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Appendix
F
Fall Protection & Climbing
Safety Program
General safety issues
Safe Climbing Inspection
Site and climb safety equipment
Equipment Inspection
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Connecting Devices
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Use of your Shock- absorbing Lanyard
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Positioning Equipment
Climbing the Structure
RF Issues
Communications
Environmental Issues
Personnel Issues
General Safety Issues
Beware of poison ivy, oak and sumac,
poisonous insects and snakes. Pay attention to the terrain at
the worksite. (Mud holes, rocks, animal holes, etc.). Beware of
trees and guy wires when rigging or using cranes. Make sure any
holes, trenches and gullies are clearly marked and barricaded. Beware
of tree stumps and rocks when you are working out at the guy anchors. Make
sure the areas where excavating equipment and cranes are working are
identified and use caution when working around them. Essential
to a safe worksite is keeping the worksite clean. Excess materials
and equipment should be organized respective areas.
Safe Climbing Inspection
- A safe climb begins with a tower and site
inspection.
- Is the tower snaking?
- Is their rust on structural members?
- Are the base weep holes free of debris and rust?
- Is the tower in an overloaded situation (to many antenna
and lines)?
- Is the tower properly grounded?
- Conduct a basic visual inspection of the tower foundation. Look
for situations that could impact the structural integrity of the
tower base such as vegetation coming through the concrete, large
cracks, rust spots, rusty or deteriorated bolts, etc.
- Inspect the anchor heads & guys. Look at their overall condition
using binoculars, and other tools as needed to answers questions
such as:
- Are their trees growing through the guy wires?
- Are the guy wires free of rust and corrosion?
- Do the guy wires have proper tension?
- Do the guy wires have performs and ice clips?
- Is there proper rigging with safety loops and grounding?
- Is there rust and corrosion on performs?
- What are the conditions of thimbles and turnbuckles?
- Is their adequate turnout on the turnbuckles:
- What is the condition of shackles, clevises, etc?
- What is the condition of the anchor?
- Is there undergrowth growing through the anchor or
attachment devices?
- Inspect the climbing devices. Most towers have some sort
of climbing device (ladder, pegs, etc). Look and check:
- Overall condition of the ladder or pegs.
- For missing or bent pegs.
- For moisture (ice, snow, frost, rain) on pegs or ladder,
especially if they are painted.
- For any lines, antennas and mounts in your climbing path.
- The type and condition of the safe-climb device (if there
is one)
- Finally visually inspect the tower lighting cables, conduits
and grounding.
Site and Climb Safety
Equipment
- Elements of site safety equipment that need
to be on site and inspected include:
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Hard hats
- Hearing protection (Ear plugs)
- Eye protection
- RF meters
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)
- Body harness
- Connecting devices
- Shock absorbing lanyards
- Positioning equipment
- Equipment Inspection
- The most important equipment is the climbing
safety equipment known as personal fall arrest systems or
by the initials PFAS. It is important to recognize
the need for proper organization of work equipment.
- The climbers' body harnesses should fit snug
but comfortably. Do not leave leg straps loose. The
back D-ring needs to be between the shoulder blades. Not
in the middle of the back and not at the back of the neck. The
positioning belt should be positioned around the hips to
provide the best support. The following are basic guidelines
for caring for the harness. Read the Manufacturer's
Instructions to learn specific details on how to care for
the harness.
- Do not store the harness near gasoline, paint
thinners, car batteries or anything that could be caustic. If
the harness gets wet, hang it up to dry. Do not put
the harness in clothes dryer. To clean the harness,
use mild soap and water. Use a brush to clean mud and ground
in dirt.
- Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Connecting Devices
- Connecting devices are what connect the climber's
body harness to an anchorage point. This includes lanyards,
hooks, carabineers and anything else that might be used for
connection.
- As of January 1, 1998, OSHA requires that all
snap hooks used in Fall Arrest and Positioning Systems must
be double locking. Snap hooks shall be proof-tested
to a minimum tensile load of 3,600lbs without cracking, breaking,
or taking permanent deformation. Connectors shall be
dropforged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent
materials. OSHA is looking for two separate actions
to open the device. This includes carabineers. If
a carabineer is used for fall protection, it must be self-closing
and double locking.
- All connectors shall be proof tested, which
means they are put under a load and checked for defects. As
with any of safety equipment it must be inspected each time
you use it. Read the manufacturer's instructions for detailed
methods of inspection. Here are some basic guidelines:
- Check for cracks, gouges or bent members.
- Check to make sure that all latches, springs
and other parts are present and working properly.
- Make sure the latches close and lock automatically.
- Connecting devices also includes lanyards. OSHA
says, "All lanyards and vertical lifelines shall have
a breaking strength of 5,000lbs." "All ropes and straps
(webbing) used in lanyards, lifelines, and strength
components of body belts and body harnesses shall be
made from synthetic fibers."
- Lanyard inspection also begins with the
manufacturer's instructions for inspecting equipment. Also
look and check for:
- Rips, tears or burns.
- Stitching on the connections.
- Thimbles (if any)
- Fraying of the rope or webbing
- Foreign substance (paint, oils,
grease, etc.)
- Snap hooks or carabineers for proper
function and condition.
- Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Use
of your Shock-absorbing Lanyard
Before using a shock-absorbing lanyard it also should
be inspected against the manufacturer's recommendations
and checked for:
- Any damage to the unit.
- Any fresh webbing pulled out from
shock loading.
- Shock-absorbing lanyards are required
to limit the forces applied to the body when
stopping a fall to 1,800 lbs. To do this,
they must be attached only to the back D-ring
of the harness with the shock-absorbing unit
closest to the back D-ring.
