Month: December 2019

Roof anchors are an important fall protection safety feature for window cleaner worker. Be that as it may, other maintenance individuals who also devote much of the time working from rooftops can likewise profit from safer roof anchors. Probably the most ideal approach to guarantee you are utilizing the equipment properly is to ensure that it is well installed and inspected regularly. This is the duty of the owner or building manager.

To guarantee the success of a roof anchor, you ought to install and inspect the entire guidelines provided in the user manual. With respect to the area, you’d prefer to install the system, it’s essential to carry out a complete inspection to make sure all structures and rafters are free from deterioration, rot, or defects. Constant inspections help lessen the possibility of using equipment that is damaged and may fail when presented with the forces of fall arrest. You will need the building drawings and be able to read them clearly

Roof anchors are to be installed on roofs of buildings made of wood and steel. The roof material should be able to support a tensile load of 5,000 lbs. The area of installation ought to be chosen to limit the danger of swing fall hazards to the max. 15 degrees. Extra considerations for installation and use will be noted in the product’s User Instruction Manual for installation. Reviewing the document cautiously to make certain appropriate equipment usage and installation is vital.

Before using a permanent roof anchor, a visual inspection of the equipment must be done. Any defective, poorly maintained, or unsafe equipment should be removed from service right away. Equipment that has been subjected to the forces of fall arrest should also be removed from service instantly. Also, any repairs that need to be made to the fall equipment ought to be performed by the manufacturer. Upon visual inspection, the equipment including anchors ought not to have any indications of corrosion, chemical attack, alteration, extreme heating, bending or severe wear.

Working in a construction field during installation can definitely damage the equipment in the area. While an inspection of the equipment before use is mandatory, OSHA requires that a Competent Person other than the user should do that yearly. A Qualified Person must test the anchors every decade. Workers should regularly read the instruction manual comprehensively to make the best use of the equipment.

Ellis Fall Safety helps you sort out the different questions and opinions provided by the Team of Professionals to keep your anchor points and window cleaning management under control.

Owners and window cleaning employers bear a significant measure of obligation regarding providing and maintaining sufficient fall protection for workers including independent employees. It is likewise critical to help guarantee trained and properly equipped employees who constantly examine and supervise all fall protection and prevention equipment and systems before use. A qualified safety professional or professional safety engineer is useful to guide management as to proper coordination of structural engineering, window cleaning, and installation/testing management.

Fall protection includes a selection of various rope equipment and arresting systems. The three main factors to consider when dealing with components of an efficient fall protection system and program are comprehensive work area inspections, careful pre-work equipment inspections, and proper fall arrest/restraint systems.

Prior to working at locations that involve great heights, it is vital that qualified staff complete a systematic inspection of all fall protection equipment that will be in use. There are several regulations that ought to be looked at while developing pre-use inspection procedures for personal fall protection arrest equipment. The fall protection equipment should be inspected at the start of each 8-hour shift and inspections for deterioration, mildew, and other defects that might affect significant functionality should be included in each inspection of fall protection equipment and reported to management in writing.

Untoward consequences might arise as a result of failure to inspect fall protection equipment appropriately. For most workers, proper personal fall arrest systems are the last line of defense in avoiding lethal falls. Before an employee begins work at elevation, all defects must be recognized and fixed. In addition to inspecting the fall prevention equipment itself, a detailed pre-work inspection must also involve a reflection of the environment in which the work is carried out on. The ANSI/ASSP/Z359.15 committee dictates how a rope fall arrest system should be constructed with two locks to avoid panic grab failure.

In the event there’s a fall, total free fall distance will determine if the employee working at heights might hit an obstruction or the ground. When a high risk for a fall is involved, fall arrest equipment should be utilized. Fall arrest equipment functions to slow the worker during a fall, reducing the impact sustained on the body. This equipment includes ropes with terminations plus hardware plus harness safety systems, retractable lanyards and shock-absorbing lanyards. After a fall, an immediate inspection should be done to find out if fall forces affected its reliability.

Equipment like lanyards with shock-absorbing packs may turn out to be unreliable after a fall. The next step to take is to withdraw from service and destroy it. It should be discarded to prevent future use. A contractor worker must ask a supervisor for a copy of the company’s fall protection written program and stay current on the most recent information available as regards avoiding falls. from buildings.

Ellis Fall Safety is highly knowledgeable on all aspects of high rise window cleaning and OSHA regulations and safety inspections and training and can coordinate the handling of a Team of Four Professionals on your behalf.

A well-cleaned glass window offers an open view of the surrounding area. Should the glass become dirty or soiled, the pleasure of looking out the window to enjoy the scenery is lost. While you can wipe down a glass yourself, it can be quite difficult to get the window thoroughly free of streaks. A professional window cleaner anchor point is the best way to go for several reasons.

