Probability basis of safe life evaluation in small airplanes by w. michael reyer
FallTech AWP Spec
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FallTech
1306 S. AlamedaStreet Compton,CA 90021, USA Tel:800.719.4619 Fax:323.752.5613
WWW.falltech.om
Fall Restraint& Personal Fall Arrest System(PFAS) recommendationsfor Aerial Work Platforms(AWP)
Pursuantto the principal of The Hierarchy of Fall Protection and containedthereinare (3) basicobjectives:
1. Hazard elimination: engineeroutthe prospective fall-hazard.
2. Fall Restraint: fall-restraintisthe nextappropriate measure shouldeliminatingthe fall-hazardbe infeasible.
3. Fall Arrest: if mitigatingthe fall-hazardthroughrestraintis nonviablethenaPersonal Fall ArrestSystem(PFAS)
mustbe implemented.
The primaryfall protectionmeasure inAerial WorkPlatforms(AWP) isthe guardrail. However,perOSHA
1926.453(b)(2)(v) & ANSI/SIAA92.5.7.10(1), all boom-supportedelevatingworkplatformsrequire implementation
of secondary fall-restraintorfall-arrestsystems.
Additionally,perthe 1926.502d(16)(iii) OSHA requiresthatanchorages “berigged such that an employeecan neither
free fall morethan 6 feet,nor contactany lower level”. This standardalsoappliestoAWP’s. Because of the variable
operatingheightsof AWP’s, itmayrequire implementationof differentfall-hazardcontrol measurestoabate riskto
employees.
It istherefore animportant responsibilitythatprospectiveemployers thoroughly evaluate eachfall-hazard
individually andselectthe mostappropriate fall-hazardabatementmethodology toprotectemployees. PerOSHA’s
General Duty Clause,anemployer“shallfurnish…employmentwhich arefreefromrecognized hazardsthatare
causing or arelikely to causedeathor seriousphysicalharm…” The ScaffoldingIndustryAssociation (SIA)
recommendsasimple (3) stepprocess: “identify thehazard,assign therisk,and definea control measure”.
The most common(AWP) hazards inthe fieldare (butnot limitedto) the following:
1. AWP is struck by another vehicle such as a forklift.
2. Operating an AWP on unstable or uneven ground.
3. Operator(s) of AWP standing on mid-rails.
4. Operator(s) leaning over top guardrail.
In eachcase, the riskassociatedwith losingbalance orthe potentialof beingthrownfromthe AWPmustbe considered
inconjunctionwiththe appropriate control measure. The appropriate control measure generallyconsistsof either fall-
restraintor fall-arrest. Althoughunder1926.502(e) OSHA allowsforuse of a bodybelt andrestraintlanyard,under
standard1926.502(d) OSHA recognizesthatthe pairingof a bodybeltandrestraintlanyardisan unacceptable formof
fall arrest.
FallTechrecommends the use of a full-bodyharness aspart of a personal fall arrest or restraint system in all (AWP’s).
Furthermore,itisthe employer’sresponsibilitytoevaluate eachAWPanddetermine if the integratedanchorage point
location(anywherefromthe workingplatformtothe guardrail) isdesignedforrestraintorarrest,asthiswill determine
the correct selection andimplementation of the fall-abatementmethodology.
ANSI/SIAA92 allowsforone individual perAWPanchorage unlesssaidanchorage isspecificallydesignedandratedfor
multiple individuals. Additionally, underANSI/ASSEZ359.1 the fall arrestanchorage must be capable of sustaininga
5,000 lb.staticloador a 2:1 SafetyFactor (twotimesthe maximumarrestforce permittedonthe system);since OSHA
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FallTech
1306 S. AlamedaStreet Compton,CA 90021, USA Tel:800.719.4619 Fax:323.752.5613
WWW.falltech.om
prohibitsanyPFASdeliveringmore than1800 force poundsto the body,a 2:1 SafetyFactormeansthat inpractical
termsan anchorage pointmustbe capable of withstandingaminimum3,600 lb.staticload. Likewise, ANSI/SIAA92.5
requiresthat“anchorage(s) shallbecapableof withstanding theforceof 3,600 pounds…”
Shouldthe AWPnot have the minimumrequired3,600 lb.anchorage,itis the employer’sresponsibilitytoensure that
the employee iswell-trainedandclearlyunderstandsthat fall arrestsystems cannotbe usedinsuchequipment.
There are (4) elements that comprise aneffective fall-restraintandor fall-arrestsystem:
1. Anchor Point – Must meet a minimum 3,600 lb. static load standard for fall arrest.
2. Full Body Harness – Must meet Z359.11 standard for synthetic fiber harnesses.
3. Connector – Restraint Lanyard (6’ Shock Absorbing Lanyards are strongly discouraged)
4. Self-retracting device – Appropriate Class A or Class B ANSI accredited self-retracting device.
AWP’soperate at variable heights. Inconsiderationof thisreality, FallTechdoesnotrecommend 6’ shockabsorbing
lanyardsfor use inAWP’s;the primaryreasonis that the standard6’ shockabsorbinglanyardrequiresroughly18.5’ to
safelyarresta fall utilizingan optimal overheadanchorage. The available anchoragesinAWP’snecessitate abelow d-
ringanchorage connection. Thiswouldnecessarilyaddfall clearance requirementsandinsome casespresent
conceivable scenariosthatwouldviolate OSHA1926.502d(16)(iii) requiringthatanchorages “berigged such thatan
employeecan neither free fall more than 6 feet, norcontactany lower level”.
