K-State Research & Extension
Safety, Health and
Environmental Manual
STATION EQUIPMENT
Fire Safety | Ladder, Scaffold, and Fall Protection | Vehicle Safety
LADDERS, SCAFFOLD, AND FALL PROTECTION
The purpose of the Ladders, Scaffolds, and Fall Protection Program is to prevent injuries from falls by providing procedures for the use and care of ladders, scaffolds, and fall protection equipment.
This program applies to all Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension, and College of Agricultural employees that use ladders, scaffolds, and fall protection equipment. As well as those that erect scaffolds, ladders, and work on unguarded elevated walking surfaces.
Boatswain’s Chair: A seat supported by slings attached to a suspended rope, designed to accommodate one employee working in a sitting position.
Ladders: A person trained to inspect portable and/or fixed ladders, train others in ladder usage and "before use inspections", and is authorized to perform periodic inspections.
Scaffolding: A person who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them
Fixed Ladder: A ladder permanently attached to a structure, building, or equipment.
Portable Ladder: A ladder that can be readily moved or carried. Portable ladders include step, straight, extension, and chain or rope ladders. Manually propelled mobile platforms are also included in this category.
Tubular Welded Frame Scaffold: A sectional, panel, or frame metal scaffold substantially built up of prefabricated welded sections, which consist of posts and bearers with intermediate connecting members and braced with diagonal or cross braces.
Body Harness: Straps which may be secured about the employee in a manner that will distribute the fall arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders with means for attaching it to other components of a personal fall arrest system
Deceleration Device: Any mechanism, such as a rope grab, rip-stitch lanyard, specially-woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyards, automatic self=retracting lifelines/lanyards which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest, or otherwise limit the energy imposed on an employee during fall arrest.
Personal Fall Arrest System: A system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. It consist of an anchorage, connectors, a body harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these.
Lanyard: A flexible line of rope, wire rope, or strap which generally has a connector at each end for connecting the body harness to a deceleration device lifeline, or anchor
Lifeline: A component consisting of a flexible line for connection to an anchorage at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection to anchorages at both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal Lifeline), and which serves as a means for connecting other components of a personal fall arrest system to the anchorage.
Scaffolding: A temporary platform erected for the purpose of supporting workers and/or materials in the course of execution of an activity.
Inspection procedures for portable ladders, fixed ladders and scaffolding are outlined in Section I, General Safety Rules for ladders and scaffolds. Never use a defective ladder or scaffolding.
When purchasing new ladders, select only Type I or IA Duty Rated ladders. Type IA (Heavy Duty Industrial = maximum weight limit 300 pounds) and Type I (Heavy Duty = maximum weight limit 250 pounds).
Use only boatswain’s chairs that are manufactured for that use. If performing hot-work from the chair, use wire rope to suspend the chair.
If using in a confined space, follow procedures outlined in Hot-work and Confined Space Entry.
No scaffold shall be used unless it is inspected and tagged by a Competent Person. If the tag has been removed, the scaffold shall not be used until it has been re-inspected and tagged by a Competent Person. No scaffold shall be erected, dismantled, or altered except under the supervision of a Competent Person. Competent Person training is available by contacting the Health, Safety, and Environmental Coordinator.
Any scaffold including accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs, ladders, etc. damaged or weakened from any cause shall be immediately repaired or replaced.
Employees are not permitted to walk on surfaces that do not have enough strength to support them. If an employee is required to work on surfaces that has an unprotected side more than six feet or more above grade, the employee shall be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system. Examples include working on overhead storage areas and roofs.
Safety Nets
Must be approved for use as a safety net.
Guardrail System
Top rail of 42 inches, mid rail and four inch toe board. Wood post shall be maximum of 6 foot on center, steel post shall be a maximum of 8 foot on center.
Limiting System
Safety Belts may be used on for this purpose.
SAFETY BELTS
Cannot be used for fall protection.
29 CFR 1910.22- 23
29 CFR 1926.501-502