Personal Fall Arrest
Systems
Inspection and
Maintenance
OSHA
REGULATION
CFR 1926.502-503
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill [Link]
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Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
PFAS
(Personal Fall Arrest System)
A system used to protect an employee in a
fall from a working level.
It consists of an anchorage, connectors, body
harness and may include a lanyard,
deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable
combinations of these.
As of January 1, 1998 the use of a body belt
for fall arrest is prohibited!
Employers must plan the rescue of the worker.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Justification
If equipment isn’t inspected before each
use, defects not identified could cause
failure of the system in the event of a fall.
Serious injury or death may occur when
wearing faulty personal fall arrest systems
which fail in the event of a fall.
New quarterly inspection report to be
submitted to the EHS office.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Inspection
To maintain service life and ensure
performance capabilities.
Inspect before and after each use.
Take out of service any defective
conditions found.
Equipment may not be modified in anyway.
Best practice is to store out of light, and
hanging from the Dee-ring.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Inspection: Harness
Examine all nylon webbing
for burn marks, torn, frayed,
broken fibers, pulled
stitches or frayed edges.
No damage from acid or
other corrosives.
Dee-ring - no wear, pits,
deterioration, deformation
or cracks.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Inspection cont.
Buckles, not deformed or
cracked and operate
correctly.
Tongue straps, no excessive
wear
All Grommets (if present),
secure and not deformed
from abuse or a fall.
No additional punched holes.
Rivets tight not deformed.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Inspection - Lanyard or
lifeline
No Cuts, burns, abrasion,
kinks, knots, broken stitches.
Check Snap-hooks for, hook,
locks, and eye distortion.
Carabiner for excessive
wear, distortion and lock
operation.
All locking mechanisms seat
and lock securely.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Lanyard cont..
No visible “WARNING
TAG” deployed.
Shock Absorber no
damage, pay close
attention to where it
attaches to the lanyard.
Point of attachment to
snap-hook free of
defects.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Retractable Lanyard
Check
– outer casing no damage
– nuts/rivets tight
– cable ends securely crimped, eye and rubber stop in place
– entire length of cable/strap undamaged and retracts freely
– Verify locking mechanism operates correctly by pulling
sharply on the cable/strap
– If manufacturer recommends, return for scheduled
inspection
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Inspection Snap-hooks
No hook and eye distortion.
No cracks, pitted surfaces or corrosion.
Keeper latch
– not bent, distorted or obstructed
– seats into nose of the hook without binding
– spring securely closes
– test locking mechanism to verify it locks
properly
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Rescue
Never work alone.
Always pre-plan how you will
rescue someone in the event
of a fall.
You may survive a fall but will
not survive extended period of
time suspended in your
PFAS.
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
RESCUE
Arresting forces are
on thighs, pelvis,
waist, chest and
shoulders
Harness rated for
1800 pounds of
arresting forces
Tolerable
suspension time of
15 minutes
Submitted by Billy Gueringer of Cargill
Lanyard
Before Fall
Shock
Absorber
1.) Free Fall Distance.
1. Limited to 6’
2.)Total Fall Distance.
Working
Free Fall The sum of the fall
Surface
2.
distance and deceleration
distance.
Deceleration
3.) Deceleration distance.
(Shock Must not exceed 3.5’.
3. Absorber
Activation)
Closest
Object in
Fall Path
Clearance
Before Fall After Fall
Anchor
6’ length of
lanyard
3 1/2’ deceleration
Fall Clearance Calculation distance
6ft. Lanyard length
6ft. Height of worker
31/2 ft. Extension of
6’ height of worker
shock absorber
3 ft. Safety Factor
18 1/2 ft. Minimum
recommended fall clearance. 3’ safety factor
Swing Fall Hazard
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