This section sets forth requirements for employers to provide
and enforce the use of fall protection for employees in construction,
alteration, repair, maintenance (including painting and decorating),
demolition workplaces, and material handling covered under chapter
296-155 WAC.
Note: See Appendix B for additional standards
that require the use of fall restraint and/or fall arrest protection.
“Anchorage” means a secure point of attachment
for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices which is capable
of withstanding the forces specified in the applicable sections
of chapter
296-155 WAC.
“Approved” means, for the purpose of this
section; tested and certified by the manufacturer, or any recognized
national testing laboratory, to possess the strength requirements
specified in this section.
“Body belt” means a Type 1 safety belt used
in conjunction with lanyard or lifeline for fall restraint only.
“Full body harness” means a configuration
of connected straps to distribute a fall arresting force over
at least the thighs, shoulders and pelvis, with provisions for
attaching a lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration devices.
“Full body harness system” means a Class
III full body harness and lanyard which is attached to an anchorage
meeting the requirements of chapter
296-155 WAC, Part C-1; or attached to a horizontal or vertical
lifeline which is properly secured to an anchorage(s) capable
of withstanding the forces specified in the applicable sections
of chapter
296-155 WAC.
“Catenary line” - see horizontal lifeline.
“Competent person” means an individual knowledgeable
of fall protection equipment, including the manufacturers recommendations
and instructions for the proper use, inspection, and maintenance;
and who is capable of identifying existing and potential fall
hazards; and who has the authority to take prompt corrective action
to eliminate those hazards; and who is knowledgeable of the rules
contained in this section regarding the erection, use, inspection,
and maintenance of fall protection equipment and systems.
“Connector” means a device which is used to
couple (connect) parts of the personal fall arrest system and
positioning device systems together. It may be an independent
component of the system, such as a carabiner, or it may be an
integral component of part of the system (such as a buckle or
dee ring sewn into a body belt or body harness, or a snap hook
spliced or sewn to a lanyard or self-retracting lanyard).
“Continuous fall protection” means the design
and use of a fall protection system such that no exposure to an
elevated fall hazard occurs. This may require more than one fall
protection system or a combination of prevention or protection
measures.
“Control zone” means the area between the
warning line and the unprotected sides and edges of the walking/working
surface.
“Deceleration device” means any mechanism,
such as a rope grab, ripstitch lanyard, specifically woven lanyard,
tearing or deforming lanyards, automatic self-retracting lifelines/lanyards,
etc., which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy
during a fall arrest, or otherwise limit the energy imposed on
an employee during fall arrest.
“Deceleration distance” means the additional
vertical distance a falling employee travels, excluding lifeline
elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point
at which the deceleration device begins to operate. It is measured
as the distance between the location of an employee's body belt
or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation (at
the onset of fall arrest forces) of the deceleration device during
a fall, and the location of that attachment point after the employee
comes to a full stop.
“Drop line” means a vertical lifeline secured
to an upper anchorage for the purpose of attaching a lanyard or
device.
“Failure” means load refusal, breakage, or
separation of component parts. Load refusal is the point where
the ultimate strength is exceeded.
“Fall arrest system” means the use of multiple,
approved safety equipment components such as; body harnesses,
lanyards, deceleration devices, droplines, horizontal and/or vertical
lifelines and anchorages, interconnected and rigged as to arrest
a free fall. Compliance with anchorage strength requirements specified
in the applicable sections of chapter
296-155 WAC, Part C-1 shall constitute approval of the anchorage.
“Fall protection work plan” means a written
planning document in which the employer identifies all areas on
the job site where a fall hazard of 10 feet or greater exists.
The plan describes the method or methods of fall protection to
be utilized to protect employees, and includes the procedures
governing the installation use, inspection, and removal of the
fall protection method or methods which are selected by the employer.
(See WAC
296-155-24505.)
“Fall restraint system” means an approved
device and any necessary components that function together to
restrain an employee in such a manner as to prevent that employee
from falling to a lower level. When standard guardrails are selected,
compliance with applicable sections governing their construction
and use shall constitute approval.
