FallTech Web SRL’s - Manual (Page 11)

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Section 6: Employer and User Training
6.1: Special notes for the Employer
As an employer, you may be obliged to provide Personal Protective
Equipment (to include Personal Fall Arrest and Fall Protection
Equipment) along with an appropriate amount of training to your
employees so that they will be adequately prepared to use this
equipment in the course of their work. If you are unsure about your duty
to provide fall protection, consult Title 29 CFR, section 1926.501 which
can easily be viewed at www.osha.gov. Another important resource for
employers is the Consensus standard on Managed Fall Protection:
ANSI Z359.2-2007.
Equally important is the subject of product/equipment selection. If
you are obliged to provide fall protection equipment for your employees,
be sure to consult with or appoint a competent or qualified person to
select and prescribe equipment that is suitable to address the specific
hazards which may be present on your job-site or in your facility. There
are different products for different applications, and under many
circumstances these products are not interchangeable. If you have
questions as to whether this product is suitable for your application,
please contact FallTech for assistance.
It is important to note that improper use of fall arrest equipment can
be just as dangerous as not using it at all. Failure to adequately train
and supervise your employees may result in serious injury or death. It is
critical to have a training program supported by documentation,
refresher/remedial training and to establish best practices where the
employment of all PPE is concerned.
6.2: User Training
It is the responsibility of the user of this equipment to read and fully
understand these instructions before employing this product as part of a
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). Every user of fall protection should
be provided a four to eight hour course of instruction for the Authorized
User. Training must also be provided in the use of each component of
the user’s PFAS and in the recognition of fall hazards. During the course
of this training, the user may not be exposed to a fall hazard.
In the absence of a formal training program, FallTech has designed
these instructional materials to act as an abbreviated course of
instruction in an effort to give the user an over-view of fall arrest. This
manual does not constitute a comprehensive training program, and it is
not all-inclusive. Be sure to consult www.osha.gov for details on OSHA
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requirements for training. FallTech has additional services available to
assist with end-user training – contact a FallTech sales professional for
additional details.
As a minimum, training should address the following points:
 ABCD’s of Fall Arrest (as discussed in Section 2).
 Recognition of fall hazards.
 Fall hazard elimination and control methods.
 Applicable fall protection regulations and standards.
 The responsibilities of designated persons (Authorized,
Competent, Qualified).
 How to use written fall protection procedures.
 Inspection of equipment components and systems before use.
 Fall protection rescue procedures.
 Installation and use of products common to your duties, job-site
or facility.
It is important to note that improper use of this equipment can be just
as dangerous as not using it at all. Failure to read, understand and
follow these instructions may result in serious injury or death.
Section 7: Fall Protection Plan
Title 29 CFR, section 1926.500 – 503 requires that an employer have
a written fall protection plan where fall hazards exist. The best way to
address a fall hazard is to eliminate it entirely or to employ a passive
system to restrict access to the hazard (i.e. guardrails, netting, covers,
etc.) Fall arrest products are the last line of defense in the hierarchy of
fall protection, and should be used as a last resort by employees who
have been thoroughly trained. The accepted fall protection hierarchy is
as follows:
 Eliminate the fall hazard.
 Passive fall protection (guardrails, safety nets, barriers, etc.).
 Fall Restraint (prevent the worker from having access to the fall
hazard by using a fixed lanyard which is short enough to restrict
access to the hazard).
 Fall Arrest (utilizing Personal Fall Arrest Systems).
 Administrative Controls (use of warning lines, controlled access
zones or monitors).
Two exceptional resources for developing a written fall protection
plan are OSHA 1926 Subpart M, Appendix E and ANSI Z359.2-2007. All