FALL PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR WOOD TRANSPORTATION
A Fall Protection program for workers involved in transporting forest products must be in place that complies with the following standards:
· Identifies and assesses fall from height hazards as described in Reg. 851, Section 85 (a)(b);
· Researches and develops an engineered fall protection system for workers exposed to the hazard of falling;
· Describes standards and procedures for the acquisition and maintenance of fall protection equipment and devices; and
· Describes training standards for workers on the appropriate and safe use of the system.
The standards discussed in this module arise from the need to protect forest product transportation workers who are exposed to fall hazards when required to be at the top of log loads, bulk carriers (chips) or rail cars. There is obvious, increased awareness of the need to protect workers from fall hazards throughout the forestry sector. This was prompted by rising lost-time injury frequencies, resulting in increased efforts by the Ministry of Labour to ensure compliance with the fall protection regulations.
Securing and arranging loads of forest products for transportation by truck or railcar require a means of safe access to and from the top of the load as well as an ability to walk about on the top of the load without the hazard of falling over the side. While on top of the load, the worker is required to remove debris, rearrange materials, apply tie-downs or pull roll-over tarping over the materials. The ideal solution is to design the work so that the worker is not exposed to the fall hazard at all, since tarping or other methods of securing the load are accomplished from the ground. Where this cannot be accomplished, fall protection (travel restraint or fall arrest) must be in place.
In considering various equipment and device options for Fall Protection Systems, it is important to understand the difference between a fall arrest system and a travel restraint system.
TRAVEL RESTRAINT:
A travel restraint system consists of the equipment used to keep the worker from reaching a fall point, such as the edge of a load on top of a log trailer, chip van or rail car. It is a type of tether or leash that prevents the worker from approaching too close to the point where a trip and fall or high winds could cause the worker to fall over the edge. Travel restraint systems used in forestry are usually either attached to a horizontal life-line or attached to a horizontal beam which allows workers a certain freedom of movement while keeping them from the point where they could fall. With this type of system, no free-fall can occur. A worker who trips or becomes unconscious will not fall from the work area where he or she is positioned because the lanyard and anchor point have a predetermined length and are attached at a height that prevents the worker from reaching the fall-off point. In this type of fall protection system the forces required to hold the worker back, the type of engineering design and the costs of development and construction are less than full in fall arrest systems.
FALL ARREST:
A personal fall arrest system is a system that will safely stop the worker in the event of a fall from a height. The system must be comprised of CSA approved Personal Protective Equipment that includes a full body harness, a shock absorber, a lanyard or a self-retracting lifeline (SRL) attached to an engineer-approved anchor point designed to withstand the forces applied to it (within an approved stopping distance) in a free-fall situation. In such a case, workers might sustain relatively minor injuries provided they are rescued or able to extricate themselves within a short time (10 - 15 minutes in full body harness).
Any proposed system for protecting workers from falls must comply with the requirements of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Industrial Establishments. In particular, Section 85 of the Regulation is relevant for situations where the worker must perform work at the top of the load since they are exposed to a fall of more than three metres.
Where a worker is exposed to the hazard of falling and the surface to which he or she might fall is more than three metres below the position where he or she is situated,
(a) the worker shall wear a serviceable safety belt or harness and lifeline adequately secured to a fixed support and so arranged that the worker cannot fall freely for a vertical distance of more than 1.5 metres; and
(b) the fall arresting system described in clause (a) shall,
(i) have sufficient capacity to absorb twice the energy and twice the load that under the circumstances of its use may be transmitted to it, and
(ii) be equipped with a shock absorber or other devices to limit the maximum arresting force to 8.0 kilonewtons to the wearer.
NOTE: A fall hazard also exists in situations where log haul trucks are equipped with self-loaders. Workers using this type of log loader must have a safe means to climb to and from the loader workstation and they must use a lap safety belt while working from the seat.
