2. 8/24/2022 2
2
Contents:
1. Safety Contact
2. Purpose and Scope
3. Responsibilities
4. Definitions
5. General Requirements
5.1 Portable Ladders
5.2 Fixed Ladders
5.3 Fixed Stairs
5.4 Handrails
5.5 Personal Fall Protection
5.6 Aerial Work Platforms
5.7 Tethered Tools
5.8 Specific Applications
5.9 Training
6. Questions and Answers
3. Safety Contact:
Protecting Visitors and Drivers
Who is prone to have a fall from heights?
Drivers and Contractors- working on tankers while offloading
Why Prone?: Not under our direct supervision, use our equipment,
requires intervention by SW for unsafe / behaviours & conditions
The Solution:
Ensure drivers, visitors, contractors & temps all follow the same sets
of rules as S-W employees.
See Something, Say Something, Do Something- every time.
The Takeaway:
Ensure your drivers, contractors, visitors, & temps are aware of and
follow SW EHS requirements.
Empower and expect your team to stop unsafe activities.
1
5. Scope
5
2
Fall Protection is required for employees who are working:
1. 1.2 Meters above working surface
2. When there is a hazard of falling into dangerous equipment.
3. Other activities as required by the company fall protection plan.
6. Responsibilities
6
3
Site Manager
The Site Manager
shall be responsible
for ensuring
individuals working
at heights within the
facility comply with
this standard.
Site Contact
The Site Contact (site EHS
manager, engineer,
maintenance manager)
shall be responsible for
implementing and
administering the Working
at Heights Standard at the
site; assisting in
identifying elevated work
hazards at the site;
coordinating training; and
managing closure of
corrective and preventive
actions related to working
at heights.
Standby person
The Standby person
shall be responsible
for initiating the
rescue plan should a
fall occur.
9. Portable Ladders / Ladder Stands
9
5.1
Ladders and Mobile Ladder Stand load capacities shall be
least 135 kg (300 lbs.) and shall not be exceeded. Only
devices with appropriate load capacities and space shall be
used by more than one person at the same time.
Conductive ladders are prohibited where there is a risk of
electrical contact. Fiberglass ladders are preferred.
Ladders and Mobile Ladder Stands shall be visually
inspected before use. Documented ladder and ladder stand
inspections must be completed at least every 6 months. If
defective they shall be immediately removed from service.
Mobile ladder stands shall have a system to prevent
horizontal movement (braking system and/or rubber
stoppers on the feet).
Portable Ladders and Mobile Ladder Stands (Portable Staircase)
10. Fixed Ladders
10
5.2
Cages or horizontal fall arrest system must be
provided for fixed ladders over 6 meters (20
feet) high. Cages must begin at a point 2.4
meters (8 feet) above the base of the ladder.
Landing platforms must be provided every 9
meters (30 feet).
Rungs must be at least 40 cm (16 inches) wide.
The distance between rungs must be uniform
throughout the length of the ladder and may
not exceed 30 cm (12 inches).
There must be at least at least 18 cm (7 inches)
of clear space behind the ladder.
11. Fixed Ladders
11
5.2
Documented inspections of fixed ladders must
be completed on an annual basis. Ladders found
defective shall be immediately removed from
service for repair.
Fixed ladder openings shall be equipped with a
self-closing gate or offset so that a person
cannot walk directly into the opening. Chains
and non self-closing gates may not be used.
12. Fixed Stairs
12
5.3
Fixed stairs with 4 or more steps shall be
equipped with standard handrails on open
sides.
Stair treads shall be slip resistant, and
rise/tread dimensions shall be uniform.
14. Handrails
14
5.4
Handrails are the preferred means of fall protection as
they control access to fall hazards and other elevated
walking and working surfaces that are more than 1.2
meters (4 feet) above a lower level.
A handrail includes of a top rail, midrail, and a toeboard,
and be able to withstand 200 lbs. (890N) on or along the
top rail.
If a handrail must be removed, only that portion of the
handrail necessary to do work or load materials may be
removed. Workers exposed to a fall hazard must be
protected by other means of fall protection (either
personal fall arrest or personal fall restraint devices).
