WAC 296-155-24510   Fall restraint, fall arrest systems.  When employees are exposed to a hazard of falling from a location ten 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.




     (1) Fall restraint protection shall consist of:

     (a) Standard guardrails as described in chapter 296-155 WAC, Part K.

     (b) Safety belts and/or harness attached to securely rigged restraint lines.

     (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 manufacturer's 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 296-155-24520 respectively are prohibited on surfaces exceeding a 4 in 12 pitch, and on any surface whose dimensions are less than forty-five 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 minimum 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 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 thirty 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 level 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . More than 5 feet up to 10 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . More than 10 feet . . . . . . . . . . . .	8 feet 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 forty-two 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 a 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.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and[49.17].050 . 00-14-058, § 296-155-24510, filed 7/3/00, effective 10/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040,[49.17.]050 and [49.17.]060. 96-24-051, § 296-155-24510, filed 11/27/96, effective 2/1/97. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 95-10-016, § 296-155-24510, filed 4/25/95, effective 10/1/95; 95-04-007, § 296-155-24510, filed 1/18/95, effective 3/1/95; 93-19-142 (Order 93-04), § 296-155-24510, filed 9/22/93, effective 11/1/93; 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-155-24510, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91; 91-03-044 (Order 90-18), § 296-155-24510, filed 1/10/91, effective 2/12/91.]