OSHA’s New Fall Protection Rule Under Court Review
By Bruce Rolfsen Overview of the Legal Challenge A federal appeals court has been asked to review OSHA’s new fall protection rule for general industry that covers about 112 million workers ( Corp. Cleaning Serv. Inc. v. OSHA, 7th Cir. App., No. 16-4244, 12/27/16 ). The rule takes effect Jan. 17, though some compliance deadlines are delayed. Corporate Cleaning Services …
OSHA now enforcing regular roof anchor inspections, load testing and recertification
OSHA has revised and updated its general industry standards on walking-working surfaces to prevent and reduce workplace falls, injuries, and fatalities associated with window cleaning and suspended stage work. Why OSHA’s New Fall Protection Rules Matter for Building Owners OSHA has revised and updated its general industry standards on walking-working surfaces to prevent and reduce workplace falls, other injuries, and …
Annual Roof Anchor Inspections Program
Proactively Schedule Your Roof Anchor Inspections Well, we are a couple of weeks into spring, and in our personal and professional lives, we look forward to spring cleaning. Maybe not look forward to it, but cobwebs must inevitably be swept away, fertilized lawns must be fertilized, and windows must be cleaned. Most of our clients are on an annual roof …
Managing Liability for Roof Safety and Fall Protection
Reflecting on Pro-Bel’s Role in Risk Management It’s the end of a successful 2015. As a Department Manager, I am inclined to sit back and reflect on what my department did well, what we did not do well, and how we can grow the business while continuing to exceed our customers’ expectations. This type of introspection forces me to look …
Ontario’s New Code: Roof Anchors for Six-Storey Wood Frame Buildings
A significant change to the Ontario Building Code (OBC) was just revealed that positively affects the fall arrest anchor and tie-back equipment industry. Effective January 1, 2015, wood frame buildings could be built up to six stories tall in Ontario (an increase from four stories). Since roof anchor systems are required for maintenance and window washing equipment on buildings that are eight …
Fall Protection Equipment on Building Terraces: Best Practices
As architects continue to imagine and design complex projects, it is becoming increasingly common for fall arrest and tieback equipment to be located on building terraces. As the condominium market is still competitive, builders and developers are devising special features and incentives to lure buyers. Items like barbecues, bars, built-in kitchens, gardens, lounges, hot tubs, patio furniture, and even pools …
Retrofitting Fall Protection Systems
Whenever possible, it’s a best practice to ensure that the installation of fall arrest and tie-back anchors for window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection systems are completed in the “new construction” phase. However, often times builders will have a misguided attempt to save the client money on construction costs without considering the potential impacts a retrofit will have down the line. …
Pro-Bel’s Inspections Department: Ensuring Safety and Compliance
The Inspections Department at Pro-Bel is an integral part of our company. It is dedicated to ensuring that fall arrest and tie-back anchors (for window washing systems and fall protection equipment) are inspected annually in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and Department/Ministry of Labour regulations. The Department ensures annual inspections of fall arrest and tie-back anchors, promoting safety for high-rise workers. Our …
Strength and Force Standards for Fall Arrest and TieBack Roof Anchors
Many people do not have first-hand experience with fall arrest and tieback roof anchors (for window washing systems and fall protection equipment) and are not versed in high-rate energy performance methods. An ideal fall arrest and tieback roof anchor is designed to meet the strength and force standards contained in Federal OSHA 29CFR1910.66 Appendix C. To arrest a fall in …