15. Personal Fall Arrest or Restraint Devices
15
5.5
Fall arrest or restraint devices shall be used at all times
when employees are working at elevations greater than
1.2 meters (4 feet) without full protection from
handrails.
A Fall Protection Permit shall be issued prior to
performing any non-routine work that requires the use
of fall arrest or restraint devices. This includes, but is not
limited to:
• Working within 1.82 m (6 ft) of roof edges
• Working outside the working platforms of aerial lifts
Exemptions to elevated work permit: Routine work using
fall arrest or restraint devices (ie: working on order
pickers, or mezzanines).
16. Personal Fall Arrest or Restraint Devices
16
5.5
Non-routine elevated work requires an elevated work permit and a
standby person.
A rescue plan shall be documented on the permit prior to
commencing non-routine elevated work.
Fall arrest systems serve to prevent the user from hitting the floor
level in the event of a fall while fall restraint systems prevent the
user from reaching the location where a fall may occur
Personal fall arrest systems must include a deceleration device
• Fall arrest anchor points, connectors, lanyards, and body
harnesses shall each be capable of supporting at least 2,268 kg
(5,000 lbs.).
• Fall restraint anchor points, connectors, lanyards, and body
harnesses shall each be capable of supporting at least 1,360 kg
(3,000 lbs.).
17. Personal Fall Arrest or Restraint Devices Inspections
17
5.5
Inspection of fall arrest and restraint systems shall occur prior to
every use, and documented every 12 months for damage and
deterioration. Defective components shall be removed from service
and replaced.
Remember: for 100 percent fall protection during tie-off
line transfers, a dual lanyard is needed.
18. Aerial Lifts
18
5.6
Personal fall arrest or restraint equipment shall be worn when
working in aerial lifts, forklift work platforms, and similar mobile
equipment used to elevate workers.
• Personal fall arrest equipment is not required when working in
scissor lifts equipped with standard handrails on all four sides of
the platform.
• Fall arrest shall only be used if a lift is designed to accommodate
a fall arrest system. Fall restraint is recommended over fall
arrest systems when working in aerial lifts.
Working at heights outside the confines of the scissor lift platform
requires personal fall arrest or restraint.
Documented visual aerial lift inspections shall be performed to
identify worn or broken components or any other unsafe condition
daily, or prior to use when the equipment is used only on an
intermittent basis.
20. Skylights
20
5.8
Skylights: Unless designed and installed in accordance with FM 4430 or UL 793 Section 15,
skylights (roof opening permitting the passage of sun light into building) shall be guarded
by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides. Unprotected
skylights shall be treated as a roof edge.
21. Mezzanine Storage Areas
21
5.8
Mezzanine Storage Areas:
Protective measures such as
turnstile gate or pivot gate
systems are the preferred method
of fall protection.
Fall arrest or restraint systems
shall be provided and used by
employees when the process of
moving material up to and down
from mezzanine requires removal
of existing guard rails or the
opening/closing of gates which
results in an employee fall
exposure.
22. Tank Hatches
22
5.8
Any tank hatch < 36 in (0.9 m)
from the ground and has an
opening of sufficient size to
permit entry must have fall
protection.
Fall protection shall consist of
cross bars preventing access
into the tank.
23. Training: Working at Heights
23
5.9
Working at Heights Training
• Working at heights training shall
be provided to any employee who
will be performing work where
they may be exposed to falls from
heights or that will serve as a
standby person.
• Training shall include at a
minimum elevated work hazards,
control options and expectations,
and the use of an elevated work
permit.
• Training shall be provided upon
initial assignment and every 3
years afterwards.
24. Training: Aerial Lift
24
5.9
Aerial Lift Training
• Aerial lift training shall be provided to any
employee who will be operating aerial lifts.
• Training shall include at a minimum
elevated work hazards, control options and
expectations, and the use of an elevated
work permit.
• This training shall be provided upon initial
assignment and every 3 years afterwards.
25. Key Points and Takeaways
• Highlight the summarized training points
• What are the major items we have learned?
• How to safely use ladder and ladder stands, the working from
heights permit process, skylight protection, use of arial lifts,
and tank hatch protection
• Are there other related resources available?
• Yes- you can find this on the Corporate EHS&RA SharePoint
location link attached: LINK
25
8/24/2022