Transcript
LOSS CONTROL SERVICES Fall protection: Hole covers Roofing operations, steel erection and other activities that require you to have a personal fall protection system may not be the only places where you’d need it. Holes occur during the construction process of any building. All employees must be protected: from tripping, stepping, falling or objects dropping through holes from holes on walking/working surfaces. (1926.501(h)). According to OSHA regulations, 1926.502(i): Covers for holes in floors, roofs, and other walking/working surfaces shall meet the following requirements
n Must
withstand at least twice the maximum load expected to cross over the covver at any one time. This includes vehicle traffic, equipment, employees and materials. n Secure in place when installed. n Color-code or mark with the word hole or cover to warn of the hazard.
HOLES OR OPENINGS Hole covers should be applied as soon as the hole is cut. Examples of openings or holes that may occur at a job site include, but are not limited to:
n Elevator
shafts n Cut outs for plumbing, electrical, heating ventilation and air conditioning n Roof hatchways n Skylights, and n Ladder/stairwell openings
WHAT SIZE HOLE SHOULD BE COVERED? In general, it is a good practice to cover all holes and mark them accordingly. As a rule of thumb, any hole larger than 2 inches in diameter should be covered and protected. If you step incorrectly in a 2-inch diameter hole, you could sustain an injury from twisting your ankle or slipping and falling PROTECTION THROUGH HOLE COVERS Hole covers provide two forms of protection if they are structurally sound and fixed in position:
n
Prevent workers, equipment and materials from falling through the hole. workers and equipment from being injured or damaged from falling objects
n Prevent
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If holes are too large for plywood or other materials to sustain the rule of twice the foreseeable load, then the following fall prevention systems should be incorporated:
n Guardrails n Netting
over the hole fall protection systems to keep employees away from the opening (This does not prevent debris, tools, etc., from falling through the hole and potentially injuring others.)
n Personal
REMOVING HOLE COVERS Employees have sustained serious injuries and even fatalities, stepping into or falling through a hole after the hole cover has been removed. When taking off a hole cover that is large enough for a person to fall through, including skylight holes and ladder hatches, personal fall protection equipment should be in place (1926.502(d)). This situation can become a leading-edge exposure if the fall potential is greater than 6 feet (1926.501(b)(2)). Whenever a hole cover is removed, the equipment or device that fits over or through the hole should be installed and secured immediately. References OSHA 1926.501 : Duty to have fall protection OSHA 1926.502: Fall protection systems criteria and practices OSHA 1926.502(i) Covers.
The information contained in this service bulletin was obtained from reliable sources. However, United Fire Group accepts no legal responsibility for the correctness or completeness of this information. LC7170-0315