In work situations where self-loaders are used, there must be a policy and procedure to ensure the following:
· ladders, handholds and footholds allowing access to the loader operator position must be in good condition and free from snow and ice, grease and mud.
· the operators seat must be in good condition, properly mounted to the load operator's work platform and be equipped with a properly functioning lap belt that secures the operator in the seat.
· the daily circle check should require checks of the climbing surfaces, the operator's seat and seat belt.
Where can I get information on fall protection systems presently available and being utilized within the forest industry?
· OFSWA Fall Protection Resource Guide
· OFSWA Fall Safety Devices for Log Loads "8- Foot Loaded Crosswise"
· OFSWA Consultant Trainers
· MOL inspectors/engineers
· Private Fall Protection Consulting/Equipment Companies
Does a fall protection system have to be approved by an engineer or can I build one using my own staff as long as competent people and the Joint Health and Safety Committee are involved?
NO. The development of fall protection systems must meet accepted engineering standards for all component design, fabrication and construction and should be done in compliance with CSA standards for equipment and facility design (where they exist). When designing and constructing a system that meets the requirements of the Regulations, it is important to have a thorough knowledge of the basic components and their interaction with one another, something only a qualified engineer can certify as correctly designed and constructed.
What type of training is required for my employees on the use of the PPE for my fall protection system?
Basic training on the inspection, usage, hazards and ongoing maintenance of the equipment should all be elements of the training conducted. This can be done internally by the employer, a supplier or OFSWA Consultant Trainer.
Should I purchase a waist belt or a full body harness for use with my system?
An anchorage designed exclusively for travel restraint using a waist belt is not recommended in most forestry applications, because in most cases the actual use of the anchorage will be determined by the length of the lanyard, straps and connectors built into the travel restraint system. This length is beyond the control of the designer or installer of such anchor points. For example, when this length is excessive for a travel restraint system, the user may not be adequately restricted and a fall may occur, changing the loading requirements from a travel restraint system to a fall arrest system. In this case, if a fall occurs, a waist belt may stop the fall (if the force of the fall doesn't cause the worker to slide out of the waist belt) but the arresting forces of the belt on the body of the worker can cause very serious injuries, even fatalities. Also, if unmarked, travel restraint systems using a waist belt may be mistaken for a fall arrest system where neither the belt or the anchorage can withstand the forces of the fall.
What types of procedures are necessary for rescue and retrieval of a worker in a fall using a fall arrest system?
A worker who experiences a fall and is protected with a body harness and arrest system may be left hanging on the side of the load with no way to extricate himself. It not only is very uncomfortable but dangerous. Even a full body harness can exert significant pressure on limbs and internal organs, causing serious secondary injuries over time. A policy and procedure must be in place that prevent this long waiting period should a worker be left hanging in a fall arrest system. For example, a policy and procedure for loading and tiedown should include a requirement that the worker must use the fall arrest or travel restraint system within sight of the loader operator. The loader operator is required to monitor the tiedown activity and offer assistance if a fall occurs. Other types of procedures involving monitoring, routine checks and communication may also be put in place but at the very least, a worker should not be left without assistance for more than a few minutes.
1. __________________ has assessed the work site and has identified potential work areas where workers require fall protection.
2. __________________ is responsible for ensuring that short-term controls are implemented to protect workers from falls in these areas until a fall protection system is developed, approved and activated.
3. __________________ is responsible for researching an appropriate fall protection system to address fall hazards.
4. Once constructed and/or assembled and approved by an engineer, ______________ is responsible for the development of safety policies and procedures for working with this equipment.
5. __________________ ensures workers are adequately trained in the safe use and operation of fall protection PPE and the fall protection system, including procedures for rescue in the event of a fall.
6. _________________ is responsible for routine inspection of personal fall protection equipment to ensure that it is in proper worker condition.
7. __________________ is responsible for the ongoing enforcement of the fall protection system upon implementation.