QPS Services – Occupational Health and Safety Management System FPP001

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Document Title:

Fall Protection Plan

Document No:

FPP001

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REVISION RECORD:

DATE REVISION REVISION MADE MADE BY APPROVED BY

(Name & Signature) (Name & Signature)
H. Crause S. Maritz
01/04/2022 0 New document

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DOCUMENT CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE

2. SCOPE

3. LEGAL REFERENCES

4. DEFINITIONS

5. RESPONSIBILITIES

6. PROCEDURE
6.1. RISK ASSESSMENT
6.2. FALL PREVENTION
6.3. PROHIBITION OF LONE WORKERS
6.4. FALL ARREST EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
6.4.1.SAFETY HARNESS
6.4.2.SAFETY HARNESS AND LANYARD INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
6.4.3.DAMAGED EQUIPMENT
6.5. POST FALL RESCUE
6.5.1.SELF RESCUE
6.5.2.ASSISTED SELF RESCUE
6.5.3.FULLY ASSISTED RESCUE
6.6. LIFELINES

7. PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FITNESS

8. TRAINING

9. CONTROL OF DOCUMENT

10. RECORDS

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1. PURPOSE

The purpose f this document is to determine the requirements of a fall prevention and fall arrest equipment as
required by SANS 50361, ISO 45001 and Construction Regulations.

2. SCOPE

All employees of QPS Services who are required to work higher than 1.5 meters or within 2 meters of an
opening where the possibility of a fall of 1.5 meters or more exists, shall be required to adhere to the
requirements of the fall protection plan.

3. REFERENCES

Occupational Health and Safety Act: Section 8, 13 and 14

Construction Regulations 10
ISO 45001:2018 – 8.1
ISO 9001:2015 – 8.5.1
ISO 14001:2015 – 8.1

4. DEFINITIONS

COMPETENT PERSON: A person who has been declared competent by an accredited assessor by virtue of
his/her applicable training and experience.

PPE: Personal Protective Equipment

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: In this document, working at heights shall mean the following:
Any work required higher than 1.5 meters or within 2 meters of an opening where the
possibility of a fall of 1.5 meters or more exists.

OHSMS: Occupational Health and Safety Management System

5. RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Fall Protection Plan Developer

 Is responsible that this document is available and implemented.
 Ensure that all personnel are informed and trained to carry out such tasks.
 Supply adequate support to Supervisors to ensure that these instructions are enforced.
 Ensure that this document conforms to all legal requirements and that it is kept up to date.

5.2 SHE Manager

 Ensure that this document is transmitted to all employees required to work at heights.
 Ensure personnel acknowledge instructions by signing document number QPS001 (Attendance
Register).

5.3 Direct Supervisor

 Ensure that all employees are aware of the requirements of this document.
 Ensure that all checks and inspections are carried out as set out in this document.
 Assisting employees when conducting risk assessments on site.

5.4 Employee
 Responsible to perform activities involving working at heights following the steps as set out in this
document.
 Ensure that all checks and inspections are carried out as set out in this document.
 Report any incidents, near miss or suggestions to the direct supervisor.

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6. PROCEDURE

6.1 Risk Assessment

A risk assessment shall be conducted prior to any work commencing to determine the hazards and risks
associated with each task, including the requirements for fall protection and fall arrest equipment and
action to be taken should a fall occur.

The site supervisor, or the permit receiver, shall conduct each risk assessment and plant specific risk
assessment in the presence of employees required to work at heights at the exact location where the job
must be done.

The signature of each employee shall be obtained on the risk assessment to verify their understanding and
acceptance of the risks involved and the control measures applied.

The completed risk assessments shall be submitted to the client’s permit-issuing official before a permit to
work is issued.

6.2 Fall Prevention

All employees shall attach at least one section of the double lanyard to a fixed structure at all times.

All employees working at heights shall use a full body safety harness at all times.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
6.1.
6.2.
6.3. Prohibition of Lone Workers
No person shall be allowed to work alone while working at heights. There shall be at least three employees
working as a team. This will enable the team members to assist their colleague should a fall occur.

