in assessing and managing scaffold hazards and ensuring prompt corrective measures.
Scaffolding, the temporary structures that provide access and support during various tasks at construction sites, presents unique challenges when it comes to fall protection. This article highlights four key best practices for fall protection and scaffolding safety that enhance safety, meet OSHA Standards, minimize risks, and save lives. By addressing predictable hazards you can prevent scaffold accidents.
According to OSHA regulations, workers must follow OSHA 1926 Subpart L and use fall protection when operating on scaffolding platforms that are elevated at a height of 10 feet or more above the lower level. Scaffolding requirements are not to be confused with OSHA Subpart M, the requirement for fall protection when working at six-foot heights in the construction industry. This requirement is designed to prevent falls that could lead to serious injuries and enforce strength requirements to avoid the breakage of scaffold components like cross braces and scaffold planks.
Scaffolding heights can vary greatly based on the nature of the work, the industry, the job site, and the structure being worked on. Different types of scaffolding, such as supported scaffold, mobile scaffold, and adjustable suspension scaffold, may warrant varying degrees of fall protection. This emphasizes the importance of understanding these requirements for different projects. Whether it’s constructing high-rises, servicing power lines, conducting maintenance on bridges, use in masonry, or other industries, the height requirement for fall protection remains a steadfast rule that safeguards workers’ lives.
READ MORE: What Fall Protection is Required When Working on a Scaffold
Compliance with fall protection requirements is non-negotiable, and adopting the right fall protection equipment and best practices is key to achieving it. It is important for workers and the competent person to follow the hierarchy of control in the construction site. Eliminating a hazard is always a top priority but the use of scaffolding poses a fall hazard at heights above foot level, therefore removing elimination as an option.
Workers can achieve passive fall protection without a personal fall arrest system (PFAS). The most common method for passive fall protection is the use of a guardrail system to protect all edges of a work area. Guardrails and catch platforms act as barriers that prevent accidental falls from scaffolding platforms. These protective measures are a critical first line of defense against fall incidents. OSHA mandates that scaffolding with open sides and ends located 10 feet or more above a lower level must be equipped with a guardrail system on all sides that aren’t adjacent to structures.
When determined it is not feasible to protect all edges of scaffolding with a guardrail system, workers are required to use a personal fall arrest system (PFAS). PFAS, including harnesses, lanyards, horizontal lifelines, shock absorbers, and proper anchor points, are instrumental in safeguarding workers from falls. These fall arrest systems and fall arrest equipment arrest the fall mid-air, preventing the worker from hitting the lower surface. There are two considerations regarding working with the use of a personal fall arrest system:
Active Fall Restraint- Workers wear a full body harness and complete personal fall arrest system utilizing a restraint method that is too short to allow workers to fall outside of the scaffolding.
Active Fall Arrest- When restraint is not an option, workers utilize a full personal arrest system utilizing an SRL or lanyard to catch a fall if an accident occurs.
READ MORE: The Hierarchy of Fall Protection
When working on scaffolding, finding an anchorage point solution while working at heights can be difficult. First, you must look at the nearby building or structure and determine if it could be a tie-off solution. If not, workers may resort to scaffolding for tie-off anchorage. However, when planning to use the scaffolding to tie off, workers must consult with the scaffolding manufacturer to determine if it can support the forces of a fall.
To ensure the efficacy of PFAS and other fall protection equipment, proper training in their correct usage and maintenance is necessary. Comprehensive training and vigilant supervision are the cornerstones of effective fall protection on scaffolding. Workers must be educated about assembling, using, and dismantling scaffolding accurately. Supervisors play an instrumental role in enforcing safety protocols, overseeing work practices, and addressing potential hazards.
READ MORE: A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry – OSHA
Certain trades necessitate specialized approaches due to their unique challenges when working on scaffolding at heights. Masonry work and window washing are two such industries:
Masonry tasks often involve heavy materials, intricate work, and the need for stable platforms. It’s crucial to ensure that scaffolding is properly anchored and can support the weight of materials and workers. Masonry scaffolding is made up of many scaffold components; up-rights, out-rigors, cross-bases, and base plates but lack mudsills, planks, or railings. Often the addition of railings, planks, and mudsills leaves a gap for workers to complete tasks, creating a scaffold hazard.
In the masonry industry, scaffolding often has three sides of protection. Workers must use the next level up as adequate fall protection, work in active fall restraint with a horizontal lifeline and a lanyard that prevents them from falling, or create an overhead anchorage system that allows them to complete their work.
Window washing requires adjustable suspension scaffold that hangs from above. These platforms need to be meticulously designed, installed and maintained to prevent catastrophic failures. Technicians working on suspended scaffolds must be trained in the equipment’s operation, as well as emergency procedures in case of mechanical or weather-related issues. The occupational safety of workers using this temporary structure is paramount.
Each employee on a single-point or two-point adjustable suspension scaffold should be protected by both a personal fall arrest system and a guardrail system. When attached to a window washing system, scaffolding, and personal fall arrest systems should be suspended by separate anchorage points in case of an emergency.
Effective documentation serves as a backbone for fall protection and scaffold safety. Proper record-keeping not only ensures compliance with OSHA regulations but also provides a roadmap for training, inspections, and continuous improvement in best practices. Essential documentation includes:
Regular inspections, before initial use, after alterations, and periodically during use, are crucial. These records detail findings, actions taken, and signatures of responsible personnel. Rigorous inspection protocols detect potential problems before they escalate into hazards, ensuring that any scaffold hazard is addressed with prompt corrective measures.
Maintaining accurate training records is vital. These records should detail who received training, the date of training, topics covered, and the trainer’s name. As regulations evolve and new employees are onboarded, consistent training updates are pivotal.
For intricate projects, a comprehensive fall protection plan outlines protocols, measures, and equipment to be employed. This living document aids in managing risk and ensuring uniform safety practices across various work sites.
READ MORE: 1926.451 – General requirements
By adhering to OSHA regulations, implementing effective fall protection methods, considering trade-specific challenges, and maintaining meticulous documentation, safety professionals and workers contribute to creating workplaces where lives are prioritized, and accidents are minimized. Always remember to refer to official sources and stay updated with the latest guidelines to ensure the highest level of safety standards in scaffolding operations. In this way, we collectively create workplaces where occupational safety is prioritized, minimizing the risks of scaffold accidents and promoting the well-being of everyone involved.
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