Anchor point during crane lifting - Fall protection and prevention
Good evening,
Can anyone provide insights on the proper and approved anchor points for workers when ascending to hook slings onto a load, as well as for ensuring safe descent afterward? Specifically, what best practices and considerations have you found most effective in selecting anchor points that ensure both worker safety and regulatory compliance?
For instance, in the absence of nearby fixed or permanent structures, would crane structures and hooks be acceptable as temporary anchor points for individual workers using SRLs, serving as fall protection system?
Thanks,
Comments (2)
Is this for general industry or construction industry? Not sure what type of crane you're referring to or the task.
With that being said, OSHA does specifically permit tying off to a crane hook or a BTH attachment in construction industry (see 1926.1423), but it's not specifically outlined in general industry standards. There are some hoops you have to jump through, though, so be sure to follow the requirements for that.
Another option would be using a mobile anchor point, such as Malta Dynamics' Mobile Grabber.
I've fielded this one on the project site before. First off, Drew is correct in everything he said. The only thing I have to add is that whatever the sequence is, the worker cannot tie off to the headache ball if a load is rigged to it. "Other structures" that are not the headache ball are not addressed by the standard and I wouldn't open that can of worms. Tying off to random structures involves letters, attorney's and engineers. I don't know your specific scenario, but here are some suggestions.
1. Ladders qualify as a work platform provided it's not used for egress. If you can have one that reaches, the guy can disengage the slings that way. Properly set up and trained on, it's no different that a sparky inside a hospital running conduit overhead with two hands on an approved ladder. If the ladder is over two stories though, roughly, FP is required.
2. A high reach aerial boom lift. The basket booms up, the worker is tied off, he disengages the slings and booms down.
3. An assist crane with a man basket. There are a lot of regulations for this activity in the standard, make sure you read up on them. Cost can be controlled by renting a crane with enough safety factor to do it safely without need to rent a 90 ton hydraulic crane.
4. If what your unloading continuously, consider erecting a scaffolding from which the slings can be disengaged.
5. Research mobile anchor points, there's one out there for every application. I once saw a mobile anchor that was a giant rubber bladder you fill with water.
From what you described, I think a piece of mobile operating equipment that has an approved tie off point inside for the worker so he can reach to disengage the slings is kind of where you might be going?I hope that helps, good luck.