OSHA has updated their Construction Industry Focus Four Outreach Training Packet. This training consists of lesson plans on each of the Focus Four Hazards: 1) Falls 2) Caught-In or -Between 3) Struck-By 4) Electrocution.
1) Falls - Guardrail and safety net systems are two ways to protect workers from falls on the job. If you are more than 6 feet above the lower surface, some type of fall protection must be used by your employer.
Guardrails:
- Toprails must be at least ¼ inch thick to prevent cuts and lacerations; and they must be between 39 and 45 inches from the working surface;
- If wire rope is used, it must be flagged at least every six feet with highly visible materials;
- Midrails, screens or mesh must be installed when there are no walls at least 21 inches high. Screens and mesh must extend from the toprail to the working level.
- There can be no openings more than 19 inches;
- The toprail must withstand at least 200 lbs. of force; the midrail must withstand 150 lbs. of force;
- The system must be smooth enough to protect workers from cuts and getting their clothes snagged by the rail.
- If guardrails are used around holes at points of access, like a ladderway, a gate must be used to prevent someone from falling through the hole, or be offset so that a person cannot walk directly into the hole.
- The nets must be as close as practicable under the
working surface, but never more than 30 feet below; - The safety net must be inspected every week for
damage; - Each net must have a border rope with a minimum
strength of 5,000 lbs.; - The safety net must extend outward a sufficient
distance, depending on how far the net is from the
working surface (OSHA has a formula to follow); - The safety net must absorb the force of a 400-pound bag of sand dropping
on to the net ("the drop test"); - Items in the net that could be dangerous must be removed as soon as
possible.