Almost every building with windows needs window cleaner anchor point to keep their window surfaces clean, sparkling and functional. It strongly drives rentals and leasing targets. Cleaning your own windows can be a time-consuming project and may be impractical for your own workers as a building manager or owner. Window cleaner anchor points can make sure all of your windows, even the hard to reach ones, are spotless. Don’t risk your company safety record by trying to erect a traditional ladder to clean the outdoor or indoor windows yourself. The risk is too high. Lower windows can use aerial lifts up to the 5th or 6th floor. 

A thorough window cleaning is one of the most important tasks on the building chore list, but fortunately, it’s one that only has to be completed a couple of times per year. To prevent the build-up of stubborn hard water stains on windows, thorough cleaning in spring and fall should do the trick. 

Window surfaces that are regularly exposed to humidity are going to require much more frequent cleaning. On close examination, it’s amazing how dirty glass surfaces can get disheartening unless you have the best window cleaners anchor point at your disposal. Window cleaners anchor point can restore the glass and extend your window’s life. They should also have the right equipment to safely clean hard-to-reach windows and skylights.

Windows are made of glass, and incidents happen when you least expect them. Should you crack or completely shatter one of your windows during the cleaning process, you will need to replace it, which can sometimes prove costly. If the window cleaners anchor point you hired were the ones who accidentally caused damage to the window, you’ll be covered for any damages. The window cleaner will handle everything for you and have the broken window replaced in quickly.

Window cleaners anchor point can identify problems like sashes that are painted shut, ill-fitting window screens, wood rot on windowsills, or damaged or non-functional windows. Spotting the problems early can often save you a big expense later, and it could even save your life. Little things like painted sashes and clogged channels might spell the difference between getting out in case of fire and being forced to take another way out of danger in a very tense situation.

Ellis Fall Safety helps building owners and building managers determine the proper economics and number of anchors and their roof locations to make investment decisions easier

Anchor points are a fundamental component of a fall protection system. They are also an essential piece of gear for anybody that deals with rooftop jobs or other raised surfaces. Anchor points are mainly installed on roofs. Its connections can be a simple D-ring or a whole personal fall arrest system.

Everyone has the tendency of installing various things around their homes. However, a do-it-yourself project is not the best thing to do in commercial settings due to the risks associated with it. Someone with lots of personal experience on the installation of anchor point products and its code and OSHA regulations will still benefit from the professional services of a competent fabricator and installer with proper testing methods and capability.

Competent fabricators and installers offer a wide range of manufacturing services which include machining, laser cutting, assembly, plasma cutting, coating, welding, and more. These experts pride themselves in their work – of course – but also their goals. They approach each client relationship with integrity and they work hard every day to deliver the best anchor point fabrication and installation services possible for their clients.

Before an anchor point is installed, other related issues must be resolved. Hiring a professional for anchor point installation means you can consult with an expert. Discuss your desired results with the expert and they will certainly disclose options you had never formerly considered. 

Competent fabricators and installers are usually highly experienced and are able to finish any tasks very quickly. Unless you work in construction or similar industries, you may not know the safety procedures that professionals adhere to. When you take into consideration all the risks, you can figure out why anchor point installation experts have prepared for possible dangers and are well insured and bonded.Installations should benefit from the services of a Subject Matter Expert (senior window cleaner) and Safety Engineer services to make sure that signs and labeling are not in conflict from previous contractor work

Anchor point installation requires precise equipment that if you don’t use any of them you might face the hazards of a damaged roof. However, a competent fabricator and installer have the necessary high quality, and state-of-the-art equipment they need to get the job done right.

Ellis Fall Safety helps you select a company that can select fall protection manufacturers products and test anchors to meet OSHA regs of having 5,000 lbs anchors and 2,500 lbs proof- tested locations.

The utilization of anchor points is recorded as part of OSHA’s fall protection safety regulations, which rely in part on quality standards for fall protection equipment that are set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI standard Z359.18 regulates the requirements that anchoring devices must meet to qualify as part of an OSHA-compliant anchor point. Safety Engineer review of the building identifies compliant and non-compliant anchors and what are permanent and temporary anchors plus signs and instructions for contractors to observe.

Anchor points used in workplaces are divided into two different categories. There are those installed by qualified professional engineers which are referred to as certified anchorages, and those installed by non-engineers who are recognized as having the fundamental level of skills and experience required for anchor point installation in USA. Anchor points installed by non-engineers are referred to as non-certified anchorages.

