22 Mar Full Body Harnesses and Lifelines

Full Body Harnesses and Lifelines

A Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) is designed to safely stop a worker who falls from an elevated working surface. A typical system consists of a full-body harness, connector such as a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline (SRL), and a suitable anchorage. Vertical or horizontal lifelines may also be incorporated into the system.

Body belts are not permitted for fall arrest. When a PFAS is required, employees must use an approved full-body harness and compatible fall-protection components.

For most construction activities, OSHA requires fall protection when employees are exposed to falls of 6 feet or more above a lower level. Different requirements apply to certain activities, such as scaffolds and steel erection. Flanagan Consulting Corporation requires employees to follow the applicable OSHA requirement, client/site requirement, or company requirement, whichever is more protective.

Falls can happen without warning. Employees must never eliminate fall protection simply because a task will take only a few minutes or because they believe they can work safely near an exposed edge.

Guide for Discussion

Before Each Use

• Inspect the harness, webbing, stitching, D-rings, buckles, connectors, lanyards, SRLs, lifelines, and other components before each use.
• Look for cuts, tears, fraying, burns, chemical damage, excessive wear, deformation, corrosion, broken stitching, or other defects.
• Make sure hooks, carabiners, buckles, and other hardware operate and lock properly.
• Immediately remove defective equipment from service.
• Never use fall-protection equipment that has been subjected to fall-arrest forces until it has been removed from service and handled in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.

Wear the Harness Correctly

• Use only an approved full-body harness designed for the intended application.
• Adjust the harness so it fits snugly without restricting normal movement.
• Make sure straps are not twisted.
• Secure all buckles and keepers according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• For fall arrest, the attachment point is generally the dorsal D-ring located on the employee’s back near shoulder level.
• Never modify, punch holes in, knot, or otherwise alter a harness, lanyard, or lifeline.

Anchorage and Tie-Off

A PFAS anchorage must be independent of an anchorage used to support or suspend platforms and must either:

• Support at least 5,000 pounds for each employee attached; or
• Be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete PFAS that maintains the required safety factor under the supervision of a qualified person.

The 5,000-pound requirement applies to the anchorage—not automatically to every individual PFAS component.

Whenever practical, connect to an approved anchorage at or above the dorsal D-ring to minimize free-fall distance and reduce swing-fall hazards.

Never tie off to:

• Guardrails unless specifically designed and approved as an anchorage.
• Conduit or piping.
• Cable trays.
• Unapproved structural components.
• Equipment or objects that cannot withstand the required forces.

Maintain 100% Fall Protection

When continuous protection is required, employees must remain protected while moving between anchor points. Use an appropriate system, such as a double-leg lanyard or properly designed horizontal lifeline, when necessary to maintain continuous protection.

Never disconnect from one anchorage before establishing protection at the next anchorage when doing so would expose you to a fall hazard.

Check Fall Clearance

Before beginning work, determine whether adequate clearance exists below the employee.

Consider:

• Free-fall distance.
• Lanyard or SRL deployment and deceleration distance.
• Harness stretch and D-ring movement.
• Employee height.
• Location of the anchorage.
• Required safety clearance.
• Obstructions or lower levels.

A PFAS is not effective if the employee can strike the ground, equipment, structure, or another lower level before the system arrests the fall.

Prevent Swing Falls

A swing fall can occur when an employee works too far horizontally from the anchorage and falls, causing the employee to swing like a pendulum.

Keep the anchorage as directly above the work location as practical and follow the manufacturer’s limitations for the particular connector or SRL.

Care and Storage

• Protect fall-protection equipment from sharp edges, heat, sparks, welding slag, chemicals, oils, paints, and other damaging substances.
• Do not allow acids, caustics, or corrosive materials to contact the equipment.
• Keep lifelines and lanyards away from cutting and abrasion hazards unless specifically designed and protected for that exposure.
• Store equipment in a clean, dry location away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, and chemicals.
• Follow the manufacturer’s inspection, maintenance, storage, and service-life requirements.

Rescue Planning

A PFAS stops the fall, but the emergency does not end when the worker is suspended in the harness.

Before employees use personal fall arrest equipment, appropriate provisions must be made for prompt rescue or employees must be able to rescue themselves. Employees should know the site’s rescue procedures and how to summon assistance.

Never rely on improvising a rescue after a fall occurs.

Remember

Fall-protection equipment only works when it is properly selected, inspected, fitted, connected, and used.

Inspect before use. Use an approved anchorage. Maintain adequate fall clearance. Stay connected when exposed to a fall hazard. Never take shortcuts with fall protection.