Masonry Magazine August 1998 Page. 25
What Qualifies as Fall Protection Equipment?
Before tossing your Mason Contractor magazine in frustration over the desecration of a practical response by cloaking it in the mystical OSHA veil, read on. It is true, answers to safety concerns can be simplified. But, safety professionals are often forced to respond without all the facts. Unfortunately, contractors receive jargon with little substance.
Just as you must receive all specifications before estimating a project, the safety professional must have all the facts. When it comes to fall protection you must identify the working surface and the operation to be performed. Basic equipment requirements are found in Subpart M Fall Protection. It provides the foundation for fall protection equipment requirements. However, unless specified elsewhere these requirements only apply to elevated surfaces such as roofs, decks, floors, etc. which are 6 feet above the ground and have holes or unprotected edges. To assess fall protection and equipment needed for ladder or scaffold use, regulations governing them must be reviewed. For example, Subpart M mandates fall protection at 6 feet. If a scaffold is used, it is not required until you reach 10 feet. Subpart M also allows the use of safety nets. There are no references to using nets while working on a scaffold. You must use guardrails or a personal fall arrest system.
GUARDRAILS
Guardrails are frequently used to provide fall protection. Guardrail systems must be 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the walking/working level. When necessary, the height of the top edge of a guardrail used for any work area may be increased. For example, if workers are using stilts, the top rail must be increased equal to the height of the stilts. All guardrails must be able to withstand 200 pounds of pressure.
Guardrail specifications vary slightly from the basic requirements. The top edge height of top rails or equivalent member on supported scaffolds manufactured or placed in service after January 1, 2000 shall be installed between 38 inches and 45 inches above the platform surface. The top edge height on supported scaffolds manufactured and placed in service before January 1, 000, and on all suspended scaffolds where both a guardrail and a personal fall arrest system are required, shall be between 36 inches and 45 inches. The pressures the rails must resist are as follows: 100 pounds for single- or two-point adjustable scaffolds and 200 pounds for all other scaffolds.
In addition, cross bracing on scaffolds may serve in place of a top rail or midrail. If the crossing point of the two braces is between 20 inches and 30 inches above the work platform, it qualifies as a midrail. If the point is between 38 inches and 48 inches, it may serve as the top rail. The end points at each upright can be no more than 48 inches apart.
Midrails must be installed midway between the working level and the guardrail. If top rails are required to withstand 200 pounds, the midrail by Joe O'Connor, Executive Vice President, Intec Inc. Currently serves as national representative for various employer organizations participating in OSHA-ACCOSH work groups and ANSI committees.
The true safety professional responds to a simple question with a simple answer. A single statement can be offered in response to the title. Guardrail systems, personal fall arrests systems and safety nets used in accordance with the OSHA regulations qualify as fall protection.