Current through Vol. 24-16, September 15, 2024
Rule 2910.
(1)
Prior to employees being exposed to elevations above 6 feet, the employer shall
ensure that 100% fall protection systems compatible with the tasks assigned are
provided, used, and maintained as required in this rule.
(2) These rules shall not require the
retrofitting of communication towers provided that employees who are exposed to
fall hazards above 6 feet while performing work on communication towers are
protected from such hazards by means of a 100% fall protection
system.
(3) In addition to the
criteria for pre-climb planning and inspection included in subrule (8) of this
rule, all of the following shall occur prior to employees climbing the tower at
heights above 6 feet:
(a) All projects
requiring climbing shall be planned by a competent person.
(b) All climbing facilities shall be visually
inspected daily at the tower base by a competent person for rust, corrosion,
deterioration, or other hazards on the climbing facilities that could lead to
death or injury of an employee in the performance of their duties.
Additionally, the climbing facilities shall be visually inspected for these
items as the employees ascend to the elevation point where work is being
performed. If any such hazard is identified during this inspection, employees
shall not use the climbing facility until such hazards are abated.
(c) A competent person shall ensure that all
fall protection equipment is inspected prior to each use for wear, damage,
defect, or other deterioration by employees who have been trained in accordance
with
R
408.42916. Defective equipment shall be identified and
tagged as defective and immediately removed from service.
(d) Components of a fall protection system
and the fall protection equipment utilized by employees shall be compatible
with one another and shall be used in accordance with construction safety
standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d) personal fall arrest
systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502.
(e) The planning and inspections shall be
performed and documented. The documentation shall be maintained on-site while
work is being performed. The documentation shall include the date of the
planning and inspection, the name of the competent person performing the
planning and inspection, and the site location.
(4) An employer shall comply with the
requirements of subrule (1) of this rule in 1 of the following ways:
(a) Permit employees to use the 100% fall
protection systems described in subrules (5) to (8) of this rule.
(b) If the fall protection systems described
in subrules (5) to (8) of this rule are not present, the employer shall not
permit employees to climb the tower at heights above 6 feet unless at least 1
of the following conditions is met:
(i) An
alternative means of 100% fall protection is used that is at least as effective
as the fall protection systems described in subrules (5) to (8) of this
rule.
(ii) An alternative means of
access to the work area is used such as an aerial lift or elevated work
platform.
(iii) The employer can
demonstrate that the requirements for a fall protection plan under subrule
(4)(c) of this rule have been met.
(c) When employees are working on a structure
where no adequate tie-off anchorage points exist, the fall protection systems
described in subrule
(4)
(a)and
(b) of this rule are not feasible or create a
greater hazard, and the work cannot be completed utilizing an alternative means
of access to the work area such as an aerial lift or elevated work platform,
then an employer shall comply with construction safety standard part 45. fall
protection, R 408.44501 and R 408.44502, and ensure all of the following:
(i) That each employee under the fall
protection plan has been trained as an authorized climber.
(ii) That the fall protection plan shall be
made available and communicated to exposed employees prior to the employees
beginning work, and such communication shall be documented by the
employer.
(iii) That the fall
protection plan shall identify each location on the tower/structure where fall
protection methods as described in subrule (4)(a) and (b) of this rule cannot
be used. As soon as adequate tie-off anchorage points or other fall protection
systems can be established, the employer shall use any of the fall protection
systems described in subrule (4)(a) and (b) of this rule.
(5) Guardrail systems and their
components that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall protection shall
conform to the criteria in construction safety standard part 45. fall
protection, being CFR 1926.502(b) guardrail systems, adopted by reference in R
408.44501 and R 408.44502.
(6)
Personal fall arrest systems and their components that are used by employees as
a means of 100% fall protection shall conform to the criteria in construction
safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d) personal fall
arrest systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. The
employer shall ensure that the attachment points to the structure, when used by
employees as an anchorage as part of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), are
designed to meet the requirements of an approved anchorage in accordance with
construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d)
personal fall arrest systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R
408.44502.
(7) Positioning device
systems and their components that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall
protection shall conform to the criteria in construction safety standard part
45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(e) positioning device systems, adopted
by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502.
(8) In addition to the applicable criteria in
construction safety standard part 11. fixed and portable ladders,
R
408.41101 to
R
408.41140 and part 21. guarding of walking and working
areas,
R
408.42101 to
R
408.42160, ladder safety systems and related support
systems for fixed ladders that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall
protection shall conform to all of the following criteria:
(a) Prior to climbing the structure, a
competent person shall ensure that the ladder safety system has been inspected
for proper operation and that all components used with the ladder safety system
are compatible.
(b) To perform an
inspection required by subrule (8)(a) of this rule, employees shall do all of
the following:
(i) Approach the ladder at the
base and connect to the functional safety climb system.
(ii) Attach to the base of the fall arrest
system. If the attachment point is above 6 feet, then 100% fall protection
shall be used. The 100% fall protection shall be attached to an alternate
approved anchorage point.
(iii)
Forcibly engage the device without letting go of the ladder.
(iv) If the device does not function
properly, employees shall not use the device until it functions
properly.
(c) If a
ladder is obstructed, inhibiting the effective use of the ladder safety system,
an alternative means of 100% fall protection shall be used that is at least as
effective as the types of fall protection described by this rule.