“Fall distance” means the actual distance
from the workers support to the level where a fall would stop.
“Free fall” means the act of falling before
a personal fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest
the fall.
“Free fall distance” means the vertical displacement
of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee's body belt
or body harness between onset of the fall and just before the
system begins to apply force to arrest the fall. This distance
excludes deceleration distance, and lifeline/lanyard elongation,
but includes any deceleration device slide distance or self-retracting
lifeline/lanyard extension before they operate and fall arrest
forces occur.
“Hardware” means snap hooks, D rings, bucklers,
carabiners, adjusters, O rings, that are used to attach the components
of a fall protection system together.
“Horizontal lifeline” means a rail, rope,
wire, or synthetic cable that is installed in a horizontal plane
between two anchorages and used for attachment of a workers lanyard
or lifeline device while moving horizontally; used to control
dangerous pendulum like swing falls.
“Lanyard” means a flexible line of webbing,
rope, or cable used to secure a body belt or harness to a lifeline
or an anchorage point usually 2, 4, or 6 feet long.
“Leading edge” means the advancing edge of
a floor, roof, or formwork which changes location as additional
floor, roof, or formwork sections are placed, formed, or constructed.
Leading edges not actively under construction are considered to
be "unprotected sides and edges, and positive methods of
fall arrest or fall restraint shall be required to protect exposed
workers.
“Lifeline” means a vertical line from a fixed
anchorage or between two horizontal anchorages, independent of
walking or working surfaces, to which a lanyard or device is secured.
Lifeline as referred to in this text is one which is part of a
fall protection system used as back-up safety for an elevated
worker.
“Locking snap hook” means a connecting snap
hook that requires two separate forces to open the gate; one to
deactivate the gatekeeper and a second to depress and open the
gate which automatically closes when released; used to minimize
roll out or accidental disengagement.
“Low pitched roof” means a roof having a slope
equal to or less than 4 in 12.
“Mechanical equipment” means all motor
or human propelled wheeled equipment except for wheelbarrows,
mopcarts, robotic thermoplastic welders and robotic crimpers.
“Positioning belt” means a single or multiple
strap that can be secured around the workers body to hold the
user in a work position; for example, a linemans belt, a rebar
belt, or saddle belt.
“Positioning device system” means a body belt
or body harness system rigged to allow an employee to be supported
on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall, and work with
both hands free while leaning.
“Restraint line” means a line from a fixed
anchorage or between two anchorages to which an employee is secured
in such a way as to prevent the worker from falling to a lower
level.
“Roll out” means unintentional disengagement
of a snap hook caused by the gate being depressed under torque
or contact while twisting or turning; a particular concern with
single action snap hooks that do not have a locking gatekeeper.
“Roof” means the exterior surface on the top
of a building. This does not include floors or form work which,
because a building has not been completed, temporarily become
the top surface of a building.
“Roofing work” means the hoisting, storage,
application, and removal of roofing materials and equipment, including
related insulation, sheet metal, and vapor barrier work, but not
including the construction of the roof deck.
“Rope grab” means a fall arrester that is
designed to move up or down a lifeline suspended from a fixed
overhead or horizontal anchorage point, or lifeline, to which
the belt or harness is attached. In the event of a fall, the rope
grab locks onto the lifeline rope through compression to arrest
the fall. The use of a rope grab device is restricted for all
restraint applications. (Refer to WAC
296-155-24510 (1)(b)(iii)).
“Safety line” - see lifeline.
“Safety monitor system” means a system of
fall restraint used in conjunction with a warning line system
only, where a competent person as defined by this part, having
no additional duties, monitors the proximity of workers to the
fall hazard when working between the warning line and the unprotected
sides and edges including, the leading edge of a low pitched roof
or walking/working surface.
