Guidelines for Using Rigging for Fall Protection

Doing construction or maintenance work often involves heights. According to the of Bureau Labor Statistics, about 429 construction workers died from falls in 2006. Not having any safety protection can lead to serious injury or death on the part of the workers and lawsuits on the part of the employer. There are many safety considerations, and while this article will represent a small portion of safety considerations, formal training should be sought if individuals' livelihoods are at risk.

Use of Lifelines

• Employ lifelines where they are connected to an anchor that is solid and secure. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the anchor point for a lifeline should not budge more than .04 inches when a force of 2,250 pounds is applied. Attach the lifeline to a harness that is rated for the work that is being done. Training for using the lifelines and harnesses correctly should be conducted by a supervisor or an official trainer

Redundancy

• In rock climbing, the idea of redundancy describes having a backup in case the first set of equipment fails. Use two sets of equipment in the same location in order to increase safety. If someone is attached to a lifeline, they will then have multiple pieces of equipment protecting them at any point in time. Utilize the principle of redundancy, as much as possible, in order to help prevent accidents and inspire greater confidence in the workers.

Protecting Your Equipment

• Protect lifelines or lanyards if they are going to be subjected to conditions beyond a normal operating environment. Work operations such as welding, chemical cleaning and sandblasting could all have a deleterious affect on any type of safety rigging. Using the principle of redundancy becomes even more important in these types of work environments since the equipment is being exposed to harsh conditions. Make sure that regular inspection, testing, cleaning and replacing of equipment are well documented.

Ease of Use

• Developing and utilizing a system that is easy to use will allow for the workers not only to focus on their job, but also to minimize small mistakes that could add up if a fall was to occur. Having systems that are easy to use and ensures that a worker is tied off 100 percent of the time will help the worker to focus on the important aspects of completing the job.