So a few things I'll mention about PFAS in lifts relating to the picture. I will mention this is based on
OSHA and limited to the U.S.
1. Based on
OSHA and
ANSI you are not allowed to connect one "connecting" device to another. So using the
connector on the
lanyard to attach to the larger
carabiner is right out. Regardless of if that larger
carabiner is appropriately rated for PFAS, which is is clearly not.
2.
3) The guardrails are not suitable as fall protection
lanyard attachment points. Sometimes one-man lifts have appropriate attachment points on the mast-side of the bucket that could be used for this. If the lift does not have a manufacturer-approved attachment
point, the user should be connecting their self-retracting
lanyard to structure above their work area.
Attaching to the building structure while in a lift is a no-no. This is only permissible when transferring from a lift to structure or back, and then you have to maintain 100% tie off. The reasoning for this is should the lift happen to move for any reason you don't become the weakest link in a "Lift tethered to the building" chain. Imagine what would happen if your
foot,
leg, or arm became stuck in the lift as it moved away from the structure.
3. As has been mentioned, the key in lifts is not actually fall ARREST, but fall RESTRAINT. A short non-shock absorbing
lanyard or self retractable life
line connected to a belt is more appropriate than a 6'
shock absorbing
lanyard attached to a dorsal ring on a full body harness.
4. The letter of the
OSHA law is fall restraint is needed in
Boom lifts at all times. Scissor lifts are classified as movable
scaffold as mentioned, so as long as the railings are in good working order, you do not need fall restraint. Man lifts such as the Genie
AWP series are like scissor lifts in terms of fall restraint. Railings are good as long as they are "used" properly. The attachment
point on them is for fall restraint not fall arrest so using the 6'
lanyard and full body harness set up is not an acceptable solution.
5. Lets harp on the fall restraint vs. arrest thing a little more. If you us a fall arrest
system in a left, you MUST have a written rescue plan as defined by
ANSI Z359. And you have to train on the rescue plan. No such requirement for fall restraint. With the body belt and short
lanyard/
SRL there is never a fall, and no need to rescue a victim.
6. If the client requires a harness/belt in every lift, so be it. BP (British petroleum) has this requirement on ALL job sites, including when they do a corporate event. So fall restraint for everyone in anything that goes up that isn't a ladder. Just make sure your doing it the right way so that it actually will work to prevent injury.
As always, I am sure i forgot something so please ask questions. After 5 years of writing the PFAS standard for
portable structures and becoming a Arial &
scissor lift trainer I am sure things have leaked their way out of my noggin.
Regards,
Ethan