“Self retracting lifeline” means a deceleration
device which contains a drum wound line which may be slowly extracted
from, or retracted onto, the drum under slight tension during
normal employee movement, and which after onset of a fall, automatically
locks the drum and arrests the fall.
“Shock absorbing lanyard” means a flexible
line of webbing, cable, or rope used to secure a body belt or
harness to a lifeline or anchorage point that has an integral
shock absorber.
“Single action snap hook” means a connecting
snap hook that requires a single force to open the gate which
automatically closes when released.
“Snap hook” means a self-closing connecting
device with a gatekeeper latch or similar arrangement that will
remain closed until manually opened. This includes single action
snap hooks that open when the gatekeeper is depressed and double
action snap hooks that require a second action on a gatekeeper
before the gate can be opened.
“Static line” - see horizontal lifeline.
“Strength member” means any component of a
fall protection system that could be subject to loading in the
event of a fall.
“Steep roof” means a roof having a slope
greater than 4 in 12.
“Unprotected sides and edges” means any side
or edge (except at entrances to points of access) of a floor,
roof, ramp or runway where there is no wall or guardrail system
as defined in WAC
296-155-505(7).
“Walking/working surface” means for the purpose
of this section, any area whose dimensions are 45 inches or greater
in all directions, through which workers pass or conduct work.
“Warning line system” means a barrier erected
on a walking and working surface or a low pitch roof (4 in 12
or less), to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected
fall hazard(s).
“Work area” means that portion of a walking/working
surface where job duties are being performed.
(1) The employer shall develop and implement a written fall protection
work plan including each area of the work place where the employees
are assigned and where fall hazards of 10 feet or more exist.
(2) The fall protection work plan shall:
(a) Identify all fall hazards in the work area.
(b) Describe the method of fall arrest or fall restraint to
be provided.
(c) Describe the correct procedures for the assembly, maintenance,
inspection, and disassembly of the fall protection system to
be used.
(d) Describe the correct procedures for the handling, storage,
and securing of tools and materials.
(e) Describe the method of providing overhead protection for
workers who may be in, or pass through the area below the work
site.
(f) Describe the method for prompt, safe removal of injured
workers.
(g) Be available on the job site for inspection by the department.
(3)
Prior to permitting employees into areas where fall hazards exist
the employer shall:
(a) Ensure that employees are trained and instructed in the
items described in subsection (2)(a) through (f) of this section.
(b) Inspect fall protection devices and systems to ensure compliance
with WAC
296-155-24510.
(4) Training of employees:
(a) The employer shall ensure that employees are trained as
required by this section. Training shall be documented and shall
be available on the job site.
(b) “Retraining.” When the employer has reason
to believe that any affected employee who has already been trained
does not have the understanding and skill required by subsection
(1) of this section, the employer shall retrain each such employee.
Circumstances where retraining is required include, but are
not limited to, situations where:
Changes in the workplace render previous training obsolete;
or
Changes in the types of fall protection systems or equipment
to be used render previous training obsolete; or
Inadequacies in an affected employee's knowledge or use
of fall protection systems or equipment indicate that the
employee has not retained the requisite understanding or
skill.
Note: The following appendices to Part C-1
of this chapter serve as nonmandatory guidelines to assist employers
in complying with the appropriate requirements of Part C-1 of
this chapter.
When employees are exposed to a hazard of falling
from a location 10 feet or more in height, the employer shall
ensure that fall restraint, fall arrest systems or positioning
device systems are provided, installed, and implemented according
to the following requirements.
(i) Safety belts and/or harness shall conform to ANSI Standard:
Class I body
belt
Class II chest
harness
Class III full
body harness
Class IV suspension/position
belt
(ii) All safety belt and lanyard hardware assemblies shall
be capable of withstanding a tensile loading of 4,000 pounds
without cracking, breaking, or taking a permanent deformation.
(iii) Rope grab devices are prohibited for fall restraint
applications unless they are part of a fall restraint system
designed specifically for the purpose by the manufacturer,
and used in strict accordance with the manufacturers recommendations
and instructions.
