Fall Arrest Anchorage 1

[bjb]

OSHA 1926.502(d)(15) states "Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5000 pounds per employee attached, or shall be designed....."


What is meant by "platforms" in the above paragraph? Could these be shoring platforms?

 

[a2mfk]

I would take that as anything temporary. I have done a few of these and even tie-offs to the main structure can be tricky for 5000lb...

 

[MiketheEngineer]

OSHA also says "Twice the anticipated load" We have found that with a shock absorbing 6' lanyard that force is about 1,000 lbs or design for 2,000 lbs.

That said - You need a full body harness and associated hardware and may have to prove your design. But it makes life a lot more simple.

Platform is any area where a person could/can stand. In other words - you would not want to tie off to a swing stage type scaffold (window washer) already supported by cables.

 

[IFRs]

I interpret this to mean that the anchorage used for personal fall arrest can not be used for anything else.

 

[msquared48]

At least not on a permanent basis - as there can not be anything permanently attached to the same anchorage units.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[BAretired]

Perhaps OSHA should consider acquiring a writer who could enunciate their requirements so that everybody could understand them.

BA

 

[IRstuff]

I tend to think of something like a window washer platform, wherein the operator's safety line might be attached to an attachment independent of those used to anchor the window washer platform.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[NBink]

My understanding is that the "platform" is any surface upon which the person accessing the space is intended to sit or stand and the intent is that the fall-protection system be independent of the platform.
The arresting force or the tie-off point should not load the platform but should load-path to the superstructure to which the platform is attached.

Similar to what has already been written an example of this is how a window-washers bosun's chair or scaffold is not to share a connection with the window-washers harness.