6.4. Fall Arrest Equipment and PPE

All employees required to work at heights shall, as a minimum requirement, be required to wear the
following PPE at all times:
 Hard hat fitted with a chin strap
 Two-piece flame retardant overall
 Gloves
 Steel cap safety boots
 Ear plug / muffs
 Safety spectacles

6.4.1. Safety Harness

All employees required to work at heights shall be required to wear a full body safety harness
(conforming to SANS 50361 requirements) fitted with double lanyards. These employees shall be
trained in the use and inspection of a full body safety harness.

Each harness shall be individually numbered and recorded on a register. Each employee issued
with a harness shall sign for it and the employee’s name shall be allocated to that specific number.

6.4.2. Safety Harness and Lanyard Inspection Requirements

Inspection of harnesses shall only be conducted by employees who have been trained to conduct
such inspections.

All harnesses shall be fitted with a distinctive inspection validity tag. These tags shall indicate, by
its colour, the validity period of the inspection. The colours to be used are as follows:
 January – March: ORANGE
 April – June: YELLOW

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 July – September: BLUE

 October – December: GREEN

Each harness shall be visually inspected daily before use, by the user. A weekly inspection shall
also be done and recorded on the inspection record document (INS002).

Each harness shall be inspected on a three-monthly basis by the site supervisor and recorded on
the inspection record document (INS002) and filed in the safety harness register. The inspection
tag shall be replaced with the corresponding colour, as mentioned above.

6.4.3. Damaged Equipment

Damaged harnesses or lanyards shall be withdrawn from use and sent to the SHE Department to
be destroyed immediately. The SHE Manager shall ensure that the safety harness register is
updated accordingly.

The unique number allocated to the equipment shall not be used in the future.

6.5. Post Fall Rescue

QPS Services will make use of the client’s emergency services to assist with the rescue in the event that
an employee falls. The most senior employee at the scene, usually the site supervisor, shall ensure that
the client’s emergency service is contacted immediately.

To minimise the risk of suspension trauma to the employee, the following rescue steps shall be followed:

6.5.1. Self-Rescue
If the employee is using the proper fall arrest equipment, installed it properly, is using it correctly
and has not been injured, they should in most cases be able to self-rescue as follows:
 The site supervisor shall report the incident to the client’s emergency services immediately, in
order for the ambulance to be dispatched.
 Team members shall make verbal contact with the employee that has fallen to help him stay
calm, establish whether they are injured and give him guidance during self-rescue.
 Employee climbs back up to the work platform from which he fell (normally only possible with
falls of 0.6 meter to 0.9 meter).
 Team members shall assist the employee back on to the work platform.
 The employee returns to ground or working level. The team members shall stay with the
employee to monitor him in case he is unstable.
 The employee shall be transported to the client’s medical centre by ambulance for evaluation.

6.5.2. Assisted Self-Rescue

If self-rescue is not possible, an assisted self-rescue will be performed by using a mechanical
assist winching system, following the steps below:
 The site supervisor shall report the incident to the client’s emergency services immediately, in
order for the rescue team to be send for and the ambulance dispatched.
 Team members shall make verbal contact with the employee to help him stay calm and
determine whether he is injured.
 Verbal contact shall be maintained during the entire rescue.
 While the rescue preparations are being made, do the following:
o If the employee’s harness has suspension relief straps, tell the employee to insert
their feet in the straps in order to relieve the pressure exerted by the harness
straps on his legs.
o If the harness is not equipped with suspension relief straps, lower a rope with a
loop at the end for the employee to use as a relief strap. Ensure that the rope is
correctly anchored.
o Encourage the employee to keep moving his legs while his feet are in the
suspension strap or rope.
 The site supervisor can check the following as a guideline to ensure that the rescue team
are following sufficient steps in order to rescue the employee:
o Attach the winching equipment to a securely installed, properly rated anchoring
point

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o Lower winch line to employee.

o Have the employee grab the hook on the end of the line and securely attach it to
the proper D-ring on his harness (if necessary, provide verbal directions to assist
the employee).
o A member of the rescue team must verify that there is a positive / secure
connection between the hook and the D-ring.
o The rescue team must raise or lower the fall employee to the nearest safe work
platform or to the floor or ground level.
 The employee shall be transported by the ambulance to the client’s medical station for
evaluation and possible further treatment.

