OSHA Standards and History

HISTORY:

In 2016 There was a near miss where a descending technician requested a new rope from the owner since he felt the rope 'give' during his last descent. While the Owner was driving to the work site the technician decided he could do one more descent prior to the Owners arrival.

Sadly: the rope broke once he past that same questionable point in the rope and he dropped 4 storied prior to engaging his safety device.

As you can imagine OSHA was immediately involved and found that the window cleaning industry had minimal Standards associated with descending.

The resulting correction was the inception of 1910.27(b)(1)(i) and (ii).

The result was a safer industry overall since Liability was moved to the Building Owner and the Contractor.

There is no question that tested anchorage systems provide a safer workplace but hey also increase cost to both the Building Owner and Contract.

Juneau Window Cleaner Falls 4 Stories:

Published 10:16 pm Wednesday, October 5, 2016

A man reportedly fell four stories off the side of a downtown building onto an awning Wednesday afternoon, prompting a response from first responders who helped retrieve him. Juneau Police Department spokesman Lt. David Campbell said dispatchers received multiple calls about the incident at the Marine View Center apartment building on the corner of Ferry Way and Franklin Street at 1:09 p.m., but a name, age and medical status of the man who fell was not immediately available. According to a post on Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Facebook page, the man landed on a glass awning below him and was still tethered to a rope when the responders reached him.

OSHA CFR 1910(b)(1)(i):

Before any rope descent system is used, the building owner must inform the employer, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, certified, and maintained each anchorage so it is capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), in any direction, for each employee attached. The information must be based on an annual inspection by a qualified person and certification of each anchorage by a qualified person, as necessary, and at least every 10 years.

CFR 1910(b)(1)(ii):

The employer must ensure that no employee uses any anchorage before the employer has obtained written information from the building owner that each anchorage meets the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section. The employer must keep the information for the duration of the job.

Rope Descent Systems were not the only descending method that was changed by OSHA in 2017:

Notable Changes as described in the Standard below:

- Anchors must be inspected, tested and maintained to meet (1910.140(c)(13) which states 'capable of supporting at least 5,000 lbs. or .. maintains a safety factor of at least 2.'.

- Scaffolding systems must be inspected at least every year (g)(2)(ii).

- The Owner 'shall keep a record' of the annual inspections... (g)(2)(iii)

- The maintenance/inspection, or test if needed, shall be made at a minimum of every 30 days and the proving documentation must be in the Building Owners possession and 'available for review by the Secretary of Labor and the Employer. (g)(3)(1).

OSHA Standard 1910.140

Powered Platforms Regulations: (Swing stage scaffolding)

Publication Date 5-22-12017

Fed Register # 82:23312-23314

Regulation (Standards 29 CRF) Number 1910.66

1910.66(c)(3) Building owners of all installations, new and existing, shall inform the employer in writing that the installation has been inspected, tested,and maintained in compliance with the requirements of paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section and that all anchorages meet the requirements of § 1910.140(c)(13).

NOTE: 1910.140(c)(13) states:

(13) Anchorages, except window cleaners' belt anchors covered by paragraph (e) of this section, must be:

(i) Capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) for each employee attached; or

(ii) Designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.

1910.66(g)(2)(ii) All parts of the equipment including control systems shall be inspected, and, where necessary, tested by a competent person at intervals specified by the manufacturer/supplier, but not to exceed 12 months, to determine that they are in safe operating condition. Parts subject to wear, such as wire ropes, bearings, gears, and governors shall be inspected and/or tested to determine that they have not worn to such an extent as to affect the safe

operation of the installation.

1910.66(g)(2)(iii): The building owner shall keep a certification record of each inspection and test required under paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section. The certification record shall include the date of the inspection, the signature of the person who performed the inspection, and the number, or other identifier, of the building support structure and equipment which was inspected. This certification record shall be kept readily available for review by the Assistant Secretary of

Labor or the Assistant Secretary's representative and by the employer.

1910.66(g)(3)(i) A maintenance inspection and, where necessary, a test shall be made of each platform installation every 30 days, or where the work cycle is less than 30 days such inspection and/or test shall be made prior to each work cycle. This inspection and test shall follow procedures recommended by the manufacturer, and shall be made by a competent person.

1910.66(g)(3)(ii) The building owner shall keep a certification record of each inspection and test performed under paragraph (g)(3)(i) of this section. The certification record shall include the date of the inspection and test, the signature of the person who performed the inspection and/or test, and an identifier for the platform installation which was inspected. The certification record shall be kept readily available for review by the Assistant Secretary of Labor or the Assistant

Secretary's representative and by the employer.

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