9.7 Special Situations 

General 

Safe work practices, proper training and proper equipment are necessary to prevent injury or death from a fall. To achieve this Maine Maritime Academy employees, students and visitors shall observe the following:

Fall protection is required whenever employees, students, or visitors are potentially exposed to falls from a height of six feet, or greater, to lower levels. Appropriate mitigation is required whenever employees, students or visitors are potentially exposed to an overhead hazard of falling equipment. 

Regulatory Guidance

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.500, subpart M 

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.108 

ANSI AID.11-1989 Safety Nets 

Requirements 

Fall protection shall be used when working at a height of six feet or greater above lower levels. Potential falls of greater than 6 feet can include, but are not limited to, roof surfaces, unguarded openings, interior renovation activities, etc. The following general guidelines should be observed to minimize the risk of injury due to a fall:

Persons performing work under elevated conditions must be trained for, and qualified in, the appropriate fall protection system to be used.  Certification of training to use fall protection equipment shall be required in writing. This training will include specific information on who was trained, when the training occurred, who
conducted it and an approved signature. Proper equipment (see Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) list) shall be used when necessary or require under the job conditions. Equipment purchased for the job must meet appropriate standards at the state and federal levels.  Prior to commencing work all fall protection procedures shall be submitted to the Office of Safety and Security for review and approval by the designated competent person.  Emergency Rescue Operations Plans shall be approved by a competent person prior to commencing operations. Said plan shall be kept on file at the Office of Safety and Security. Equipment must be installed according to acceptable standards, regulations and manufacturers recommendations.  Exceptions must be approved through the Office of Safety and Security, or a designated competent person.  Fall protection equipment must be cleaned, maintained and inspected regularly to ensure that it remains in good condition and top working order. 

Responsibilities 

Supervisors shall ensure that their employees, on-site contractors and visitors follow these requirements. 

Supervisors shall identify areas of potential fall exposure in their work areas and ensure that employees are properly trained in fall protection practices prior to performing any and all work in that area. When loaning equipment to employees, only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to use fall protection equipment. 

A competent person shall review the work plan to identify work hazards and required PPE and/or additional safety systems. 

A competent person, empowered by Maine Maritime Academy to take corrective action and/or terminate work projects until compliance is attained, will be assigned to each major renovation or new building project. 

The Maine Maritime Academy employee/student/visitor is responsible for adhering to the Maine Maritime Academy fall protection policy, through training, work site assessment and preparation, and the use of appropriate PPE. 

Custodial staff and maintenance personnel conducting standard maintenance procedures must be approved for a given work category by a designated competent person.

Definitions 

Fall Protection: A motion stopping safety system that will prevent workers from experiencing disastrous accidental falls from or on a surface of 6 feet or greater in height. Fall protection systems may be active or passive. 

Passive Fall Protection: Consists of components and systems, such as nets, that do not require any action on the workers part. Once properly installed, these can be designed to protect the individual 100% of the time. 

Active Fall Protection: Is made up of components and systems that require some manipulation by the workers to make the protection effective. All active systems begin with an anchorage point (the position on an independent structure to which the fall arrest system or lanyard is securely attached) and have some connecting components to the worker. These systems include safety belts (fit around employees waist and are attached, usually in back, to
the lanyard and then anchor point), harness (chest, chest-waist, and full-body harnesses encompass the torso and are attached to other parts of the fall protection system), lanyards (a short flexible rope, strap, or webbing connecting the worker to the anchor) and their attachments, and component parts such as rope-grabbing devices, lifelines, etc. Active equipment by itself will not work and must be connected or employed by the individual to be
protected. 

Competent Person: One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. 

Exposed Area: Any area that creates a hazard to employees or personnel below the employees’ working level. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Equipment designed and manufactured for protection from potential hazards in the work environment. Examples include but are not limited to: safety belts, life lines, lanyards, rope grabs, full body harness, gloves, safety glasses, hard hats (if required), and safety netting. 

Controlled Access Zone: Identified danger zone where operations and fall potential (materials or personnel) exists. Area immediately below work zone must be identified and controlled to prevent injury to passerby.

For Additional Information 

Contact Director of Safety and Security
Curtis Hall 
Castine, Maine 04420 
Tel: (207) 326-2479, FAX: 326-2218 

Inspection Checklist for Fall Protection Equipment

System Type: 
Identification Number: 
Location: Date: 

I. Webbing (Belts & Lanyards) 

A. Within lifetime (service 2-3 yr., shelf 7 yr.) 
B. Within system rating (5000 lb., 500-800 lb. Shock absorber) 
C. Visible cuts, wear or burning on webbing 
D. Pull one unit to test soundness 

II. Ropes (lifelines, lanyards) 

A. Within lifetime (service 1-2 yr., shelf 5 yr.) 
B. Synthetic: pull and sample to test soundness. (Check for cuts in strands, wear, or dirt inside) 
C. Cable: check for kinks, broken wire and terminations. 

II. Hardware (hooks, D-rings) 

A. Within lifetime (>5 yr., except hooks (2-3) service, >5 yr. Shelf) 
B. Within system rating (5000 lb.) 
C. Check for cracks, distortion, wear points and corrosion. 

III. Locking Fall Devices (rope grabs) 

A. Within lifetime (3-5 yr.) 
B. Within system rating (1000 lb. before slip) 
C. Floor wheel brackets broken or loose 
D. Floor wheels and brackets missing 
E. Ladders binding in guides 
F. Ladder and rail stops broken, loose, or missing 
G. Rail supports broken or section of rail missing 
H. Trolley wheels out of alignment