FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety

FOX Environmental, Health & Safety > EHS 401 – Fall Protection

EHS 401 – Fall Protection

FOX Corporation personnel must observe fall protection measures specified in this procedure when working at any elevated location (including scaffolds,
aerial/condor/scissor lifts, camera platforms, roof areas, transmitters and antennas) where they are exposed to a fall hazard of six (6) feet or greater.

1.0 SCOPE

FOX Corporation (FOX) requires the implementation of fall protection whenever employees are exposed to a fall hazard of six feet or greater. This requirement applies to all facility maintenance operations, as well as all production activities, which occur when performing work for FOX. Exemptions from any requirement must be obtained from FOX’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department prior to implementation.

2.0 Definitions

Body Harness:
straps secured around the employee in a manner that will distribute the fall-arrest forces over the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and shoulders with means
for attaching it to other components of a personal fall-arrest system.

Competent Person:
an individual capable of identifying existing and foreseeable hazards applicable to a specific operation or activity; and who has the
responsibility/authority to take immediate corrective actions to eliminate them.

Guardrail System:
a barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels.

Personal Fall Protection System:
a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt, or body harness and might include
a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these.

Qualified Person:
one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable fall-related hazards in their surroundings or working conditions that are hazardous or dangerous
to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measure to eliminate them.

Walking/Working Surface:
any surface, whether horizontal or vertical, on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways,
formwork, and concrete reinforcing steel, but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be positioned to perform their job
duties.

3.0 Responsibilities

In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Program responsibilities discussed in EHS001, EHS Policy, the responsibilities described
below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.

3.1 Department Heads

Department Heads will:

  1. Ensure that all employees are aware of and follow FOX’s fall protection requirements while performing their work
  2. Maintain inspection records for all fall protection equipment as required in Section 4.2.

3.2 Employees

All FOX employees will observe the location-specific fall protection requirements and performance specifications in Section 4.0.

3.3 Environmental, Health and Safety Department

The EHS Department will:

  1. Develop appropriate standards for fall protection in all FOX activities
  2. Review and update this Procedure annually or as necessary to comply with regulatory changes.

4.0 Procedure

Acceptable fall protection systems for each type of work area is specified in Section 4.1, followed by performance requirements for each type of fall
protection system in Section 4.2.

4.1 Use of Fall Protection Systems

Prior to use of any fall protection system, the user will perform a visual inspection of anchor points for rust or other signs of deterioration and for
cracking or spalling/splaying in the anchor attachment area. If signs of deterioration are detected, the affected anchors are not to be used until a
qualified person evaluates the situation and provides written documentation the anchors meet regulatory requirements.

Fall protection systems, will be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds, stop falls within 2 feet, but not exceed 6 feet. Fall
restraint systems, capable of sustaining a minimum tensile strength of 3,000 pounds with an anchor that can support 3,000 pounds, must limit worker free
fall to no more than 2 feet. If workers are within 8 feet of the unguarded edge, more than 6 feet above the next lower level or above dangerous equipment,
use of fall protection systems are required.

If work operations are planned that are not addressed below, the EHS Department must be contacted for guidance prior to initiating the activity.

4.1.1 Supported Scaffolds

Pole scaffolds and other supported scaffolds meeting the following requirements do not require the use of additional fall protection:

  • The scaffold is erected such that a gap of no more than twelve (12) inches is present between a fixed surface (the working face) and each open side of
    the scaffold.
  • All sides not meeting the above requirements are protected with an acceptable guardrail system with a top rail height of at least forty-two (42)
    inches.

For supported scaffolds that do not meet the above requirements, FOX personnel must use one of the following personal fall protection systems:

  • Full-body harness and lifeline attached to a structural member of the scaffolding frame, such that a fall of no more than three (3) feet can occur

· Full-body harness and fall-arrest device attached to a structural member of the scaffolding, such that any activation of the fall-arrest system would
prevent contact with the ground or lower-level fixed platform.

All personal fall protection devices must meet the requirements of Section 4.2.2.

4.1.2 Greenbeds (Suspended Scaffolds)

  1. During the assembly of suspended scaffolds, workers must be equipped with a personal fall protection system consisting of:
  • Full-body harness, or
  • Fall-arrest device, such as lanyard or yo-yo.
  1. The fall-arrest device must be attached to a portion of the scaffold suspension system, rather than to the scaffold itself.
  2. All personal fall protection devices must meet the requirements of Section 4.2.2.

4.1.3 Aerial Lifts, Condors, and Scissor Lifts

Persons working in aerial lifts, condors (articulating or telescoping boom lifts) and similar man lift devices must be equipped with one of the following:

  • Full-body harness and lifeline of sufficient length to prevent leaving or falling from the man basket
  • Full-body harness and fall-arrest device.

Employees using scissor lifts, personnel lifts, or aerial work platforms are not required to wear fall protection unless their work requires that they:

  • Stand on materials, the toeboards, or midrails, in a manner that elevates them above the platform deck
  • Extend the slide-out extension deck or platform.

Attachment of lifelines/fall-arrest devices is permitted only at manufacturer-designated attachment points.

All personal fall protection devices must meet the requirements of Section 4.2.2.

See EHS 411, Condors and Scissor Lifts for additional requirements.

