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Hey Luke,

I hear you’re the fall protection expert who’s in the know. Here’s my question for you:
Can I install the anchor points over my roof shingles?

Sincerely,
Ted

This is a common question I get asked all the time and here’s  the answer in a nutshell:

You must secure the anchor directly to the surface of what it is approved for.

Now here’s the reason why:  It all goes back to when manufacturers test the anchors. Manufacturers do their pull out tests on what they approve it for. For example, if they approve their anchor for 3/4″ plywood. What they’re going to do is attach the anchor directly to the Plywood and do the testing and see if it holds up. (I am just simplifying what actually goes on) They approve it.  So now, if you take and put a shingle in between the anchor and the plywood you are changing the parameters and creating a totally different test because the shingle creates a gap that can change the results. Therefore it is not approved to do this in the field.

Why don’t they test it with shingles and see if it holds up? Great questions - it’s because there are so many different roofing materials out there that would make it near impossible to test for everyone. And there is a huge liability by allowing the workers to install these in the field this way - too many different variables means too many risks in these situations.

Technorati Tags: anchor points, fall protection, fall safety advice

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Safety Articles by Luke Allsage. Luke Allsage is our resident fall protection expert, he knows what you need, where to put it, and how much it can hold. In the rare cases he doesn't know something, he knows where to find it.

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Wearing his harness. Safe - right?

Hmmmm, lets see where the anchor point is....

I have been going through photos people have sent in to me or great photos that photographers have allowed me to share on this site. I am re-posting my favorites over the next couple months.

The ones I am sharing today are from Kevin (an Aussie transplant working in China) who took these photos of the ac repair men. Notice from the first photo how high up they are and then check out the other photo. Notice any problems?

Secure anchor points are the most critical component when using fall arrest equipment.

Technorati Tags: fall harness equipment, workplace safety

Posted in Fall Protection Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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In August of 2009 a masonry worker for a Pennsylvania construction company died after falling 13 feet from the roof of the building he was working on.  A fellow co-worker said they were pulling cables to the roof and they weren’t wearing a fall harness because they, “were only working on the roof of the Romanesque building.”

Today OSHA has proposed $70,000 in fines (for one willful violation), citing a failure to protect workers from falls. The company was also cited for the same violation in 2007 but failed to remedy the situation. OSHA defines a willful violation as, “one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.” and gives the company, “15 days to comply, request a conference with OSHA officials, or contest the ruling and fine.”

Detailed information about fall hazards and safeguards is available on OSHA’s Web site at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html.

Technorati Tags: fall protection harnesses, workplace accidents, workplace safety

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Fall Protection News, Safety Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Dear Luke,
I’m using a harness that I’ve had stored in the barn for the past decade. It was used infrequently but wasn’t stored super great. When is it time to replace a harness? What’s its shelf life?
Wondering

This question is often asked. I’ve seen harness that needed to be disposed after one year and others that are in great condition after a decade. Here’s what you need to know:

Most fall protection companies use the ANSI standard and the five year life as a guideline. This is only a guideline. You must inspect your harness and follow the maintenance guidelines that go with the harness. Do you see damage? Has it been left out in the elements? Has it been exposed to chemicals or intense heat? How it’s taken care of may shorten it’s life. Good care and maintenance may extend it (store at room temperature away from chemicals, moisture, and ultra-violet light). Your harness and lanyards should have instructions for their use, inspection and cleaning. Check it out.

Fall protection companies require that, “all fall protection products to be visually inspected prior to use and regularly inspected by a ‘Competent Person’, such as defined by OSHA or CSA.”

Technorati Tags: fall harness, fall protection question

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Safety Articles by Luke Allsage. Luke Allsage is our resident fall protection expert, he knows what you need, where to put it, and how much it can hold. In the rare cases he doesn't know something, he knows where to find it.

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Earlier this month OSHA released news about New Place Carpentry who is facing new fines in the amount of $308,500. In the past six years they have been cited eight times by OSHA for “willful and repeat fall hazards.” These hazards included lack of fall protection and unsafe work involving scaffolding. OSHA’s New England regional administrator, Marthe Kent, stated that the huge fines proposed were to “…reflect the gravity of these hazards and this employer’s ongoing refusal to comply with basic, commonsense, and legally required protections for its workers.”

