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In the ever-changing world of safety regulations, you know it’s important to stay current on your fall protection systems. But it’s also equally important to stay on top of OSHA language, which sometimes can be a bit difficult to decipher—especially to less experienced workers and safety managers. Even if you have it down pat, it’s still a smart idea to review OSHA terms, definitions, and important information related to fall safety. For example, are you confident your workers know the difference between a horizontal lifeline and a lanyard? Or why you might choose a lifeline system over a guard rail system? Consider this short read your ten-minute refresher course and get ready to get up-to-speed.
Active fall protection: Active fall protection systems require active participation of the worker, are movable, and require the use of special gearing. These systems include a body safety harness, lanyard, a horizontal lifeline or other lifeline system, and connectors such as snap hooks. There are several variations of fall arrest and restraint systems available, but they all have these parts in common.
Anchor Point: A dedicated, secure attachment point for lifeline systems, lanyards, and/or deceleration devices.
Body belt: A strap secured around the waist and attached to a lanyard, lifeline system, or deceleration device. Keep in mind, body belts are no longer approved for fall arrest systems, so if your team is using them, they must be retired ASAP.
Body harness: A body harness secures the employee to a fall protection system with straps designed to distribute forces associated with a fall arrest over the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and shoulders at a minimum. Workers step into a body harness, then put their arms through much like you would a vest before connecting them to a lanyard.
Connector: A device such as a carabiner, buckle, snaphook, or D-ring used to attach components of the fall arrest system together.
Controlled access zone (CAZ): An elevated work area with controlled access that cannot be feasibly protected by guard rail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets. Warning lines are often used as part of a CAZ to ensure workers are aware of the leading edge.
Deceleration device: A deceleration device is a mechanism that dissipates energy during a fall to limit the stress and energy imposed on a worker during a fall. Examples include self-retracting lifelines, rope grabs, ripstitch lanyards, and more.
Deceleration distance: The fall distance allowed by the deceleration device during a fall arrest.
Free fall: The portion of the fall event prior to the fall arrest system applying fall arrest forces.
Free fall distance: Vertical distance the employee travels before fall arrest force is applied by the fall arrest system.
Guard rail system: A guard rail system provides a physical barrier to prevent falls from elevated surfaces. Guard rails are often one of the simplest ways to provide passive fall protection.
Hole: A gap or void in any walking/working surface that is 2-inches or greater in any of its dimensions. This includes skylights—despite the fact they are covered, the glass or surface isn’t strong enough to prevent a fall.
Hoist: Any mechanical device used to raise or lower a suspended scaffold.
Lanyard: A flexible line used to connect an employee's body harness to an anchorage, deceleration device, horizontal lifeline, or another lifeline system.
Lifeline: A lifeline can be oriented vertically or horizontally. A vertical lifeline system is attached to an anchorage at one end and are designed to hang vertically, like on a ladder. Horizontal lifeline systems are attached to anchorages at both ends at a minimum in such a fashion as to stay horizontal, usually along a rooftop’s surface. Personal fall arrest system components such as lanyards and deceleration devices are attached to the lifelines to create a complete fall protection system.
Lower levels: Practically any surface below an elevated walking/working surface.
Opening: Bigger than a hole, an opening is a gap or void 30 inches (76 cm) or more in height and 18 inches (48 cm) or more in width which could allow a fall to a lower level.
Open sides and ends: When the edge of a platform is greater than 14 inches (36 cm) from a sturdy, continuous surface such as a wall or floor, or an access point it is deemed to have open sides or ends. An exception for plastering and lathing operations allows up to 18 inches (46 cm) horizontal distance to a sturdy vertical surface.
Passive fall protection: This is any fall protection system that is fixed, unmoving, and requires no human interaction once installed. Examples include a guard rail system, barricade, or safety net.
Personal fall arrest system: Various combinations of body harnesses, connectors, lifelines, lanyards, deceleration devices, and anchorages designed to stop the free fall of an employee in the event of a fall from an elevated walking/working surface in a controlled manner.
Platform: An elevated walking/working surface constructed using various materials and methods.
Rope grab: A deceleration device capable of traveling along a lifeline and automatically employing inertial locking and/or cam/level locking principles to arrest a fall should one occur.
Roof: The exterior top surface of a building excluding floors or framework. This includes surfaces that may temporarily be the top surface during construction.
Roofing work: Roofing work includes all activities associated with applying and removing roofing materials, equipment, sheet metal, roofing-related insulation, and vapor barrier to, but not the construction of, the roof deck.
Safety-monitoring system: Employs a competent person as a safety monitor responsible for recognizing potential fall hazards and warning employees of the danger.
Scaffold: Scaffolds are temporary platforms that can be supported from a surface or suspended and allow support for materials and employees at elevated heights.
Self-retracting lifeline/lanyard: A system that allows an employee to move freely and remain connected to an anchorage. The self-retracting lifeline/lanyard is stored on a drum that allows the line to feed out and retract under slight tension as an employee moves but automatically locks in the case of a fall.
Steep roof: Any roof with a pitch greater than 4 vertical in 12 horizontal is considered a steep roof.
Unprotected sides and edges: Unprotected sides and edges include any side or edge of a walking/working surface such as floors, roofs, ramps, or runways, except for entrances to access points, that are not protected by a wall or guard rail system at least 39 inches (1.0 m) high.
Walking/working surface: Horizontal or vertical surfaces where employees walk or work. Some examples include floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork, and concrete reinforcing steel. Some work surfaces such as ladders, vehicles, and trailers are not included.
Warning line system: A warning line consists of a barrier erected to warn employees that they are approaching an unprotected side or edge of a roof. Roofing work may still take place past this warning line even in the absence of guard rails, safety nets, or fall protection systems, in some extreme cases.
While your number one priority is likely getting the job done right and on time, you need to include fall protection in order to hit those targets. With falls topping OSHA’s list year after year of most common work-related injury, it’s worth your time to not only ensure your worksite is safe, but that you and your workers are familiar with OSHA fall protection systems and terminology. If you need a hand in getting your workplace up to code—or just want to speak to an expert—give us a call. We make fall protection our business so you can focus on yours. Download our free Rooftop Safety Audits guide today to see where you’re at, or contact us with any questions.