Harnesses/ safety lines

you need a harness, check these guys out....they are everywhere

http://www.ur.com/files/catalog/merc...nal_safety.pdf

happy hunting

[ccfan213]

now looking back i realize i probably should have explained this in my original post, our catwalks do not go over the stage, they go over the house. they are wooden platforms that are on top of the rafters in the ceiling and the purpose of them is to work on the coves or house lights, over the stage we use a genie or fly down the pipes.

[RonaldBeal]

The location is irrelevant. Essentially, if any work surface is 6' above another level ( the floor, balcony, etc...) it must be constructed to very specific standards, or have fall protection installed (also to very specific standards.)

[ccfan213]

well its not 6' above the floor below it which is the auditorium ceiling, its resting on it, but that ceiling cannot safely hold the weight of a normal human being on areas between these metal support posts.

[SketchyCroftPpl]

Well considering that you are all techs and such, what about bulding a railing for it and having it inspected. The safty harness idea works but its a pain in the ass. Some parent of a tech complained about our safety in the catwalk a few years ago and made the school spend all this money to buy harnesses for us but no one actually wears them ever, and theres an eye beam that runs right nexto the enterance of the catwalk and some people just climb right up that to get in there, and its about 25 - 30 ft up.

~Nick

[falcon]

your catwalks seem alot like ours. Above the house, covered by ceiling drywall, the wood planks about two feet or so above the drywall, jsut enough for hanging lights on the bars below. There shouldn't be a railing along the front of the catwalk so you can SAFELY hang lights without worrying about hitting your head, but all other sides should have railings. The ceiling drywall should be able to hold up to 150 lbs due to the density and thickness required by code (at least BC code anyway). I can crawl along the drywall if I really have to at ours. There should be no need for a fall protection system, but a horizontal line and tethers will work fine. Just make sure the tethers are long enough that you can work with the lights hanging there.

[jwl868]

The OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Standards (29CFR1910) call for guarded platforms at 4 feet and higher. The OSHA Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (29CFR1926) call for guarding platforms at 6 feet and higher.


Interesting that ceiling drywall code. But is that what the code really says? - usually floor loadings and roof loadings are given in a weight per unit area. Relying on drywall to support one's weight just doesn't seem like a good idea. One also hopes that the fasteners/support for the drywall has the same requirements. The code could be for the board itself, but not the board/fastener system.


Joe

[ship]

Remember that it's possible the plaster ceilings they are talking about are steel mesh reinforced and a concrete/plaster mixture not just drywall.

Always keep to stepping on the steel supports to a ceiliing structure, but in general, a industrial ceiling they are probably talking about has a much larger live load rating upon it.

If other than this method of construction with the mix and mesh, normal drywall would be very unsafe to walk upon.

Idea here is still that you tend to want some form of OSHA approved horizontal fall protection in place when on a cat walk that could potentially allow for a person in it to fall by accident. Say if there is a catwalk but you have to lean far over to adjust a lighting fixture in such a way where your center of gravity is off balance. Much less even if within a ceiling if the catwalk itself does not have support rails to protect against loosing one's balance and falling off it.

Think a person walking along a truss top or platform without rails to catch one self on. Given a lack of this, than some form of being clipped into a horizontally run line that is sufficiently sized and rated to catch you would be necessary. This also given a harness that won't break your back in the fall, and safety lines that in failing by way of stitching reduce the ascent speed.

However just having the gear does not solve the at best 15 minute problem of emergency responders getting there in time for someone after a fall that given this fall now has the blood circulation cut off by way of harness. Such rescue requires rapid taking the person that fell out of the harness safely. This rescue trained is part of the fall protection program. All well and good to protect from fall, not much good if the blood does not get to the limbs after the fall while waiting for someone to rescue them. Much less if those untrained in rescue also fall in the attempt.

Otherwise on platforms, there is some debate as to say a Geni tower used at 6' high or even 16'. Given normal fall arrest equipment takes 10' to do it's job, you will hit the floor first. Short of using this you are not using the fall protection equipment as intended. Some debate about the distance traveled as to the shock value on a system verses that 10' factor but in distances over this, there is no debate about usefulness.

Note also that schools don't have to comply with OSHA. It's a good idea but short of doing it how the big boys do say a vertical fall arrest situation, it's hard to install safety programs to those not trained in it. Thinking oneself safe while not can also be more dangerous than being unsafe and knowing better.

Just some thoughts at random. Plaster ceilings have many forms above drywall. For OSHA type situations, it's no doubt talking about at least 1" thick drywall or concrete/steel reinforced ceilings. Not that they should be trusted in general to walk on, still for general use and in good condition, if you put your foot into the wrong place or loose your balance, such ceilings are designed to prevent the foot and body falling thru it in most cases where there is a user servicable access to the ceiling.

[jwl868]

I've been casting the OSHA net too widely, perhaps, although it’s a more conservative approach. While the rules are not applicable to all situations, the actual practices are a good starting point.

Federal employees and employees of States and "subdivisions of states" are specifically excluded from OSHA. (The law, OSH Act of 1970 Section 3 (5), actually excludes these entities as "employers".) But many states include public employees under OSHA through state programs. While a school district may not be a "subdivision of a state", if the district receives funding from the state, then (based on the interpretations that I read), the school employees would be considered "State employees" and not be covered. (I have no idea if there is a minimum amount of funding the triggers the "subdivision of the State" criteria, or if it is the State law that implements the public schools that triggers the " subdivision of the State" criteria. I suspect that it is the latter.)

Note that students are not protected by OSHA (except when they are employees of an entity that must comply with OSHA, and OSHA interpretations are very clear about this).

However, private schools and schools in states where public employees are covered by a state program would be covered under OSHA. In this case, the teaching and custodial staff do fall under OSHA. Changing a light in the auditorium could be a custodial function and therefore, access to the light by the employee must be safe, per OSHA. The students would not be protected directly by OSHA, but many workplace situations should meet the OSHA standards.

Regardless, I would expect most school districts to have some sort of "safe work practices" program in place, if for no reason than to address potential liability issues. It would be paradoxical that a student could be allowed to work in an unsafe situation, but an employee would be prevented from doing the same task.


Joe

[ledieu]

If you go for the overhead safety line I believe it must be anchor to the structure every 4 metres if only one person is using the system. You must have 3 'cow bells' (short ropes with carabiners on the end) attached to your harness and must maintain at least 2 points of contact with the system at all times. Thats my understanding of the british standards anyway.