(iv) The employer shall ensure component compatibility.
(v) Components of fall restraint systems shall be inspected
prior to each use for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration,
and defective components shall be removed from service if
their function or strength have been adversely affected.
(vi) Anchorage points used for fall restraint shall be capable
of supporting 4 times the intended load.
(vii) Restraint protection shall be rigged to allow the movement
of employees only as far as the sides and edges of the walking/working
surface.
(c) A warning line system as prescribed in WAC
296-155-24515(3) and supplemented by the use of a safety
monitor system as prescribed in WAC
296-155-24521 to protect workers engaged in duties between
the forward edge of the warning line and the unprotected sides
and edges, including the leading edge, of a low pitched roof
or walking/working surface.
(d) Warning line and safety monitor systems as described in
WAC
296-155-24515 (3) through (4)(f) and WAC
296-155-24520 respectively are prohibited on surfaces exceeding
a 4 in 12 pitch, and on any surface whose dimensions are less
than 45 inches in all directions.
(2) Fall arrest protection shall consist of:
(a) Full body harness system.
(i) An approved Class III full body harness shall be used.
(ii) Body harness systems or components subject to impact
loading shall be immediately removed from service and shall
not be used again for employee protection unless inspected
and determined by a competent person to be undamaged and suitable
for reuse.
(iii) All safety lines and lanyards shall be protected against
being cut or abraded.
(iv) The attachment point of the body harness shall be located
in the center of the wearer's back near shoulder level, or
above the wearer's head.
(v) Body harness systems shall be rigged to minimize free
fall distance with a maximum free fall distance allowed of
6 feet, and such that the employee will not contact any lower
level.
(vi) Hardware shall be drop forged, pressed or formed steel,
or made of materials equivalent in strength.
(vii) Hardware shall have a corrosion resistant finish, and
all surfaces and edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to
the attached body harness or lanyard.
(viii) When vertical lifelines (droplines) are used, not
more than one employee shall be attached to any one lifeline.
Note: The system strength needs in the following
items are based on a total combined weight of employee and tools
of no more than 310 pounds. If combined weight is more than 310
pounds, appropriate allowances must be made or the system will
not be deemed to be in compliance.
(ix) Full body harness systems shall be secured to anchorages
capable of supporting 5,000 pounds per employee except: When
self retracting lifelines or other deceleration devices are
used which limit free fall to two feet, anchorages shall be
capable of withstanding 3,000 pounds.
(x) Vertical lifelines (droplines) shall have a minimum tensile
strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN), except that self retracting
lifelines and lanyards which automatically limit free fall
distance to two feet (.61 m) or less shall have a minimum
tensile strength of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kN).
(xi) Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and
used, under the supervision of a qualified person, as part
of a complete personal fall arrest system, which maintains
a safety factor of at least two.
(xii) Lanyards shall have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000
pounds (22.2 kN).
(xiii) All components of body harness systems whose strength
is not otherwise specified in this subsection shall be capable
of supporting a minimum fall impact load of 5,000 pounds (22.2
kN) applied at the lanyard point of connection.
(xiv) Dee-rings and snap-hooks shall be proof-tested to a
mininum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking,
breaking, or taking permanent deformation.
(xv) Snap-hooks shall be a locking type snap-hook designed
and used to prevent disengagement of the snap-hook by the
contact of the snap-hook keeper by the connected member.
(xvi) Unless the snap-hook is designed for the following
connections, snap-hooks shall not be engaged:
(A) Directly to the webbing, rope or wire rope;
(B) To each other;
(C) To a dee-ring to which another snap-hook or other connector
is attached;
(D) To a horizontal lifeline; or
(E) To any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned
in relation to the snap-hook such that unintentional disengagement
could occur by the connected object being able to depress
the snap-hook keeper and release itself.
(xvii) Full body harness systems shall be inspected prior
to each use for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration,
and defective components shall be removed from service if
their function or strength have been adversely affected.
