Importance of Training

Workers need training to understand the rules and how they apply in real life situations.  They frequently are simply unaware of dangerous situations such as equipment compatibility problems, the consequences of a sudden free fall or the possibility of impact  with a stationary object.  Workers must be trained that safety is their responsibility and that taking the time to do a job properly is the safest way to protect themselves and their coworkers.  To achieve this, training must provide hands-on opportunities for workers and managers. Workers should also be trained to understand why their work will be observed in the field and why they will be required to undergo additional training if they do not meet expectations on a recurring basis.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” pages 438-439.

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Jail Sentence for Roofing Company Owner

The Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Canada recently sentenced a roofing company owner to 15 days in jail (in addition to other sanctions) for the fall death of one of his employees.  The employee, who was wearing a harness but was not tied-off, was both experienced and recently had undergone fall protection training.

In handing out the unprecedented jail sentence the Court reasoned that the owner initially had lied about the incident, had a history of fall protection violations and, importantly, the Court found that the owner had knowledge that the worker regularly did not use his fall protection equipment properly.

The Court considered it’s ruling a warning to all employers as it held, in part, “The major reason a jail sentence is necessary for (the owner) is to deter others from ignoring the legislated fall protection requirements.  Others in the industry must pause to consider that each and every time they embark on a roofing project they may go to jail if one of their employees does not use fall protection gear.”

Anchorage Load

Unless the fall event occurs directly underneath the horizontal lifeline, additional lateral loadings will be produced in the anchorages due to offset from the lifeline centerline. The magnitude of these forces is directly related to the offset distance and should be set equal to the maximum vertical load encountered in the line for the total number of workers on the system.  This  load shall be applied in either direction at the end anchorage for analysis and design purposes.

Termination hardware and other accessories also should be checked against the anchorage load  to be certain that the entire fall arrest system meets OSHA requirements.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 301.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!

Equipment Use

The primary rule is to apply fall protection when the height hazard exceeds a reasonable figure of a few feet – or at any height, if continued exposure is not preventable. The responsibility of the equipment vendor to educate an end user is limited by the extent that the customer (i.e., the end user’s employer) has a bona fide no-fall policy rather than a tie-off policy, which is common among employers.  It also depends upon the manufacturer’s instructions, labeling, and product literature, and whether the employer and employees follow these items for reasonably foreseeable or permitted uses.  Workers must be provided with, and be required to read and understand, product instructions and labeling on fall arrest equipment.

See “Introduction to Fall Production, 4th Edition” page 76.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!