Just for the sake of a different perspective I work as an electrician (construction) along with working in
theatre doing lighting/sound/rigging/
etc. And not only that but I work and live in Canada, not the USA.
For the most-part I find that the general rules between the US and Canada are the same, if not very similar. In some cases the wording is a
bit different, and in others things differ much more noticeably. This is the same with electrical codes, building codes (much more of Canada has to deal with more of a snow-load than much of the US for example.).
Here when working on a
catwalk with adequate guard rails (particular heights, ratings, blah, blah...) you do not need a harness or further fall-restraint devices. This is unless you start reaching out, standing not on the
catwalk floor, or putting your body between the rails... or if you are expected to be doing any of these things. Then you need further fall restraint. While the letter of the law says all that is required is a fall restraint belt and rope (while adequately designed) most often you will find people insisting on a harness and arresting
lanyard. This is the exact same with vertical 'scissor' lifts and scaffolding (under various circumstances).
However often people do not tie-off in these circumstances to an anchorage
point designed for fall arrest. However technically in violation of the law, this is generally accepted even my ministry of labour inspectors.
Here YOU cannot decide that a
point is actually rated or not for fall arrest, the 5000# rule-of-thumb is frowned upon. You are supposed to have an engineering firm ensure that a particular anchorage
point can be used for fall arrest. The only exception is pre-engineered devices/points when installed to the manufacturer's directions.
However in the past I have seen many times when even with pre-engineered devices I would not like the structure supporting it to take the force of an arrested fall.
The guideline is that any worker who has had an arrested fall must be rescued in no more than 30 minutes. A written plan must (however usually is not, except in theaters and the sort. Never seen one for most sites I've been on) be created with an action plan on how a worker is to be rescued in the event of a fall. Often this is delegated to the fire department. However some places like Canada's Wonderland (amusement
park) have a high-angle rescue team.
I have to say even though 99% of the time someone who is in a lift is wearing a harness (often improperly), they are connected to an arresting
lanyard, to something that is not meant to take an arresting load. I would not like to see someone arrested from a fully extended
scissor lift. And here you MUST be tied off in a lift whenever you are above 10' from
ground level, not just when leaning out of the lift.
I know a
bit of a rant. But meah, I haven't posted much in a long time.