Patrick W. Saltmarsh Tim Hunt, CHST Dir. of Envt’l, Safety Health and Safety Corporate Director W. J. L. Derenzo French Excavating Corp. Companies
The ABC s of Fall Protection One of the ways to protect yourself from a fall is by using a personal fall arrest system, which consists of three main components; the anchor point, the body support, and the connecting devices. The three components are often referred to as the ABCs of Fall Protection.
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he anchor point is commonly called the tieoff point. It is the secure point of attachment to stop a fall. The anchor point could be a structural member, or a component engineered specifically for fall protection. The anchor is what the worker attaches to and provides the foundational strength for the fall arrest system. The anchor point must be able to support the intended loads. OSHA states that anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds. Anchor Points
The body support is typically a full-body harness. The harness is designed to distribute the forces of a fall over the upper thighs, pelvis, chest, and shoulders. The body harness provides a connection point to the worker in the personal fall arrest system. When properly worn, a full body harness will keep the worker upright in the event of a fall. When a full body harness is properly worn, the D-ring is in the middle of the worker’s back, the leg straps are tight and the chest strap is secured at the middle of the chest level. One way to check the leg straps to see if they are tight enough is the finger test. That is when the worker places their hand flat on their leg and can only fit their fingers underneath the straps. continued on page 52 Body Support
FEBRUARY, 2022
“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”
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