The plannedworkingheightof aprospective AWPisthe mostimportantfactorinselectingthe correctfall abatement
methodology. FallTechrecommendsoperatorsusingAWP’satheightsof 12’ or lessutilizeafall-restraintsystemto
abate fall-hazards. AneffectiveFall RestraintSystemconsistsof ananchorage point,full-bodyharness,andasuitable
restraintlanyard. Bydesign,restraintsystemspreventusersfromexposureto anedge,therebypreventingthe
occupant’s center-of-gravityfromexceedingthe workplatform edge. Additionally,restraintlanyardskeepoccupants
secure inboomliftsandnegate forcesfromcatapultingoccupantsfromthe workplatform.
Personal Fall ArrestSystemsmayalsobe usedatworkingheightsof 12’ or less. Withinscissor-lifts,the guardrail isthe
primarymeansof passive fall-restraint;withinboom-supportedAWP’s,the bucket/guardrailisthe primarymeansof fall-
restraint. A self-retracting-lifeline(SRD) maybe usedasa backupand or redundancytothe AWP’sguardrail system. Itis
the user’sresponsibilitytoensure thatthey’vefullyevaluatedtheirspecificworkplace geometryduringthe jobsite
hazard surveyprocess;the average performance characteristicsof the specificSRDinrelationtothe respective fall
hazard isa critical elementof safe implementationof aPFAS.
An effective PFASconsistsof ananchorage point,full bodyharness,andaself-retractingdevice. Againitisimportantto
understandthatitis the employer’sresponsibilitytoensure thatthe PFASdoesnotallow the employeetocome in
contact withthe lowerlevel norcanthe anchorage be set upsuch that an employee’sfree-fall exceed6’. Inaddition,
under1915.159(b)(3) OSHA requiresself-retractingdevices, “to automatically limitfree fall distancesto 2 feet…”
Lastly,per1926.502(d)(20) OSHA requiresthatan “employershallprovidefor promptrescueof employeesin the event
of a fall or assurethatemployeesare able to rescue themselves”. AlthoughOSHA doesn’tclearlydefine “prompt
rescue”,theydorequire thata rescue iscompleted “in time to preventseriousinjury to the worker”. ANSI/ASSEgo
furtherbyrequiringthatjobsite rescue plansperZ359.4(6)(1) can effectrescue-subjectcontactwithin6minutes. Please
see Appendix(A) foradditional informationandsource texts.
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FallTech
1306 S. AlamedaStreet Compton,CA 90021, USA Tel:800.719.4619 Fax:323.752.5613
WWW.falltech.om
APPENDIX (A): Source Material & Additional Information
American National Standard Institute
1. AmericanNational StandardInstitute (ANSI/ASSE)
a. ANSIZ359 Fall ProtectionCode
b. A10.32 Fall ProtectionSystems
American National Standard Institute & Accredited Standards Committee (ASC)
2. ANSI/SIA (ElevatingWorkPlatforms)
a. ANSI/ASIA92.2-2006 thru ANSI/ASIA92.6-2006
i. A92.2 Vehicle-mountedelevating&rotatingaerial devices
ii. A92.3 Manuallypropelledelevatingaerial platforms
iii. A92.5 Boom-supportedelevatingworkplatforms
iv. A92.6 Self-propelledelevatingworkplatforms
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
1. OSHA (29 CFR 1926.452. 1926.453, 1926 Subpart (E) & relatedsubsections)
2. OSHA (29 CFR 1910.66, 1910.67, Subpart(F) & relatedsubsections)
3. OSHA (29 CFR 1910.502, 1910.503, & relatedsubsections)
4. OSHA Section5(a)(1), General Duty Clause
ANSI Compliant Rescue Planning
1. ANSI/ASSEA10.32:
a. Outlinesrequirementsfor equipmentselection,use,care & maintenance. Additionally, itoutlines
employer’sresponsibilityregardingtraininginuse,inspection,care,andannual rescue drills.
2. ANSI/ASSEZ359:
a. Outlinesstandardsregardingemployersresponsibilitytodevelopcomprehensive fall protection
program:
i. Policystatementdrafttooutline goals,guidance,&trainingcurriculum.
ii. Appointmentof CompetentPerson/ProgramAdministrator.
iii. Eliminatingorcontrollingfall hazardsthruhazardabatementmethodology.
iv. Maintainingandtrainingaroundrescue plan& procedures.
v. ProvidingadequatePPE,PFAS,alongwithpertinentknowledge &traininginitsuse andhazards
employeeislikelytoface incourse of employ.
3. MinimumRequirementsof Rescue Plan
a. Rescue Method(s):lift,ladder,etc.
b. Availabilityof rescue personnel
c. Available &effectivemeanstomake rescue contactwithin(6) minutes.
d. Documentedtraining&annual drillsinrescue procedures.
