What OSHA 1910.140 covers
29 CFR 1910.140 sets the design, performance, care and use requirements for the personal fall protection systems used in general industry: personal fall arrest systems, travel restraint systems and positioning systems. When fall protection is required is set out in 29 CFR 1910.28; 1910.140 covers what the equipment must meet. Construction work is covered by 29 CFR 1926.502.
Components and anchorages
- Connectors must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials, with a corrosion-resistant finish and smooth edges (1910.140(c)(1)–(2)).
- D-rings, snaphooks and carabiners must be proof tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds, and snaphooks and carabiners must be the automatic locking type that needs at least two separate, consecutive movements to open.
- Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
- Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall to 2 feet or less must have components that sustain at least 3,000 pounds with the line fully extended; those that do not must sustain at least 5,000 pounds.
- Anchorages for personal fall arrest and positioning systems must support at least 5,000 pounds for each employee attached, or be designed, installed and used under the supervision of a qualified person as part of a complete system with a safety factor of at least two.
Personal fall arrest system performance
- Limit the maximum arresting force on the employee to 1,800 pounds (1910.140(d)(1)(i)).
- Bring the employee to a complete stop with a deceleration distance of no more than 3.5 feet (1910.140(d)(1)(ii)).
- Have enough strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling 6 feet, or the free fall distance the system permits (1910.140(d)(1)(iii)).
- Be rigged so the employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet or contact a lower level.
- Body belts are not permitted for fall arrest; a full body harness is required.
Inspection, impact loading and rescue
Personal fall protection systems must be inspected before initial use in each work shift for mildew, wear, damage and other deterioration, and defective components must be removed from service. Any system or component subjected to impact loading must be removed from service immediately and not used again until a competent person determines it is undamaged and safe. Employers must also provide for the prompt rescue of an employee after a fall.
Odiz carries FallTech self-retracting lifelines, lanyards, connectors and anchorage connectors in Fall Protection.