- When using the shock-absorbing lanyard,
follow these guidelines:
- Always attach the lanyard to an
anchorage point that is equal to or higher than
the back D-ring. (When possible)
- Look for anchorage points that meet
the OSHA 5,000lb requirement. (When possible)
The anchorage point should be in a position as
directly overhead as possible and create a clear
area below in case of a fall.
- Avoid attaching you lanyard to any
anchorage point that could pinch or cut the rope
or webbing during a fall.
- Double-check all connections before
leaning back into the harness!
- Keep all lanyards away from winch
ropes and cables.
- Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Positioning
Equipment
- Use of positioning equipment is
similar to that of the Fall Arrest equipment.
- Connectors must be double locking,
proof-tested.
- Webbing must be man-made materials
and support 5,000lbs.
- Positioning equipment must limit
a freefall to two feet or less.
- This equipment must also be inspected
before each use. The inspection guidelines would
be the same as for shock-absorbing lanyards.
Climbing the Structure
- Once the equipment has been inspected
the climbers will put everything on and check it for proper application. They
will check to be certain material and tools are packed properly
and then it is time to make the climb to the work location. How
one climbs the structure will depend on many things. For instance:
- What kind of a tower or structure is it?
- Does the tower have a ladder or pegs?
- Safe-climb device or not?
- How long of a climb is there?
- What are the weather conditions?
- Where is work taking place?
- Tower type?
- Monopole
- Guyed
- Self-supported
- Each of these towers has their own characteristics
and hazards. Generally, ascents and descents will be done on a
ladder, pegs, step-bolts or some kind of removable or permanent
climbing rungs.
- Work might be conducted on other structures such as
rooftops, water towers, etc. Climbers will tend to feel that these
structures are safer than the towers that they normally climb. However
these structures can have significant hazards associated with them
bolts.
- If there is a safe-climb device, it should be inspected
carefully. If it has a cable, check the tension, condition
and size. If there is an attachment device provided in should
be inspected carefully to make sure that it locks up when pulled
down sharply. During an ascent or descent the climber should
maintain three points of contact with the ladder or pegs. They
should try to get into and maintain a smooth constant rhythm. They
should climb at their own pace and never race up the tower. Climbers
should TAKE THEIR TIME! A fatigued climber is an unsafe climber.
- When the positioning equipment is used the shock-absorbing
lanyard needs to be hooked off as well. Climbers need to
be careful of tie-off points. If an anchorage point is a
horizontal cross-member, beware of the hook sliding from one side
to the other when leaning over to reach for something. Climbers
should never hook to a cross-member that is being changed out. Climbers
should never hook off to transmission lines. Avoid hooking off
to antennas and mounts.
- Once the work area is reached the climber/s need to
hook the lanyards in a position that enables them to perform the
work as comfortable as possible while still providing the appropriate
level of safety required. Climbers will rarely be in one
spot for very long so the task of finding suitable anchorage points
is almost constant.
RF Issues
- Radio Frequency issues were discussed
in detail in Chapter 7, and Appendices 2, 3, 3A and 3B. To
review, RF transmissions can cause harm to the workers and care
should be taken to especially protect the climbers through various
methods from RF meters to out right shut down of the transmissions. When
this is done, remember to use appropriate lockout/tag out procedures.
Communications
- Communications is essential to
safety and completing the job assignment. Hand signals and
radios are two methods for communicating between the ground and
tower. A safe installation process will have primary and secondary
methods for communication. Radios are not just a convenience;
they are an important piece of safety equipment. Workers
should check the radios prior to climbs. Climbers will want
to bring fresh batteries for their radios. Radios should
be kept secure to prevent drops.
Environmental Issues
- The working environment includes issues on
the ground in the area around the tower and in the air on the tower
and may include:
- Weather
- Animals and Insects
- Poisonous plants
- The current weather at a worksite may not be a problem, but
any weather that could move in while climbers are at height
on the tower is a concern. Crews should have an idea
of what the weather is going to do before arriving at the site. Many
climbers will take a look around before ascending as weather
forecasts can change drastically and quickly. These climbers
are looking for lightning and approaching rain, snow and related
storms hazards.
- Other hazards that may not be immediately evident or as obvious
are animals and insect. These hazards of course will vary from
site to site around the country, so knowing your environment becomes
even more important. Animal hazards can cover something as
small but annoying as a mosquito, to something as deadly as a grizzly. Some
of the more common hazards include:
- Wasps, hornets, bees
- Birds
- Snakes
- Cattle, deer, moose, bear, etc.
- Poison Ivy, poison oak itching nettle and other poisonous
plants could create safety issues for workers on a site. Workers
should be aware of what these plants are how to avoid them
in the region in which they are working. They should
also know how to recognize and treat reactions.
Personnel Issues
- An often-overlooked safety consideration is
the workers physical and mental condition. Climbing and working
on a tower all day takes physical and mental conditioning. Any
of the following could be warning signs to climbers to consider before
beginning an ascent.
- Overtired
- Suffering from a cold or Flu
- Extremely sore or stiff
- Feeling the effects of last night's refreshments
- Depressed or distracted
- Dehydration
- Hangovers
- As with any form of exercise, stretching or warming up is a good
idea prior to climbing. This helps to prevent cramps, sprains
and strains while climbing. Climbers expend a lot of energy
climbing and working on towers (Even more in the cold weather). Experienced
climbers will bring plenty of food to keep up their energy level. They
know the body needs this fuel to stay warm. The experienced
climber will also bring plenty of fluids because they know it is
easy to get dehydrated while climbing. (Especially in the summertime).
The hardest part of the climber's job is not the work; it is getting
to the work.
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