Construction

Comment

Comment by Terence (Terry) Kidd on March 7, 2010 at 2:44pm

Ron is giving good advice here guys but I have some points to add. Rather than relying on harnesses, retractables and anchor points why not install edge protection instead? Eliminate the risk of a fall rather than rely on fall protection.

In addition, I often see guys working from the bucket of an elevated work platform (in Oz you must where a harness and be hooked onto the bucket when working from EWPs) but they will be working only 12-20 feet above the ground and are wearing shock absorber lanyards on their harnesses. The problem is that the shock absorber lanyard will not stop them from hitting the ground at those heights.

One other point, when there is an arrested fall what are the rescue plans you insist on to avoid suspension trauma? We require rescue within 5 minutes and insist on a rescue plan being written into the safe work method statement for the task.

Comment by Ronald McKenzie on March 6, 2010 at 8:08pm

That depends on the area\state you are working in. California, depending on the code section, does not allow you to tie off below the waist. You should never have more than 5 foot of free fall. A retractable should not allow you to travel more than 2 feet. When you attach at your feet then you have the 4 foot distance to the level of your D ring, retractable, plus the four feet of slack in the line, (at least). then the 2-3 feet of the harness stretching because no one ever wears the harness as tight as they should. So... basically, the lanyard, harness will extend 6 feet over your head, plus however tall you are. ( 13 feet?, plus swing room)

Comment by Tom Trauger on March 6, 2010 at 7:56pm

Can you use a retractable line with anchor points at your feet on a wood structure?
What is the minimum fall distance clearance you need so you do not hit the level below if you are using a retractable line with anchor points at your feet?

Comment by Ronald McKenzie on March 6, 2010 at 7:47pm

If the entire length played out, then they had the wrong type of retractable. Some retractables are not designed for horizontal use. The ratchet mechanism should stop within 2 feet. Otherwise the acceleration will exceed the max. strength for the cable.

Comment by Heather on March 6, 2010 at 7:28pm

Hi Daniel-
I've been trying to find out the details of this for something I was working on. February seemed to have many falls! (Not all in construction) But the info is kind of skimpy. The retractable did not arrest - it went the whole 30 ft, then snapped. The person I talked to wasn't sure what the material was made of - they just knew it was past due for recertification. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter.

Comment by Daniel Wampler on March 6, 2010 at 7:16pm

Hey Heather -
Thanks for spurring on discussion! To answer your question, usually re-certification is not too expensive (like $50 - $100). Even without re-certification, though, the unit should not have snapped. Are you saying that the unit did not arrest the fall - that it just kept "playing out" for the entire 30'? Often, the failures that are seen with retractable lifelines have to do with using the wrong type of retractable for the application. For instance, if the lifeline itself will need to go over a leading edge (be exposed to the edge itself) during a fall, it needs to be a steel cable or Kevlar material that is certified for that type of use. Most retractables are not. When exposed to the extra trauma of the leading edge - and transferring the forces of that fall against that edge - the unit may "snap" if not designed for that. I wonder if this is what happened in that case. Retractables that are made for this application also should have a secondary deceleration device mounted to the end of the lanyard attached to the worker that will absorb most of the force of the fall. Here is an example: click here.

I know that was a whole lot of info that was not the exact question that you were asking, but is a "misuse" that I run into quite a bit. I thought it was worth mentioning. Thanks!

Comment by Heather on March 6, 2010 at 4:16pm

Hey again- another question. How many of you work with retractables?
Last month a local construction worker in my city was blown off the roof he was working on head first. His retractable went 30 ft - stopped his fall - but then it snapped & he fell another 30 ft to the ground. The person I was talking to said he heard that it was a retractable that had not been recertified (maybe 3 years old).
Luckily the man survived! (he was working across the street from the hospital & they arrived in minutes with a doctor) Who is in charge of keeping equipment updated? How costly is it to get equipment recertified?

Comment by Terence (Terry) Kidd on March 2, 2010 at 2:50pm

Cheers !!! Our pleasure.

Comment by Heather on March 2, 2010 at 2:45pm

Thanks all for your input! It's always great to hear from people in the field.

Comment by Ronald McKenzie on February 24, 2010 at 3:12pm

Hi Heather,
I agree with Terry, the Hierachy of controls is the guide. We do mainly Highrise construction, and Ladders are never used for access to the working deck. 60" high guardrails with netting to prevent falling material.
A cost comparison would be next to impossible. The work will go faster without PFA, but that is a difficult item to quantify since the site conditions change so much.
There is a huge learning curve to teach someone how to utilze manlifts instead of climbing the re-bar or steel structures, and then the next building is completely different.

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