(b) Safety net systems. Safety net systems and their use shall
comply with the following provisions:
(i) Safety nets shall be installed as close as practicable
under the surface on which employees are working, but in no
case more than 30 feet (9.1 m) below such level unless specifically
approved in writing by the manufacturer. The potential fall
area to the net shall be unobstructed.
(ii) Safety nets shall extend outward from the outermost
projection of the work surface as follows:
Vertical
distance from working levels to horizontal plane of
net
Minimum
required horizontal distance of outer edge of net from
the edge of the working surface
Up to 5 feet
8 feet
More than 5
feet up to 10 feet
10 feet
More than 10
feet
13 feet
(iii) Safety nets shall be installed with sufficient clearance
under them to prevent contact with the surface or structures
below when subjected to an impact force equal to the drop
test specified in (b)(iv) of this subsection.
(iv) Safety nets and their installations shall be capable
of absorbing an impact force equal to that produced by the
drop test specified in (b)(iv)(A) and (B) of this subsection.
(A) Except as provided in (b)(iv)(B) of this subsection,
safety nets and safety net installations shall be drop-tested
at the job site after initial installation and before being
used as a fall protection system, whenever relocated, after
major repair, and at 6-month intervals if left in one place.
The drop-test shall consist of a 400 pound (180 kg) bag
of sand 30 ± 2 inches (76 ± 5 cm) in diameter dropped into
the net from the highest walking/working surface at which
employees are exposed to fall hazards, but not from less
than 42 inches (1.1 m) above that level.
(B) When the employer can demonstrate that it is unreasonable
to perform the drop-test required by (b)(iv)(A) of this
subsection, the employer (or a designated competent person)
shall certify that the net and net installation is in compliance
with the provisions of (b)(iii) and (b)(iv)(A) of this subsection
by preparing a certification record prior to the net being
used as a fall protection system. The certification record
must include an identification of the net and net installation
for which the certification record is being prepared; the
date that it was determined that the identified net and
net installation were in compliance with (b)(iii) of this
subsection and the signature of the person making the determination
and certification. The most recent certification record
for each net and net installation shall be available at
the job site for inspection.
(v) Defective nets shall not be used. Safety nets shall be
inspected at least once a week for wear, damage, and other
deterioration. Defective components shall be removed from
service. Safety nets shall also be inspected after any occurrence
which could affect the integrity of the safety net system.
(vi) Materials, scrap pieces, equipment, and tools which
have fallen into the safety net shall be removed as soon as
possible from the net and at least before the next work shift.
(vii) The maximum size of each safety net mesh opening shall
not exceed 36 square inches (230 cm2) nor be longer than 6
inches (15 cm) on any side, and the opening, measured center-to-center
of mesh ropes or webbing, shall not be longer than 6 inches
(15 cm). All mesh crossings shall be secured to prevent enlargement
of the mesh opening.
(viii) Each safety net (or section of it) shall have a border
rope for webbing with an minimum breaking strength of 5,000
pounds (22.2 kN).
(ix) Connections between safety net panels shall be as strong
as integral net components and shall be spaced not more than
6 inches (15 cm) apart.
(c) Catch platforms.
(i) A catch platform shall be installed within 10 vertical
feet of the work area.
(ii) The catch platforms width shall equal the distance of
the fall but shall be a minimum of 45 inches wide and shall
be equipped with standard guardrails on all open sides.
(3) Positioning device systems. Positioning device systems and
their use shall conform to the following provisions:
(a) Positioning devices shall be rigged such that an employee
cannot free fall more than 2 feet (.61 m).
(b) Positioning devices shall be secured to an anchorage capable
of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an
employee's fall or 3,000 pounds (13.3 kN), whichever is greater.
(c) Connectors shall be drop forged, pressed or formed steel,
or made of equivalent materials.
(d) Connectors shall have a corrosion-resistant finish, and
all surfaces and edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to
interfacing parts of this system.
(e) Connecting assemblies shall have a minimum tensile strength
of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
(f) Dee-rings and snap-hooks shall be proof-tested to a minimum
tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking,
or taking permanent deformation.