There are costs (fines, injuries, lives) to not following rules. Interestingly, the blogger chat about this company was mostly about short cuts. Shorts cuts in building and short cuts in protecting employees. It will be interesting to see what happens.**

**All companies, after receiving a citation and proposed penalties, have 15 business days to either comply, meet with OSHA or contest the findings.

Technorati Tags: osha fines, osha violations

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Safety Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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What is the reason for the D-ring having to be situated between your shoulder blades?

In a nutshell, that is where your body best takes the load in a free fall without doing internal damage. Many people do not understand that just because a harness has d-rings on the side you can never be solely attached to those -they are used for positioning. If you did take a fall while just being connected to one of those rings, it could potentially snap your back. Ouch.

Technorati Tags: d-rings, fall protection questions

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Safety Articles by Luke Allsage. Luke Allsage is our resident fall protection expert, he knows what you need, where to put it, and how much it can hold. In the rare cases he doesn't know something, he knows where to find it.

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Whenever I hear about free safety items on the web I always take note.  A member of the Safety Community I belong to shared this site, called Tool Box Topics.  The site provides resources for safety talks. For ideas on how to use them, check out this page.

Let us know if it’s useful or about your favorite free resources. We like to pass them on.
Be Safe!

Technorati Tags: workplace safety, workplace safety resources, workplace training resources

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Fall Protection News, Safety Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Did you know that MSHA offers free Education and Training resources? Topics include eye protection, mining safety, hazard recognition, first aid training, and tie-off fall protection rules are only a few of the many listed.

If you’re interested in details then check out the link (see below)and read the synopsis or watch short clips of the videos. To get the safety training video from their library there is a contact number where you order what you want.

Snug Harness, a fall protection safety company, also offers safety training videos for free. You only pay for shipping (under $4.00 I believe) and they will send you a DVD that you can keep. Currently they have two training videos listed, Rescue and Retrieval and ABC’s of Fall Protection. And as always, they add their own brand of spice to their videos.

If you could request a certain type of training video, what would it be?

MSHA resources: www.msha.gov/Streaming/SafetyHealthClips.asp

Technorati Tags: fall protection DVDs, fall protection training, MSHA, workplace safety training

Posted in Fall Protection Articles, Fall Protection Videos by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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So, you’re thinking about a horizontal lifeline system, but you don’t know what the hell you’re looking for.  Well, fear not my friends.  First off let me explain a horizontal lifeline system…

Basically a horizontal lifeline stretches from “point A” to “point B” across the length of a roof.  The beauty of a system like this is that workers can attach their lanyard, retractable, etc… to the rope or cable anywhere across the length of the roof without moving their anchor.

Now, let’s take a look at two basic systems from Guardian.  Guardian offers both a cable and rope version at 100 ft.  Both systems support two workers and include everything you’d need to set up your lifeline.  The cable lifeline system is obviously more durable, but with that durability comes weight.  The rope lifeline system is much lighter, but wouldn’t be recommended with welding applications.

Another option comes from SafeWaze, who offers a two man cable and rope system with distances ranging from 30 to 100 ft. long.  And don’t forget that you can use some anchors to create your own lifeline system, such as the CB anchors and the Beamguard.

Hopefully, this quick primer gives you the information you need to get started and thinking about building a horizontal lifeline system of your own.

Technorati Tags: cable lifelines, horizontal lifelines, lifeline systems, rope lifelines

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Due to the increase of infrastructure construction, where fall protection and welding often meet, I thought I’d showcase a few welding fall protection products on the market.

Anchor: Guardian Beamer 2000 - The metal that makes up this anchor is resistant to welding splatter and fits over I and H beams.

Retractable: Go with any cable retractable in the work of welding.  Stay away from Web retractables and lanyards (unless otherwise noted to work with welding applications.

Harness: Safewaze Saturn Welding Harness - This little dynamo is made from Nomex and resists damage from splatter and char up to 700 degrees.  It was made specifically for Welders and the price is way better than Guardian’s Kevlar option.

So there you have it.  Also don’t forget to check out or recent article on welding safety glasses….

Technorati Tags: beamer 2000, fall protection, welding fall protection

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