A2234Q - INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN, FALL PROTECTION - FINAL.PDF

MARICOPA COUNTY INTERNAL POLICY
Policy Number: A2234q
Policy Title:
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN: Current Adoption MM-DD-YYYY
Date:
FALL PROTECTION PLAN
Current
MM-DD-YYYY
Implementation Date:
Board Agenda
Approved by: C-##-##-###-#-##
Number:
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Original Adoption
5-20-2015
Date:
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to protect employees from injuries resulting from falls. Where possible,
fall prevention measures will be the primary means of protecting employees and requires compliance
with 29 CFR 1926 subpart M and 1910.66.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. It is the responsibility of management and supervisors to implement this Fall Protection Plan.
Continual observational safety checks made by a competent person, of work operations and the
enforcement of County safety policies and procedures shall be regularly enforced. Management
and supervisors are responsible for correcting any unsafe practices or conditions immediately.
B. It is the employee’s responsibility to immediately report any unsafe or hazardous conditions that
may cause injury to themselves or other employees. Each affected employee shall be trained in
proper work procedures and will strictly adhere to them except when doing so would expose the
employee to a greater hazard. If, in the employee’s opinion, this is the case, the employee shall
notify their department’s competent person and have their concerns addressed before
proceeding.
III. FALL PROTECTION POLICY
A. The following locations or activities must have appropriate fall protection in place:
1. Walk ways and ramps
2. Open sides and edges
3. Holes
4. Concrete forms and installed rebar
5. Excavations
6. Working at heights
7. Bricklaying
8. Aerial lift operations
9. Maintenance of lights
10. Other locations or activities as required
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Policy Title: Policy Number: A2234q
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN:
Current Adoption
FALL PROTECTION PLAN MM-DD-YYYY
Date:
B. Fall Protection Procedures:
1. Employees shall use a fixed rail protection system whenever possible.
2. Employees shall inspect the fall protection system prior to each use.
3. When climbing a ladder three points of contact must be maintained: two hands and a foot or
two feet and a hand.
4. Employee shall not carry bulky or heavy objects while climbing.
5. Employees shall use a towline or tool belt to carry objects.
6. Employees who perform job duties in aerial/scissor lifts shall use a full body harness with the
appropriate lanyard.
C. Employee Training
The County shall provide a training program for each employee exposed to fall hazards. The
program shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each
employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards. All training shall
be maintained in the County training database, as appropriate.
D. Inspection Of Job Sites
While ADOSH standards specifically exclude inspections of roofs from fall protection standards,
inspectors should receive awareness level fall protection training. This training shall include
training in hazard identification, environmental factors, engineering controls and types of fall
protection systems.
E. Controlled Access Zones
1. Workers shall be protected through limited access to high hazard locations. Before any fall
protection systems are used as part of the job site work plan, a Controlled Access Zone
(CAZ) shall be clearly defined by a competent person as an area where a recognized hazard
exists. The competent person shall demarcate the CAZ through signs, wires, tapes, ropes or
chains.
2. The following steps shall be taken to ensure that the CAZ is clearly marked or controlled by a
competent person:
a. All access to the CAZ must be restricted to authorized entrants.
b. All workers who are permitted in the CAZ shall be listed in the appropriate sections of the
job site work plan.
c. A competent person shall ensure that all protective elements of the CAZ are implemented
prior to the beginning of work.
F. Enforcement
Constant awareness of fall hazards and compliance with all safety rules are considered
conditions of employment. Job site supervisors reserve the right to issue corrective actions for
failure to follow safety rules.
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Policy Title: Policy Number: A2234q
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN:
Current Adoption
FALL PROTECTION PLAN MM-DD-YYYY
Date:
G. Fall Protection Response
1. Per OSHA 1926.502(d)(20) - In the event of a fall where an employee is suspended by a fall
arrest system, prompt rescue is required. On-site employees shall:
a. Call 911 to summon first responders.
b. Remain in verbal and/or physical contact with the suspended employee at all times.
c. Encourage the suspended employee to pump their legs to activate muscles to reduce
venous pooling.
d. Keep in contact with first responders to orient them to the rescue site.
e. Clear areas where the first responders will need access to the incident site.
2. When applicable, an employee may rely on a self-rescue device after an arrested fall and not
be required to use additional fall protection.
a. An employee using a rope ladder, such as a Jacob’s ladder, does not require additional
fall protection.
b. An employee using a descent control device or a ladder to effect self-rescue, may not be
able to remain connected to the original fall protection due to restriction in downward
movement.
3. An employee using an ascender to return to a protected station at height must remain
connected to the original fall protection, such as a lanyard, because the employee would not
have their upward movement restricted by its presence. Once ascension is complete,
however, it is critical that the employee return to the ground as soon as safely possible
because the employee’s fall protection equipment is no longer acceptable for use as fall
protection.
4. Though the word “prompt” is not defined by OSHA its use still requires that rescues be
performed quickly so as to prevent serious injury to the employee. The effects of suspension
trauma can occur in less than 30 minutes and can be fatal.
5. Please note that OSHA 1926.502 does not require the preparation of a written rescue plan or
the holding of a preplanning event.
H. Incident Investigations
All incidents that result in injury to workers, regardless of their nature, shall be investigated by the
job-site supervisor and reported to Risk Management. The supervisor shall also complete an
online claim form as soon as possible. In the event of an employee fall, this plan shall be
reviewed to determine if additional practices, procedures or training need to be implemented to
prevent similar incidents from occurring. (See County Policy A2218: Reporting of Industry Injury
and Illness).
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Policy Title: Policy Number: A2234q
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PLAN:
Current Adoption
FALL PROTECTION PLAN MM-DD-YYYY
Date:
Revision History
Version Revision Date Description of Revision
1 5-20-2015 Initial version (C-49-15-061-6-00)
2 MM-DD-YYYY Revised by adding Section G as requested by Risk Management (C-##-##-
###-#-##).
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