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Acknowledgments
The WorkCover Authority wishes to thank all members of the tri-partite working party who were involved in the development of the Code, and the many other who contributed to the process.
Foreword
This Industry Code of Practice has been produced by the WorkCover Authority of NSW to provide employers, self employed persons and employees with practical advice on safety line systems. This Code has been developed by a tri-partite industry working party and has involved extensive consultation with industry and other special interest groups. General Manager, WorkCover Authority of NSW
1. Introduction
1.1 Citation
This Code of Practice may be cited as the Code of Practice, for safety line systems.
1.2 Purpose
This Code of Practice sets out guidelines for work practices and protective measures when using safety line systems for construction work.
1.3 Scope
This Code covers the planning, preparation, and conduct of work for the installation and use of safety line systems.
1.4 Commencement
This Code of Practice commences on 19 June 1995
1.5 Authority
This Code of practice is approved as an Industry Code of Practice pursuant to Section 44A of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983, by the Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment on the recommendation of the WorkCover Authority of N.S.W.
(i)
(ii) guard rails or safety screens can be installed when working at heights is required; or (iii) if (i) or (ii) above are not practicable, a safety line system or other fall arrest system, can be installed. Matters to be considered when designing for the inclusion of a safety lines system are: Provision of anchorage points (See anchorages Item 3.5) for static lines capable of supporting imposed loads. Safe access to and from anchorage points.
(b) Maintenance The design of a building or structure should ensure that in places where maintenance has to be done at height: (i) safe access to maintenance points is provided;
(ii) barriers or hand rails are provided; or (iii) a safety line system, or other fall arrest system, which allows the worker to remain attached to the safety line at all times, is or can be installed.
Contractors working on electricity supply and distribution industry projects should refer to the Electricity (Workers Safety) Regulation 1992. (e) Training of personnel.
2.4 Preparation
The principal contractor and the contractor installing and/or using the safety line system must ensure that the workplace, and access to and from the workplace are safe before work commences, including assessment of weather conditions. The contractor installing and/or using the safety line system should ensure, before work commences, the organising of: (a) Fall arrest or restraint equipment. (b) Safe access/workplace suitability (c) Personal protective equipment (d) Formulation of specific instructions for the workers. (e) Means of rescuing persons from safety harnesses following arrested falls.
Information provided to the system installer or user should include details of: the number of persons that can be on the line at any one time; whether or not energy absorbing lanyards are required; and any other restrictions on the use of the system.
For permanent installations any restrictions on the use of the system should be displayed at the access points to the system. (b) Single span specifications The following system specification may be used instead of having to design a system for single spans of 4 to 6 meters, where no more than 2 people are on the line at any one time, and all persons are using lanyards with energy absorbers rated at 6 kN or less. Cable - 10mm diameter (minimum) flexible steel wire rope Sag - approximately 50mm per meter, ie. 6m span = 300mm sag Anchorage - capable of supporting an imposed load of 40kN. Tensioning turnbuckles - one tonne (minimum) working load limit (WLL).
Figure 1
(c) Multiple-span specification The specification for a multi-span system is the same as a single span system with the following exceptions: Sag for 2-3 continuous spans - approximately 30mm per meter ie. 6m spans = 180mm sag Sag for 4 or more spans - no minimum sag required but line should not be over tensioned.
Where a line is not free to slide through a corner support or intermediate support of a multiple span the support should be regarded as an end anchorage. When used in this way they should be capable of supporting an imposed load of 40kN.
Figure 2
Figure 3 Lines and fittings may be secured directly to anchorage points with "D" or bow shackles of a minimum size of 12mm or having a capacity not less than 2 tonne. The pin of the shackle should be moused (lashed) to the shackle. (See Figure 4.)
Figure 4
(ii) Chemical and friction type anchors Chemical or friction type anchorages should be PROOF TESTED in tension to at least one third of the design load prior to use. Collared eye bolts should used. All anchorages should be visually checked prior to use. (iii) Electrical safety Electrical equipment used in the installation of anchorages should comply with the N.S.W Code of Practice for Electrical Practices for Construction Work.
Figure 5
Figure 6 (b) There should be a minimum of slack in the lanyard between the person and attachment to the anchorage. The length of the lanyard should restrict the fall distance to a maximum of 1.8 meters. (i) Where an anchorage point is above the harness connection point a 1.8m lanyard will achieve this result.
(ii) Where the anchorage point is below the harness connection point a shorter lanyard or other means of restricting the fall distance may be required. (c) Use lanyards with a minimum tensile strength of 15 kN complying with AS1891.1, Industrial Safety Belts and Harnesses. (d) USE SNAP HOOKS OR OTHER CONNECTORS WITH A LOCKING DEVICE. (e) DO NOT USE LANYARDS IN CONNECTION WITH INERTIA REELS. (f) Workers using safety harnesses should not work alone. In the event of a fall it is vital that a worker be rescued as soon as possible. This is necessary to prevent further injury being caused by the harness restricting blood flow.
(g) Energy absorbers can be used as part of the lanyard to reduce injuries caused by a fall (h) Equipment used with static lines should be compatible with the original system specification eg. manufactured travellers or energy absorbing lanyards may be required.
