R 408.42910 Fall protection.

Rule 2910. (1) Prior to employees being exposed to elevations above 6 feet, the employer shall ensure that 100% fall protection systems compatible with the tasks assigned are provided, used, and maintained as required in this rule. (2) These rules shall not require the retrofitting of communication towers provided that employees who are exposed to fall hazards above 6 feet while performing work on communication towers are protected from such hazards by means of a 100% fall protection system. (3) In addition to the criteria for pre-climb planning and inspection included in subrule (8) of this rule, all of the following shall occur prior to employees climbing the tower at heights above 6 feet: (a) All projects requiring climbing shall be planned by a competent person. (b) All climbing facilities shall be visually inspected daily at the tower base by a competent person for rust, corrosion, deterioration, or other hazards on the climbing facilities that could lead to death or injury of an employee in the performance of their duties. Additionally, the climbing facilities shall be visually inspected for these items as the employees ascend to the elevation point where work is being performed. If any such hazard is identified during this inspection, employees shall not use the climbing facility until such hazards are abated. (c) A competent person shall ensure that all fall protection equipment is inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, defect, or other deterioration by employees who have been trained in accordance with R 408.42916. Defective equipment shall be identified and tagged as defective and immediately removed from service. (d) Components of a fall protection system and the fall protection equipment utilized by employees shall be compatible with one another and shall be used in accordance with construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d) personal fall arrest systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. (e) The planning and inspections shall be performed and documented. The documentation shall be maintained on-site while work is being performed. The documentation shall include the date of the planning and inspection, the name of the competent person performing the planning and inspection, and the site location. (4) An employer shall comply with the requirements of subrule (1) of this rule in 1 of the following ways: (a) Permit employees to use the 100% fall protection systems described in subrules (5) to (8) of this rule. (b) If the fall protection systems described in subrules (5) to (8) of this rule are not present, the employer shall not permit employees to climb the tower at heights above 6 feet unless at least 1 of the following conditions is met: (i) An alternative means of 100% fall protection is used that is at least as effective as the fall protection systems described in subrules (5) to (8) of this rule. (ii) An alternative means of access to the work area is used such as an aerial lift or elevated work platform. (iii) The employer can demonstrate that the requirements for a fall protection plan under subrule (4)(c) of this rule have been met. (c) When employees are working on a structure where no adequate tie-off anchorage points exist, the fall protection systems described in subrule (4)(a) and (b) of this rule are not feasible or create a greater hazard, and the work cannot be completed utilizing an alternative means of access to the work area such as an aerial lift or elevated work platform, then an employer shall comply with construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, R 408.44501 and R 408.44502, and ensure all of the following: (i) That each employee under the fall protection plan has been trained as an authorized climber. (ii) That the fall protection plan shall be made available and communicated to exposed employees prior to the employees beginning work, and such communication shall be documented by the employer. (iii) That the fall protection plan shall identify each location on the tower/structure where fall protection methods as described in subrule (4)(a) and (b) of this rule cannot be used. As soon as adequate tie-off anchorage points or other fall protection systems can be established, the employer shall use any of the fall protection systems described in subrule (4)(a) and (b) of this rule. (5) Guardrail systems and their components that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall protection shall conform to the criteria in construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(b) guardrail systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. (6) Personal fall arrest systems and their components that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall protection shall conform to the criteria in construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d) personal fall arrest systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. The employer shall ensure that the attachment points to the structure, when used by employees as an anchorage as part of a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), are designed to meet the requirements of an approved anchorage in accordance with construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(d) personal fall arrest systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. (7) Positioning device systems and their components that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall protection shall conform to the criteria in construction safety standard part 45. fall protection, being CFR 1926.502(e) positioning device systems, adopted by reference in R 408.44501 and R 408.44502. (8) In addition to the applicable criteria in construction safety standard part 11. fixed and portable ladders, R 408.41101 to R 408.41140 and part 21. guarding of walking and working areas, R 408.42101 to R 408.42160, ladder safety systems and related support systems for fixed ladders that are used by employees as a means of 100% fall protection shall conform to all of the following criteria: (a) Prior to climbing the structure, a competent person shall ensure that the ladder safety system has been inspected for proper operation and that all components used with the ladder safety system are compatible. (b) To perform an inspection required by subrule (8)(a) of this rule, employees shall do all of the following: (i) Approach the ladder at the base and connect to the functional safety climb system. (ii) Attach to the base of the fall arrest system. If the attachment point is above 6 feet, then 100% fall protection shall be used. The 100% fall protection shall be attached to an alternate approved anchorage point. (iii) Forcibly engage the device without letting go of the ladder. (iv) If the device does not function properly, employees shall not use the device until it functions properly. (c) If a ladder is obstructed, inhibiting the effective use of the ladder safety system, an alternative means of 100% fall protection shall be used that is at least as effective as the types of fall protection described by this rule.