(g) Snap-hooks shall be a locking type snap-hook designed and
used to prevent disengagement of the snap-hook by the contact
of the snap-hook keeper by the connected member.
(h) Unless the snap-hook is designed for the following connections,
snap-hooks shall not be engaged:
(i) Directly to webbing, rope or wire rope;
(ii) To each other;
(iii) To a dee-ring to which another snap-hook or other connector
is attached;
(iv) To a horizontal lifeline; or
(v) To any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned
in relation to the snap-hook such that unintentional disengagement
could occur by the connected object being able to depress
the snap-hook keeper and release itself.
(i) Positioning device systems shall be inspected prior to
each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration, and defective
components shall be removed from service.
(j) Body belts, harnesses, and components shall be used only
for employee protection (as part of a personal fall arrest system
or positioning device system) and not to hoist materials.
(4) Droplines or lifelines used on rock scaling operations, or
in areas where the lifeline may be subjected to cutting or abrasion,
shall be a minimum of 7/8 inch wire core manila rope. For all
other lifeline applications, a minimum of 3/4 inch manila or equivalent,
with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds, shall be used.
(5) Safety harnesses, lanyards, lifelines or droplines, independently
attached or attended, shall be used while performing the following
types of work when other equivalent type protection is not provided:
(a) Work performed in permit required confined spaces and other
confined spaces shall follow the procedures as described in
chapter
296-62 WAC, Part M.
(b) Work on hazardous slopes, or dismantling safety nets, working
on poles or from boatswains chairs at elevations greater than
six feet (1.83 m), swinging scaffolds or other unguarded locations.
(c) Work on skips and platforms used in shafts by crews when
the skip or cage does not occlude the opening to within one
foot (30.5 cm) of the sides of the shaft, unless cages are provided.
(6) Canopies, when used as falling object protection, shall be
strong enough to prevent collapse and to prevent penetration by
any objects which may fall onto the canopy.
(1) General provisions. During the performance of work on low
pitched roofs with a potential fall hazard greater than 10 feet,
the employer shall ensure that employees engaged in such work
be protected from falling from all unprotected sides and edges
of the roof as follows:
(a) By the use of a fall restraint or fall arrest systems,
as defined in WAC
296-155-24510; or
(b) By the use of a warning line system erected and maintained
as provided in subsection (3) of this section and supplemented
for employees working between the warning line and the roof
edge by the use of a safety monitor system as described in WAC
296-155-24521.
(c) Mechanical equipment shall be used or stored only in areas
where employees are protected by a warning line system, or fall
restraint, or fall arrest systems as described in WAC
296-155-24510. Mechanical equipment may not be used or stored
where the only protection is provided by the use of a safety
monitor.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) The provisions of subsection (1)(a) of this section do
not apply at points of access such as stairways, ladders, and
ramps, or when employees are on the roof only to inspect, investigate,
or estimate roof level conditions. Roof edge materials handling
areas and materials storage areas shall be guarded as provided
in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) Employees engaged in roofing on low-pitched roofs less
than 50 feet wide, may elect to use a safety monitor system
without warning lines.
Note: See Appendix A to Part C-1--Determining
roof widths nonmandatory guidelines for complying with WAC
296-155-24515(2)(b).
(3) Warning lines systems.
(a) Warning lines shall be erected around all sides of the
work area.
(i) When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning
line shall be erected not less than six feet (1.8 meters)
from the edge of the roof.
(ii) When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning
line shall be erected not less than six feet (1.8 meters)
from the roof edge which is parallel to the direction of mechanical
equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet (3.1 meters)
from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction
of mechanical equipment operation.
(b) The warning line shall consist of a rope, wire, or chain
and supporting stanchions erected as follows:
(i) The rope, wire, or chain shall be flagged at not more
than six foot (1.8 meter) intervals with high visibility material.