Certified and non-certified anchorages are recorded discretely in OSHA regulations. OSHA regulation 1910.140(c)(13)(i) covers non-certified anchorages, and this states that all non-certified anchor points must be able to support at least 5,000 lbs of weight for every employee attached to the anchor point. In the other hand, OSHA regulation 1910.140(c) (13)(ii) requires that certified anchor points only need to be able to support two times the load applied to the anchor point in the case of a fall. This weight is more often than not notably less than 5,000 pounds, often in the area of 1,800 to 2,400 lbs; OSHA clarified its requirements to be 2,500 lbs proof load.

Certified anchor points can always support less weight due to the fact that the engineer certifying them is better-qualified to understand exactly how much falling weight needs to be supported and how much weight the anchor point is capable of supporting. The weight-support specifications that apply to non-certified anchor points are designed to leave noteworthy room for error in case the individual assessing the anchor point makes an error.

Certified and non-certified anchorages are judged from a health and safety perspective. Anchor point programs assist you in taking control of safety on your job sites. It is vital to the success of the construction practice. Providing anchor points will benefit the build by reducing warranty issues, providing anchor points for multiple trades, reduce risk and liability and offer an anchor point past the construction phase.

Ellis Fall Safety recommends appointing a qualified safety professional, (Certified Safety Professional, CSP) to establish and monitor building contractor instructions and notices and inspects the building for violations. He or she is regularly in touch with the assigned structural engineer, window cleaning subject matter expert, installer/tester and helps coordinate the project to reduce liability and cost.

Anchor points are attachment devices that allow access to unguarded structures and edges by trained workers. They are generally designed for protection from falls from heights. There are many types of anchors, and the correct anchor system should always be selected for each working site. It’s important that building anchor point installers are trained and capable of fabricating and installing the proper anchor system. Anchor points for window cleaners must be designed by registered structural engineers meeting OSHA regulations specifies in 2017.

There are several purposes of an anchor point, which include fall arrest, rope access and re-direction. Determining each purpose and appraising the surface’s suitability helps in the selection of the right anchor, and to the system layout. Anchors should have a minimum breaking strength of 15kN (1500kg static load) for one individual or 21kN (2100 kg static load) for two individuals. A competent worker is required to install, test and approve an anchor point in accordance with AS/NZS 1891.4: 2009 and more recently OSHA regulations for use with Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – selection, use and maintenance often prescribed by skilled window cleaner companies.

A lanyard can be attached to a horizontal anchor which consists of lifelines and static lines. This allows a series of movement along the path of the line. A competent worker should also install and check these lines regularly at least annually. With reference to the components utilized and significant forces, there will be limitations on use, including the maximum number of individuals who may be able to be connected at a particular time.

Competent workers are individuals who through a combination of training, education and experience, acquired knowledge and skills allowing them to properly perform anchor point fabrication and installation. 

Permanently installed anchor points should be regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. History of installation and testing can be viewed by individuals authorized to access the anchor site through an owner-approved tagging systems. Tags are mainly used to provide information on the installer’s name, date of installation and certification, the rating and purpose of the anchorage and the highest number of individuals allowed to be connected to the anchor at any particular time.

Ellis Fall Safety helps choose the structural engineer firm that is local and competent with proper licenses in the state of installation

Most industries have areas where workers are exposed to fall hazards. Developing and implementing effective fall protection programs in the workplace can put a stop to many injuries and fatalities. The proper set of fall protection equipment prevents injuries, saves lives and makes good business sense.

Fall protection equipment is used to protect individuals working at-height from fall injuries in the case of a fall. When fall hazards have been identified in a working environment, elimination should be taken into account. Elimination of all fall hazards from the workplace is the ideal method of fall prevention. This involves restructuring the working environment and the work procedures and processes. If this is unworkable, then fall prevention should be used.

Barriers, scaffolds (swing stages), movable platforms, and guardrails are ways fall prevention can be implemented by workers working at heights. Where these devices are unusable, personal fall protection equipment such as full body harnesses, lanyards, rope grabs, lifelines and retractable lifelines (SRD’s) can be considered. OSHA requires personal fall protection for workers at different heights depending on the job.

Anchorages, body support, and means of connection are the three major components that make up a complete fall protection system. Each one must be in place and correctly used to create maximum worker protection. While each of these components is important to worker safety, the connecting device is the decisive link in putting together a safe fall protection system since it bears the utmost force during a fall. Cautious consideration must be given to the materials, construction, selection, and maintenance/inspection of fall protection equipment before, during and after a connecting device has been chosen and inspection following a fall.

