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How is Fall Clearance Calculated

How is Fall Clearance Calculated

To prevent a worker on one level from falling and striking another level or obstruction below, the fall clearance needs to be determined. This is the minimum distance needed between a worker’s feet and the lower level to keep them from hitting that lower level, and takes into account the fall protection equipment available or proposed. This calculated fall clearance can’t be equal to or greater than the physically available clearance, or else the worker will risk injury and death.VariablesMultip …
Jan 6th 2021 PK Safety Team
Inspection of Fall Safety Equipment by a Competent Person

Inspection of Fall Safety Equipment by a Competent Person

If you're working in site maintenance, oil and gas production, or other large facilities, you likely have loads of fall protection equipment that requires periodic inspection by a competent person. OSHA sets requirements for regular inspection, and defines the type of person who can sign off on these reviews. A Competent Person in the eyes of all-mighty OSHA is simply someone who can identify the hazards of their workplace environment and who has the authorization to take immediate measure …
Jan 19th 2015 Justin McCarter
D-Ring Extenders and Harness Safety

D-Ring Extenders and Harness Safety

D-ring extensions allow easier access to the dorsal D-ring without having to go through the yoga contortions sometimes required to hook up your fall protection, but these extensions are not for every situation and must be used with care. Adding extra length to fall protection can result in additional swing forces acted upon the climber in the event of a fall. That makes intuitive sense. You're making the pendulum longer, so the swing could be wider. Using an extender may be allowed with lanya …
Jan 12th 2015 Justin McCarter
Fall Protection Inspection Checklist

Fall Protection Inspection Checklist

Fall protection equipment needs to be regularly inspected by a Competent Person according the specifications set forth in the ANSI Z359 protection codes if you want your Z359-rated equipment to be considered usable. Inspection is critical for all fall protection safety equipment, whether you intend to meet the highest standards in the country or not. To do this effectively, it's important to have a consistent process for the inspection. For each piece of equipment you have in your inventory, …
Nov 17th 2014 Justin McCarter
Attaching a Self-Retracting Lifeline to a Lanyard

Attaching a Self-Retracting Lifeline to a Lanyard

Can I Attach a Self-Retracting Lifeline to a Lanyard? No! This question lands on our virtual doorstep more frequently than we’d like. It's easy to understand why people ask: you have a Self-Retracting Lifeline (SRL) and it almost reaches the user or you just need a little more room to stretch to the side, so you want to use a connector – and what do you have plenty of? Lanyards! It’s an easy solution to talk yourself into. But when you consider the components that make both devices w …
Oct 18th 2014 Administrator
Fall Protection in Confined Spaces

Fall Protection in Confined Spaces

In permit required confined spaces, workers are routinely entering areas which were not made with peoples’ comfort or safety in mind. They often have irregular entrances, tight spaces, and dangerous drops. Fall protection for confined space workers has been dramatically improving over the years, but even trained personnel don’t always know the correct configuration of equipment for each work site. To discuss fall safety in a confined space, we first need to define some of the common terms. …
Sep 26th 2014 Administrator
I-Beam Anchorage for At-Height Workers

I-Beam Anchorage for At-Height Workers

Recently a construction company contacted us to ask about using a Miller Beam Anchor. They knew the anchor had the ability to provide anchorage for fall protection when used in a horizontal application. The 8816-14 from Miller is a typical beam anchor designed to provide an overhead attachment point on an I-beam or an H-beam. What they wanted to know was could they use the same product in on a vertical beam? I'll keep the suspense to a minimum. Yes. Turns out Miller is perfectly happ …
May 14th 2014 Justin McCarter
Keeping Your ANSI Z359 SRLs Compliant

Keeping Your ANSI Z359 SRLs Compliant

ANSI Z359.1 was published in 1992 and approved a scant 15 years later. Slowly grind the wheels of progress. And ANSI Z359 is progress in terms of worker safety, even if it is going to cost more money in the short run. Greater regulation of worker safety almost inevitably means increased administrative work and expense for employers, compliance provides improved safety for workers and increased protection against litigation. Certainly these are both worthy goals, whether you're working in the …
May 7th 2014 Justin McCarter
Inspection and Maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment

Inspection and Maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment like hard hats and harnesses aren't made to last forever. So much of this equipment has elastomeric or plastic parts that are particularly susceptible to deterioration over time. Abrasion can weaken stitching, nylon straps can be snagged and torn - even metal pieces corrode. Typically it's recommended by manufacturers that reusable PPE be replaced every 2-5 years even if it hasn't been damaged. But there are ways to extend the life of your PPE. Safety eq …
Apr 2nd 2014 Justin McCarter
Inspecting Your Fall Protection To Meet ANSI Z359 Standards

Inspecting Your Fall Protection To Meet ANSI Z359 Standards

While OSHA still establishes the laws surrounding workplace fall protection and is tasked with enforcing them, many organizations look to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the most current safety procedures and best practices. The new(ish) Z359.1 standards from ANSI are an attempt to create a more holistic fall safety program. One of the biggest differences between these new specifications and the existing OSHA fall safety requirements are regular inspections of all fall sa …
Feb 19th 2014 Justin McCarter