(ii) The rope, wire, or chain shall be rigged and supported
in such a way that its lowest point (including sag) is no
less than 36 inches (91.4 cm) from the roof surface and its
highest point is no more than 42 inches (106.7 cm) from the
roof surface.
(iii) After being erected, with the rope, wire or chain attached,
stanchions shall be capable of resisting, without tipping
over, a force of at least 16 pounds (71 Newtons) applied horizontally
against the stanchion, 30 inches (0.76 meters) above the roof
surface, perpendicular to the warning line, and in the direction
of the roof edge.
(iv) The rope, wire, or chain shall have a minimum tensile
strength of 200 pounds (90 kilograms), and after being attached
to the stanchions, shall be capable of supporting, without
breaking, the loads applied to the stanchions.
(v) The line shall be attached at each stanchion in such
a way that pulling on one section of the line between stanchions
will not result in slack being taken up in adjacent sections
before the stanchion tips over.
(c) Access paths shall be erected as follows:
(i) Points of access, materials handling areas, and storage
areas shall be connected to the work area by a clear access
path formed by two warning lines.
(ii) When the path to a point of access is not in use, a
rope, wire, or chain, equal in strength and height to the
warning line, shall be placed across the path at the point
where the path intersects the warning line erected around
the work area.
(4) Roof edge materials handling areas and materials storage.
Employees working in a roof edge materials handling or materials
storage area located on a low pitched roof with a ground to eave
height greater than 10 feet shall be protected from falling along
all unprotected roof sides and edges of the area.
(a) When guardrails are used at hoisting areas, a minimum of
four feet of guardrail shall be erected on each side of the
access point through which materials are hoisted.
(b) A chain or gate shall be placed across the opening between
the guardrail sections when hoisting operations are not taking
place.
(c) When guardrails are used at bitumen pipe outlet, a minimum
of four feet of guardrail shall be erected on each side of the
pipe.
(d) When safety belt/harness systems are used, they shall not
be attached to the hoist.
(e) When fall restraint systems are used, they shall be rigged
to allow the movement of employees only as far as the roof edge.
(f) Materials shall not be stored within six feet of the roof
edge unless guardrails are erected at the roof edge.
(1) When performing leading edge work, the employer shall ensure
that a control zone be established according to the following
requirements:
(a) The control zone shall begin a minimum of 6 feet back from
the leading edge to prevent exposure by employees who are not
protected by fall restraint or fall arrest systems.
(b) The control zone shall be separated from other areas of
the low pitched roof or walking/working surface by the erection
of a warning line system.
(c) The warning line system shall consist of wire, rope, or
chain supported on stanchions, or a method which provides equivalent
protection.
(d) The spacing of the stanchions and support of the line shall
be such that the lowest point of the line (including sag) is
not less than 36 inches from the walking/working surface, and
its highest point is not more than 42 inches (106.7 cm) from
the walking/working surface.
(e) Each line shall have a minimum tensile strength of 200
pounds (90 kilograms).
(f) Each line shall be flagged or clearly marked with high
visibility materials at intervals not to exceed 6 feet.
(g) After being erected with the rope, or chain attached, stanchions
shall be capable of resisting without tipping over, a force
of at least 16 pounds (71 Newtons) applied horizontally against
the stanchions 30 inches (0.76 meters) above the roof surface,
perpendicular to the warning line and in the direction of the
roof edge.
(2) When positive means of fall restraint as described in WAC
296-155-24510 (1)(a) through (d), or fall arrest as described
in WAC
296-155-24510 (2) through (6) are not utilized, a safety monitor
system as described in WAC
296-155-24521 shall be implemented to protect employees working
between the forward edge of the warning line and the leading edge.
(1) A safety monitor system (SMS) may be used in conjunction
with a warning line system as a method of guarding against falls
during work on low pitched roofs and leading edge work only.
(2) When selected, the employer shall ensure that the safety
monitor system shall be addressed in the fall protection work
plan, include the name of the safety monitor(s) and the extent
of their training in both the safety monitor and warning line
systems, and shall ensure that the following requirements are
met.