Since a lot of fall hazards cannot be eliminated, identifying potential hazards before starting a project is very important. Whenever the possibility for a fall is in view, a fall protection system must be used to make sure workers are safe. To save lives and lessen injuries, workers must be prepared with both the suitable equipment and adequate training.

Anchor points are required as a compatible system when workers are active on an elevated area that is close to an unprotected edge or workers are exposed to the hazard of falling. Anchor points are used as part of a fall protection system when workers are cleaning windows or carrying out suspended scaffold building maintenance. These can be part of a Building Facade Access System found commonly outside the USA.

OSHA defines an anchorage as a secure point of attachment for deceleration devices, lifelines, or lanyards. Anchorages are fixed structural components like a beam, girder, column or floor that can bolster the powers applied in arresting a fall. Anchorage connector is the component by which the connecting device is coupled to the anchorage. It may be a tripod, D-bolt, beam anchor, cross-arm strap, davit, hook anchor, or other secure devices that serves as a point of connection for deceleration devices, lifelines, or lanyards.

Anchorages and anchorage connectors are designed to support 5,000 lb per employee attached. Installation and usage of these components are done under the supervision of a qualified individual as part of an inclusive personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety feature of two or more. They must be independent and also be located high enough to prevent a worker from having contact with a lower level should a fall happen.

When building an anchor point, start by doing a hazard identification and estimation of the given work site. Then plan the system before beginning work. Put in thought every potential paths of user movement and all factors that could affect the user’s safety before, during and after a fall anyplace along these paths. All hazards identified in the work environment evaluation must be tended to and reasonable controls arranged and executed.

A certified individual must choose the components, materials, anchorage and anchorage connectors to match the system application, the work, workplace hazards and the environment. They must decide the fundamental areas of anchorages to guarantee that the user will be constantly connected when exposed to hazards of falling. Choose anchorages that are firm and have the strength required.

Cautiously choose the areas of the anchorages to lessen probable free fall distance, avoid swing fall dangers, and give clear space in the possible fall paths to avoid striking an item. Try not to choose anchorage areas that will require the user to work above the anchor as this will increase the possible free fall and avoidable fall distances. The angle of cable from anchor to edge must not exceed 15 degrees.

Anchor points are important for maintaining safety at height operations and are typically  installed on the roof of tall buildings. They form an integral component of the fall protection system that keeps workers safe while performing tasks like window cleaning, painting, concrete repairs, light installation, and more. Anchor points intended for window cleaners are critical for building owners and managers to understand that they must be certified for use by a registered structural engineer before use by any window cleaner. The window cleaner must receive the documented list of anchor points from the owner prior to starting work This is required by OSHA.  Temporary anchor points installed by a roofer or other trade are unsuitable for use by window cleaners

Anchor points are used as a connection point for lifelines, work restraint systems and rope access plus suspended scaffolds. They can be temporary or permanent, depending on one’s needs and the nature of the task. Permanent anchor points are used for buildings that require constant work by rope access technicians. They can also be simple or highly sophisticated and complex, offering workers a complete lifeline system.

Anchor point installation in USA requires diverse components that are determined – using product guidelines – by the substrate into which they will be placed. Technicians will first test the substrate by installing an anchor and performing a pull test between anchors until the anchor reaches 2500 lbs which is the required proof load. This is the unfailing indicator of substrate strength and its ability to support an anchor point and, by inference, a window cleaner’s bosun chair.

All anchors installed are pull-tested as per legislation. They are also tagged and distinctively numbered for inspection notification and a full report issued to the client. Anchors for rope access use are inspected every six months to one year.

There are two major types of safety anchors: mechanical anchors and epoxyl anchors. Mechanical anchors consist of a hole with an anchor rod driven into it. There’s a mechanical sleeve on the anchor, which expands, making it to choke when tightened. Mechanical anchors are swift and undemanding to install but they are generally not a good long-standing solution because they may cause waterproofing problems. Attachment to roof beams by welding isis often specified by the structural engineer

Epoxy anchors, on the other hand, may provide an alternative solution. For installation, a hole is made, cleaned out, and a two-part chemical mortar is injected before inserting the anchor rod inside the hole. The use of this particular chemical mix gives rise to an iron-strength bond between the anchor rod and the substrate. As long as inspections are kept up to date, and as long as stainless steel materials are used, epoxy anchors are often the strongest and can last for decades.

Anchor points can be found in a range of sizes, depending on the projected use. Choosing the right anchor point should always be carefully planned. The best way to go beyond OSHA regulations and make sure workers are adequately safe is to use an engineered anchor point, and to make sure workers know how to make use of it appropriately.    

Ellis Fall Safety can introduce you to an experienced installer who can install and test your anchors to OSHa requirements published in 2017.