1 of 10

Fall Protection Class & Toolbox Talk

Created by Greg Burkhart, CHST

Director of Safety and Training AGCNWO

GBurkhart@AGCNWO.com

2 of 10

Statistics for Falls in Construction

  • Falls are the number one killer of construction workers.
    • In 2020, 4,764 workers died in the workplace
      • 1,008 of these fatalities, or 21.1% were construction
        • 338 or 33.5% were falls in construction
  • Focus four
    • Falls
    • Electrical
    • Caught in between
    • Struck By

 

 

3 of 10

Different Subparts for Fall Protection in Construction

  • Subpart L—Scaffolds
  • Subpart M—Fall Protection
  • Subpart R– Steel Erection
  • Subpart V– Electrical Transmission
  • Subpart X– Stairways and Ladders
  • Subpart CC– Cranes and Derricks

4 of 10

Duty to have Fall Protection

  • The OSHA Standard States:

​

  • 1926.501(b)(1)"Unprotected sides and edges." Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

​

  • Each employee working above dangerous equipment, must be protected from falling into or onto such equipment

​

5 of 10

Design, install or move equipment to minimize hazards associated with working at heights. Inspect and maintain equipment regularly to prevent failure.

​

​

Not applicable when preventing falls from height fatalities.

​

​

​

Install guardrails and barriers to prevent access to hazardous areas, especially around unguarded floor openings.

​

​

​

Establish and use safe operating procedures when working at heights and provide adequate training.

​

​

Supply and use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as personal fall arrest system.

Hierarchy of Controls

6 of 10

Guardrail System

This is a passive system that is in place to protect everyone who passes by the system. This is engineering a fall protection system.

​

Top Rail 42 inches plus or minus 3 inches.

200 lbs of force

​

Mid Rail halfway between top rail and working surface.

150 lbs of force

​

Toeboard 4 inches high and 50 lbs of force

​

No protrusions on the guardrails.

​

​

​

​

7 of 10

Floor Openings

​

Floor opening greater than 2 inches must be covered.

​

These covers must be secure to prevent movement, able to withstand 2 times the maximum intended load and marked with the words cover or hole.

​

If the opening is too large, a guardrail system can be erected around the opening.

8 of 10

Video Version of Class

9 of 10

Personal Fall Arrest System

When all else fails we use personal fall arrest systems or PFAS. This includes an anchorage point, lanyard or self retracting lifeline and a body harness.

​

Click arrow on video below on how to use a PFAS.

10 of 10

Thank you for taking the time to take this training!

Quiz- You must complete this quick quiz to get credit.

​

Click the link: http://bit.ly/fallprotectionquiz