6.5.3. Fully Assisted Rescue

These steps are to be followed if the employee is injured and is unable to attach themselves to the
rescue system.
 The site supervisor shall report the incident to the client’s emergency services immediately, in
order for the rescue team to be send for and the ambulance dispatched.
 Team members shall make verbal contact with the employee to help him stay calm and
determine whether he is injured.
 Verbal contact shall be maintained during the entire rescue.
 The site supervisor can check the following as a guideline to ensure that the rescue team
are following sufficient steps in order to rescue the employee:
o Attach the winching equipment to a securely installed, properly rated anchoring
point
o Rig separate lines for rescuers to use while carrying out the rescue.
o Lower a rescue team member to the suspended employee to attach the winch line
to the D-ring on the employee’s harness.
o Raise or lower the employee to the nearest safe work platform or lower the
employee to the ground.
o NOTE: unless there is a hazard that prevents the rescue team from doing so, any
employee that is injured or has been suspended in their harness for an unsafe
period of time, should be lowered to the ground so that first aid and medical
attention can be accessed as quickly as possible.)
o Provide first aid and required medical attention, ensuring that the possibility of
suspension trauma is addressed.

6.5.4. Ladder Rescue

If a ladder can be safely set up and the suspended employee can be safely reached by a rescuer
on the ladder, the following steps shall be followed:
 The site supervisor shall report the incident to the client’s emergency services immediately, in
order for the ambulance to be dispatched.
 Set up the ladder so that the suspended employee can be reached by a rescuer on the ladder.
 Rig separate life lines for the rescuer on the ladder.
 If the employee that has fallen is unconscious or due to injuries is unable to help during the
rescue and a second rescuer is required, consideration should be given to using an alternative
rescue procedure.
 Securely attach a separate lowering / winch line to the employee.
 Rescuers on the ground, or the closest safe surface, should raise the employee just enough to
allow for his lanyard to be disconnected and then lower the employee to the ground using the
lowering line.
 Once the employee is on the ground, he shall be transported to the client’s medical station for
evaluation and possible further treatment.

Collect all of the fall arrest equipment used by the employee and tag the equipment as DO NOT
USE. Document all of the items used as well as the employee’s name, the date and time of the fall
and the job being performed when the fall occurred. This will form part of the evidence during an
incident investigation.

6.5.5. Lifelines
All lifelines will be constructed and inspected by the client according to their procedures.

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In the event where lifelines are used, all employees shall be tied off 100% of at all times.

7. PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FITNESS

The physical and psychological fitness of employees shall be determined on employment and during annual
medical examinations, conducted by a registered medical practitioner.

To prevent injury to workers due to various mental and/or physical constrains (e.g. high blood pressure,
drug/alcohol abuse, family relation problems, etc.) records shall be retained and reviewed on an annual basis
by the SHE Manager to determine medical fitness of each employee per job category.

8. TRAINING

All employees required to work at height, shall be required to undergo training for “Working at Heights” by an
accredited institution.

Proof of competency shall be kept up to date and employees shall be sent for retraining upon expiration of the
certificates.

9. CONTROL OF DOCUMENT

This document shall form part of the OHSMS and shall therefore be considered a controlled document.
The site supervisor shall ensure that he is in possession of the most recent revision at all times.

10. RECORDS

The following is a list of all documents applicable to this document, with their retention period and responsible
person.

Document Name Document Retention Responsible Person

Number Period
Safety Harness Inspection List INS002 1 year SHEQ Manager
(Weekly/Quarterly)
Safety Harness Register N/A Indefinite SHEQ Manager
Medical Examination Certificates N/A (External) Indefinite SHEQ Manager
Training Records N/A (External) Until expiry date SHEQ Manager

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