Inspection and Certification Requirements for Suspended Access Fall Protection Systems

Window washing and different exterior constructing upkeep (EBM) duties may be troublesome to carry out and pose vital security dangers for the employees performing these duties. Nevertheless, with a correctly maintained system that’s present on inspections and certifications, employers may be assured that their system will work as anticipated each single time and hold their staff protected.

What’s a Suspended Entry Fall Safety System?

Suspended Entry Fall Safety Programs assist staff safely carry out exterior constructing upkeep (EBM) duties. These techniques are sometimes discovered on buildings three tales or taller, when routine duties like window washing can’t be carried out safely from the bottom. Most buildings make the most of both a rope descent system or a ground-rigged energy platform (additionally known as a swing stage system), as these are each permitted for buildings below 300 toes by federal OSHA. Nevertheless, Cal/OSHA solely permits roof-launched techniques for buildings in California 130 toes and taller. For the remainder of america, solely buildings 300 toes and taller should make the most of roof-launched techniques. Nevertheless, irrespective of the system chosen for the constructing, federal OSHA 1910.27 requires all suspended entry work to make the most of licensed anchors.

Anchor Certification Necessities

When typical fall safety anchors are used, federal OSHA 1910.140 requires anchors to be rated to face up to an final load of 5,000 kilos. Nevertheless, except a fall happens, that anchor is not going to be topic to a lot pressure. Quite the opposite, suspended entry anchors are below fixed rigidity from the employees or swing stage they’re suspending. These anchors are topic to common certification to make sure they are going to be capable of safely droop the employee and stand up to fall forces within the occasion of a fall. Suspended entry anchor certifications should be carried out by a Certified Particular person (or skilled engineer) as soon as the anchor is put in and earlier than it’s used for suspended entry work. Recertification for suspended entry anchors should happen as soon as each 10 years.

First, the anchor should be pull-tested to 2,500 kilos, and the Certified Particular person should confirm an final load of 5,000 kilos. Ample anchorages should be put in so there’s a licensed anchor devoted for the first connection of the suspension gear and a secondary fall arrest anchorage for the employee. If the first system fails, the secondary system can arrest the employee and forestall fatality.

Staff can not work greater than 15 levels away from their secondary fall arrest anchor. Not solely would this violate the producer’s directions for the anchor and fall arrestor, however it’s an unsafe follow for staff at peak. Working too removed from an anchor level may cause “swing fall” throughout fall arrest and improve the prospect of harm. Moreover, suspended entry anchors can’t be spaced greater than 12 toes aside.

Anchor Inspection Necessities

Like all different items of fall safety gear, suspended entry anchors should be inspected earlier than every use. Staff ought to visually examine the anchor to search for injury or corrosion and make sure the anchor is solidly put in. If any considerations come up or points are discovered, staff ought to alert their group’s Competent Particular person instantly so the anchor may be repaired or changed.

Suspended entry anchors are additionally topic to the annual fall safety gear inspections required by OSHA. Each group’s Competent Particular person should examine each bit of fall safety gear yearly and keep information of annual inspections.