assessing existing fall protection systems

ASSESSING EXISTING FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

LJB WEBINAR: SEPTEMBER 2012

KIM MESSER KEVIN WILCOX, P.E., C.S.P. KMESSER@LJBINC.COM KWILCOX@LJBINC.COM

WOULD YOU USE THIS SYSTEM?

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WOULD YOU USE THIS SYSTEM?

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WOULD YOU USE THIS SYSTEM?

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WOULD YOU USE THIS SYSTEM?

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

List the main items to consider when assessing a fall protection system

Identify action steps to determine the usability of your existing systems

AGENDA

Assessment v. Inspection v. Certification

System assessment elements

Common issues

FAQs

Closing

DEFINITIONS

Certification

• Comprehensive documentation that the system meets standards

Inspection

• Detailed look at all components

Assessment

• Overview of critical factors

AGENDA

Assessment v. Inspection v. Certification

System assessment elements

Common issues

FAQs

Closing

SYSTEM ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS

Hierarchy of Control

Fall clearance

Strength

Rescue

Training

HIERARCHY OF CONTROL

Defeatability

Effe

ctive

ness

Elimination

Substitution

Engineering controls

Administrative controls

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

FALL CLEARANCE

Total fall distance

Free fall +

Deceleration distance +

Harness effect +

Safety margin

FALL CLEARANCE

Guiding principles

Need at least 12 feet

May need as much as

18 feet

STRENGTH

STRENGTH?

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RESCUE

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TRAINING

AGENDA

Assessment v. Inspection v. Certification

System assessment elements

Common issues

FAQs

Closing

COMMON ISSUES

Common Issues

Fall Clearance

Swing Fall

InstallationComponents

Training

FALL CLEARANCE

Changes to clearance

Acceptable risk?

SWING FALL

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INSTALLATION

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PROCEDURES & TRAINING

AGENDA

Assessment v. Inspection v. Certification

System assessment elements

Common issues

FAQs

Closing

QUESTION 1

Is something better than nothing?

Nothing

Something

QUESTION 2

What if a system isn’t wrong (unsafe), but it’s just not quite

right?

QUESTION 3

What are the requirements for load testing a system?

QUESTION 4

Are temporary systems assessed differently from

permanent ones?

QUESTION 5

What documentation do I need to make assessments

easier?

AGENDA

Assessment v. Inspection v. Certification

System assessment elements

Common issues

FAQs

Closing

ACTION STEPS

Use provided checklist to assess one existing system

Compare required clearance with available clearance for

one system

TO LEARN MORE

Blog

＞ thespot.ljbinc.com/category/safety

Past webinars

＞ Slideshare.net/kmesser

Twitter

＞ @LJBInc