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Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan

February 04, 2023 ,

Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan
Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan

Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan



Introduction

Fall protection plan is risk management plan to allow work on unprotected elevated area where construction work demonstrated that it is infeasible to use conventional fall prevention systems (guardrails, fully boarded working platform, scaffolding platform, etc.)  or it creates a more hazard rather providing safety. For example, erection of precast slabs, scaffolding erection or demolition, cleaning of glasses of high-rise buildings, painting of elevated structures, etc.
Fall protection plan help to identify the safety measures including fall protection equipment, techniques, rescue plan in event of fall and other administrative controls to provide the safe work environment on unprotected edged surface or absence of firm surfaces at height more than 6 feet. It also helps to framework the structural planning for executing the work safely by identifying the training needs, mean of communication, responsibilities, best practices, and implementation of procedures.
This option can only be permitted when employer demonstrate that working with fall prevention system on leading edge work is not feasible and it may rather create more hazard.
The Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan should be conducted after carefully evaluating the hazards and risk prior to beginning work. Daily toolbox talk on fall protection plan helps remind workers of the protection measures identified in the fall protection plan and therefore helps prevent unintended incidences.

Regulations – Fall protection plan

Fall protection plan must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.502(k).
It must be specific to identified work at height and prepared by a competent person according to 29 CFR 1926.502(k)(1) and should be maintained u up to date.  Any changes in the plan must be approved by competent person complying to 29 CFR 1926.502(k)(2).
Written document must be there to explain the infeasibility of conventional fall prevention system according to 29 CFR 1926.502(k)(5)
Plan must be implemented under the supervision of competent person accordance with 1926.502(k)(4)

Hazards – Fall protection plan

1. Work on unprotected edged surface at and above 6 feet height.
2.  Work on unstable platform or surfaces
3. Work on narrow edges without proper footing space
4. Suspended load such as precast slab or other structural material that are to be erected.

Risk – Fall protection plan

1. Working on unprotected edged surfaces possess risk of fall and suspension trauma after fall.
2. Working on unstable platform or surfaces possess risk of slip and fall and person strike to nearby structure.
3. Working on narrow edges without proper footing space can slip and fall.
4. Suspended load may hit the involved worker lead to injury or worker may fall and suspended on fall arrester.

Elements of Fall protection plan

1. Fall hazard and risk assessment should be carried out accordance with company standard procedure for working at height. To identify the hazards, a checklist can be prepared covering unprotected edges in open-sided walkways or working surface, open sided ramps, runways, platforms, leading edges, floor openings, wall openings, skylight openings, elevator shaft, stairwell, trenches, uneven surfaces or those surface other than walkways, etc. their location and approximate distances must be recorded.
2. Details of task with location must be mentioned in the plan. Task may include duration of work, description of the work, tools and equipment used, effect of weather, name of designated competent supervisor and training requirement.
3. Mean of access to working area must be planned properly. It helps to identify the access equipment and personal fall protection system. When selecting access equipment, rescue plan should also be considered. Access equipment and structures includes scaffolding, aerial lift, scissor lift, boom lift, push around vertical, Cherry picker,  extension ladder, step ladder, etc. It is important to note down the dimensions and load capacity of working/ access equipment in fall protection plan.
4. Fall protection system with components must be identified such as, travel restraint, safety net, personal fall arrest, work positioning, lifeline, full body harness with shock absorber lanyard, connector, fall arrester, rope grab, mobile platform, warning system, etc. Details of inspection of individual fall protection system and components must be maintained.
5. Limitations of each access equipment must be identified and recorded in fall protection plan.
6. Anchor point location must be identified and marked in drawing or hand drawn. Calculate the proper length of lanyard, anchorage position and the distance to the lower level i.e. fall clearance distance to prevent contact with lower surface in the event of fall. Calculate the fixed anchor vertical & Swing Fall Clearance Distance. In the event of fall of worker, the pendulum effect must be predicted this will help to identify the anchor point. (must be above the work area).
Total fall distance is the vertical distance between the worker and lower level and determined by considering free fall distance, deceleration distance, D-ring shift, back D-ring height and safety margin (safety margin generally considered as 2 feet). Total Fall clearance distance is the addition of all above factors.
7. There must be brief description of plan to avoid dropping tools or materials or losing balance or footing.
8. Name of workers must be written in fall protection plan who are going to perform the task. Similarly, roles and responsibilities of each person including job in-charge, supervisor and workers must be recorded in fall protection plan.
9. Detail steps must be identified for the assembly, and disassembly of the fall protection system. Pre-work check must be conducted daily before starting the job. Assembly, maintenance, and inspection should be carried out by competent person.
8. Rescue plan must be prepared for managing the event of a worker fall. In rescue plan details of  hazards of suspension trauma, use of trauma straps, self-rescue practices,  Ladders, etc. must be mentioned.
9. A Fall protection plan must be communicated to all involved workers to make them aware about hazards and control measures and training must be conducted on proper use of the fall protection equipment and Fall Protection Procedure.
10. A Fall protection plan must be prepared and maintained by competent person as per OSHA. The copy of approved plan must be displayed at workplace. The reason of requirement of a plan and the discussion about the other measures to reduce the  risk of fall must be well documented.
11. Each identified location where conventional fall protection system cannot be used must be classified as controlled zones and safety monitoring system must be implemented.
12. Only authorized workers must be allowed to work in controlled zone accordance with approved fall protection plan and restrict entry for other workers.
13. In the event of fall incident, the job in-charge must investigate it for determining the root causes of failure accordingly review and revise the plan.
  

Personal protective Equipment

While installing or erecting access equipment, personal fall arrest equipment, safety net,  full body safety harness along with anchorage, connectors, lifeline, self-retracting lifeline / lanyard with shock absorber, snap hook and fall protector or rope Grabs should be used.

Toolbox talk interactive Questionnaires on fall protection plan

1. What is a fall protection plan?
2. When and where is the requirement for a fall protection plan?
3. Who is responsible for preparing the fall protection plan?
4. What is the responsibility of workers in the fall protection plan?
5. What is the responsibility of a qualified or competent person in the fall protection plan?
6. Why do you need a documented fall protection plan?
7. When to review the fall protection plan?
8. What safety measures are included in the fall protection plan?
9. What are the main elements of the fall protection plan?
10. How do you implement a fall protection plan?

Summary

Falling from a height can cause serious injury. Fall protection plan is risk management plan to allow work on leading edges where construction work demonstrated that it is infeasible to use conventional fall prevention systems.
Fall protection plan help to identify the safety measures and other administrative controls to provide the safe work environment on unprotected edged surface at height more than 6 feet. It helps to execute the work safely by identifying the training needs, mean of communication, responsibilities, best practices and implementation of procedures.
Protective measures such as safety net and personal fall arrest equipment can help to minimize the potential risk of fall injuries.

The Safety toolbox talk on fall protection plan should be carried out after having carefully assessed the hazards and risk before starting work. The toolbox talk on fall protection plan increases worker confidence and prevents errors when installing access and performing work at height, and thus helps prevent accidents.

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