(a) Inertia reel systems can be used to arrest falls where workers are required to carry out their work near an unprotected edge (See Figure 7). They should comply with AS1891.3, Industrial Fall-arrest Systems and Devices. (b) Inertia reels are not designed for continuous support but become effective in the event of a fall. They should not be used as working supports by locking the system and allowing it to support the user during normal work. Inertia reels may be less effective for certain applications, e.g. stopping a person falling down an inclined surface. (c) Inertial reels may be connected to a static line with a snap hook fitted with a locking device.
Figure 7 The most suitable application with the use of inertia reel system
(c) To eliminate the pendulum effect: Place the inertia reel anchorage point perpendicular to the position of the line at the perimeter edge. A mobile anchorage helps here. Another method is to use a secondary anchorage point and lanyard or lifeline (see Figure 10).
Figure 8 Pendulum effect: Following an arrested fall at this extreme diagonal, the inertia line moves back along the roof, dropping the worker dangerously down to the ground
Figure 9 Application of inertia reels (d) Swing back In an arrested outward fall, particularly from a perimeter edge, a person will swing back into the building structure and collide with any obstructions in the path of the swing (See Figure 9). If this situation could arise, the use of independent fall-arrest system should be reassessed.
Figure 10 Use of a secondary anchorage and lanyard or lifeline removes or reduces the pendulum effect
4.1 Footwear
To reduce the risk of falls resulting from slips suitable safety shoes with a nonslip tread pattern sole are recommended for use.
4.4 Clothing
(a) Clothing should be comfortable in all positions of standing, bending, and crouching and be suitable for the work being done in the prevailing weather conditions. (b) Loose clothing or equipment which may snag or create a trip hazard should be avoided. (c) If short sleeved shirts and shorts are worn in very hot weather, the exposed parts of the body should be protected by a sunscreen with a SPF rating of 15+.
5.2 Supervision
Supervision should: (a) Ensure that only employees that have received training and instruction in relation to the work task are authorised to carry out the work. (b) Ensure that adequate occupational health and safety management systems are in place and functional to ensure that the safe work practices that have been adopted are adhered to. This should include the use of fall protection systems and PPE.
6. Legal Requirements
6.1 Employers "Duty of Care" responsibilities
Installation and maintenance of fall-arrest systems requires compliance with the Acts and Regulations relating to occupational health and safety. Compliance applies to work practices, equipment and qualifications of workers. If any uncertainty exists, inquiries should be made at the planning stage to the WorkCover Authority of N.S.W. Standards and Codes which offer practical guidance on health and safety in fall-arrest systems of work are listed in Section 7 . However these are subject to change and checks should be made with the WorkCover Authority of N.S.W.
7.3 Standards
AS1067 Sunglasses and Spectacles - Non Prescription Types AS1319 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment AS1337 Eye Protectors for Industrial Applications AS1891.1 Industrial Safety Belts and Harnesses AS1891.3 Industrial Fall-arrest Systems and Devices AS2317 Collared Eye Bolts AS2319 Rigging Screws and Turnbuckles AS2626 Industrial Safety Belts and Harnesses Selection, Use and Maintenance
Definitions
"Anchorage - " is the means for attaching a lanyard, lifeline or other components to a secure point. "Construction Work - " is work in constructing, erecting, installing, adding to, altering, repairing, equipping, finishing, painting, cleaning, signwriting, sheathing, spraying, dismantling, or demolishing or any other prescribe operations that is done in relation to a building or structure. "Drop lines - " are vertical lifelines. "Energy absorber (deceleration device) - " reduces the shock to the body by absorbing some of the fall energy. "Fall-arrester - " is a mechanical device that arrests a fall by locking onto the lifeline but at the other times allows freedom of movement. "Type 1 Rope grab fall arresters "
"Type 1 Rope grab fall arresters " reduce the potential free fall distance and may absorb much of the energy of a fall while allowing mobility along the lifeline. The rope grab can be either manually moved along the lifeline and locked on place, or it can be an automatic device. "Type 2 An inertia reel " is a retractable lifeline that has a fall-arrester built into the feeding mechanism of the line. It consists of a drum connected to a body containment device by wire rope, nylon webbing or fibre rope. "Fall-arrest system - " is any device designed to minimise the length and severity of a fall. "Fall distance - " is determined by the travel distance measured from the point of connection to the body harness when the user is in a standing position to the point where the lanyard is taut or straight in a fallen position. "Harnesses - Full Body Harnesses " are designed to contain the body of a falling worker and to distribute forces resulting from an arrested fall to minimise the likelihood of injury. (refer also AS1891.1) "Individual Fall-arrest Systems (IFAS) - " are designed to arrest an accident fall and consist of some or all of the following: Anchorage Lifeline Fall-arrester Lanyard Shock absorber Retractable lifeline Static lifeline
"Lanyard - " is a flexible line, rope or strap used to connect the harness of a fall safety system to an anchorage or lifeline. "Lifeline - " is a heavy line used to transfer an anchorage site to a more convenient or secure site while providing horizontal or vertical freedom of movement. "Principal contractor - " The owner or a person contracted by the owner to carry out the work. "Snap hook - " is a self closing hook with a keeper latch that will automatically close and remain closed until manually opened. "Static line - " is a horizontal lifeline attached to two (2) or more anchorage points. ISBN 073105102 5