4.1.4 Building Roofs

For building roofs equipped with a guardrail system (meeting the requirements of Section 4.2.2), or a parapet thirty-nine (39) inches in height or greater,
no other fall protection system is necessary, provided the guardrail/parapet encompasses the entire roofline of the planned work area.

For roof areas not protected by a guardrail/parapet, one of the following fall protection systems is acceptable:

· Personnel may be equipped with a full-body harness and lifeline, which prevents access closer than two (2) feet from any roofline edge. The attachment
point of the lifeline must be able to withstand at least two hundred (200) pounds of force applied in any direction.

· Personnel may be equipped with a full-body harness and fall-arrest device, such that any activation of the fall-arrest system would prevent contact with
the ground or lower-level fixed platform. The attachment point for the fall-arrest device must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 5000 pounds
in any direction per employee attached.

All personal fall protection devices must meet the requirements of Section 4.2.

4.1.5 Floor, Roof, and Other Walking/Working Surfaces

1. Covers in roadways and vehicular aisles must be capable of supporting at least twice the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle expected to cross over
the cover.

2. All other covers must be capable of supporting at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that might be imposed on the cover at
any one time.

3. All covers must be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees.

4. All covers must be color-coded, or marked with the word “Hole” or “Cover” to provide warning of the hazard.

4.2 Specifications for Fall Protection Systems

All uses of fall protection systems as specified in Section 4.1 will conform to the following requirements.

4.2.1 General Requirements

The following requirements will be applied to all fall protection systems.

1. All FOX personnel on walking/working surfaces six (6) feet or more above the immediate lower level must be protected from falling by a guardrail system,
safety net system, or personal fall-arrest system one hundred (100) percent (%) of the time.

Use of body belts (safety belts) is prohibited.

2. Inspection of Fall Protection Equipment will be performed prior to each use and documented, at least annually, using the Harness and Lanyard Inspection Checklist, located in Attachment 1.

4.2.2 Personal Fall Protection Systems

1. Connectors shall be drop-forged, pressed, or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials.

Connectors must have a corrosion-resistant finish, and all surfaces and edges must be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of the system.

2. Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds.

3. Snaphooks must be the locking type, and designed and used to prevent disengagement of the keeper by the connected components.

4. The system must have a safety factor of at least two (2).

5. Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

6. When vertical lifelines are used, each employee must be attached to separate lifelines.

7. Lifelines and lanyards that limit free fall distance to two (2) feet or less must be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds,
applied with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position.

Lifelines and lanyards that do not limit free fall distance to two (2) feet or less, rip-stitch lanyards, and tearing and deforming lanyards must be
capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds applied with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position.

8. Anchorages used for attachment of personal protective equipment must be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and
capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per employee attached.

9. Personal fall protection systems must:

· Limit the maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when using a body harness

· Limit free fall distance to four (4) feet, where this maximum distance will not cause the employee to contact any lower level

· Limit deceleration distance to three and one half (3.5) feet

· Be able to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee falling four (4) feet or the maximum free fall distance permitted by the system.

10. Body harnesses and components must not be used to hoist material or equipment.

11. Personal fall protection systems subject to impact loading must be immediately removed from service and inspected by a competent person prior to reuse.

12. Equipment and procedures to ensure a prompt rescue in the event of a fall must be in place at work sites where elevated work locations exist.

13. Personal fall-arrest systems must be visually inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration

14. Defective components of personal fall-arrest systems must be removed from service.

15. Monthly inspections of each personal fall-arrest system will be performed and documented by each Department. The Harness and Lanyard Inspection Checklist (Attachment 2) will be used.

16. Personal fall-arrest systems must not be attached to guardrail systems unless they are capable of sustaining a minimum tensile lead of 5,000 pounds.

4.3 Employee Training

1. All employees exposed to fall hazards must be trained to recognize fall hazards and procedures to minimize the hazards.

2. Each employee must be trained by a competent person qualified in the following areas:

a. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) fall protection standards

b. The nature of fall hazards in the work area.

c. The correct procedures for installing, inspecting, and disassembling fall protection systems

d. The use and operation of fall protection systems to be used

e. Each employee’s role in the safety monitoring system, if this system is used

f. The limitations about the use of mechanical equipment on low-slope roofing jobs

g. The correct procedures for the handling and storage of equipment and materials, and installation of overhead protection

h. Fall rescue procedures that have been developed for the fall protection system and equipment used at the site.

3. The following training courses, provided by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF) under the Safety Passport Program, are acceptable to
meet these requirements:

  • Advanced Fall Protection
  • Fall Protection User

Training from other sources must be reviewed and approved by the EHS Department.

4. Employees, suspected of not having the understanding or skills required, must be retrained.

Other circumstances that require retraining include:

· Changes in the workplace that make earlier training obsolete

· Changes in the types of fall protection systems used

· Observed inadequacies in an employee’s use or understanding of fall protection systems.

5.0 REFERENCES

EHS 101, Injury and Illness Prevention

EHS 405, Scaffolding

EHS 410, Walking and Working Surfaces

EHS 411, Aerial Lifts, Condors, and Scissor Lifts

 

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – Harness and Lanyard Inspection Checklist.