(3) The safety monitor system shall not be used when adverse
weather conditions create additional hazards.
(4) A person acting in the capacity of safety monitor(s) shall
be trained in the function of both the safety monitor and warning
lines systems, and shall:
(b) Have control authority over the work as it relates to fall
protection.
(c) Be instantly distinguishable over members of the work crew.
(d) Engage in no other duties while acting as safety monitor.
(e) Be positioned in relation to the workers under their protection,
so as to have a clear, unobstructed view and be able to maintain
normal voice communication.
(f) Not supervise more than eight exposed workers at one time.
(g) Warn the employee when it appears that the employee is
unaware of a fall hazard or is acting in an unsafe manner.
(5) Control zone:
(a) Workers shall be distinguished from other members of the
crew by wearing highly visible, distinctive, and uniform apparel
readily distinguishing them from other members of the crew only
while in the control zone.
(b) The employer shall ensure that each employee working in
a control zone promptly comply with fall hazard warnings from
safety monitors.
WAC
296-155-24523 Appendix A to Part C-1--Determining roof widths
nonmandatory guidelines for complying with WAC 296-155-24515 (2)(b).
(1) This appendix serves as a guideline to assist employers complying
with the requirements of
WAC 296-155-24515 (2)(b). WAC
296-155-24515 (2)(b) allows the use of a safety monitoring
system alone as a means of providing fall protection during the
performance of roofing operations on low-sloped roofs 50 feet
(15.25 m) or less in width. Each example in the appendix shows
a roof plan or plans and indicates where each roof or roof area
is to be measured to determine its width. Section views or elevation
views are shown where appropriate. Some examples show “correct”
and “incorrect” subdivisions of irregularly shaped
roofs divided into smaller, regularly shaped areas. In all examples,
the dimension selected to be the width of an area is the lesser
of the two primary dimensions of the area, as viewed from above.
Example A shows that on a simple rectangular roof, width is the
lesser of the two primary overall dimensions. This is also the
case with roofs which are sloped toward or away from the roof
center, as shown in Example B.
(2) Many roofs are not simple rectangles. Such roofs may be broken
down into subareas as shown in Example C. The process of dividing
a roof area can produce many different configurations. Example
C gives the general rule of using dividing lines of minimum length
to minimize the size and number of the areas which are potentially
less than 50 feet (15.25 m) wide. The intent is to minimize the
number of roof areas where safety monitoring systems alone are
sufficient protection.
(3) Roofs which are comprised of several separate, non-contiguous
roof areas, as in Example D, may be considered as a series of
individual roofs. Some roofs have penthouses, additional floors,
courtyard openings, or similar architectural features; Example
E shows how the rule for dividing roofs into subareas is applied
to such configurations. Irregular, non-rectangular roofs must
be considered on an individual basis, as shown in Example F.
Example
A
Rectangular
Shaped Roof
Example
B
Sloped
Rectangular Shaper Roofs
Example
C
Irregularly
Shaped Roofs With Rectangular Shaped Sections
Such roofs are to be divided into subareas by using dividing
lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the
areas which are potentially less than or equal to 50 feet (15.25
meters) in width, in order to limit the size of roof areas where
the safety monitoring system alone can be used (WAC
296-155-24515(2)(b)).
Dotted lines are used in the examples to show the location of
dividing lines.
denotes
incorrect measurements of width.
Example
D
Separate,
Non-Contiguous Roof Areas
Example
E
Roofs
With Penthouses, Open Courtyards, Additional Floors, etc.
Such roofs are to be divided into subareas by using dividing
lines of minimum length to minimize the size and number of the
areas which are potentially less than or equal to 50 feet (15.25
meters) in width, in order to limit the size of roof areas where
the safety monitoring system alone can be used (WAC
296-155-24505 (2)(j)). Dotted lines are used in the examples
to show the location of dividing lines.
For
printing
denotes
incorrect measurements of width.
