Install, use and perform basic rescues from fall arrest systems and implement the fall protection plan (FAS)
Working at height without a fall arrest system (FAS) is a risk no worker should take. Learn to install, use and perform basic rescues from fall arrest systems — and implement a fall protection plan — with this CETA-accredited course from SACTS.
DESCRIPTION
Unit Standard (SAQA Reg. No 229995)
Statistics prove that working at height is a dangerous working condition, whatever the height. The most common accidents are falls from height and the injuries can be caused by trauma and bone fractures to ruptures of internal organs, massive internal bleeding and, ultimately, to death.If one wishes to prevent accidents involving falls from heights, priority must be given to having in place appropriate collective fall protection measures. When collective protection cannot be provided or the cost could be prohibitive, personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used, either to prevent the fall or to arrest the fall and to maintain the user in a safe position.
Successful candidates credited with this unit standard are able to:
- Explain the use of a range of fall arrest equipment and knowledge of applicable regulations
- Explain and use basic rope knots
- Install and use fall arrest systems
- Inspect and assemble fall arrest equipment and systems
- Interpret and implement a fall protection plan
- Perform basic fall arrest rescues to bring a casualty down to safety
COURSE DURATION: 2 days
NQF LEVEL: 2
CREDITS: 3
Quality Assured Partner: Construction Education And Training Authority
Description
Learners wishing to acquire the competencies in this course will be people working at height where there is a risk of injury from a fall. Learners will be involved in performing tasks at height. Qualifying learners are able to take responsibility for inspection and installation of fall arrest systems and for implementing fall protection plans and rescues. The area of focus of this programme will be;
Terms and Definitions of fall arrest equipment
- Introduction
- Fall arrest terms and definitions
- Full Body Harness and Work Positioning Systems
- Fall Restraint
- Fall Arrest
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems
- Positioning system
- Suspension system
- Retrieval
- Body Wear (Full-Body Harnesses & Belts)
Fall arrest equipment
- Connecting and decelerating devices
- Anchorage Connectors
- The risks of using a non-energy absorbing lanyard
- Using fall arrest equipment
Rescue Equipment
- Shock load
- Fall Factors
- Anchor loads
- Why should rescue equipment be available?
Rope Knots
- Figure 8
- Double figure 8
- Butterfly loop
- Double Overhand knot
- Super hunter knot
- Figure 8 follow thru
Klemheist
- Fall Arrest Rescue Equipment
Install Lifelines
- Vertical
- Horizontal
Safe use of Anchors
- Use full body harness
- Lanyards
Install and use fall arrest systems
- Falls are classified into four categories
- Elements off a fall
- Prevention of a fall
- Body support
- Using a Harness
- Use personal protective equipment when necessary
- General Safety Guidelines
- Unintentional disengagement
- Inappropriate connections
- Connecting web-loop
Different types of harnesses explained
- Group A
- Group D
- Group E
- Group L
- Group P
Inspect, Use and Store fall arrest equipment
- Inspections
- Scope of the inspection regime
- Formal Inspections
- Practical inspection procedure
- Examples of defects and damage
- Withdrawing lanyards from use
- Examples of lanyards that have been withdrawn
Report suspect equipment
- Record keeping
Lifelines and lanyards
- Shock Absorbing Lanyard
- Activated and intact energy absorbing lanyard
- Examples of defects and damage
- Withdrawing lanyards from use
Maintenance of fall protection equipment
- Care during use
- Why fall protection equipment may not be repaired
- After a fall
Storing a harness
- Cleaning and Storage
- Training requirement
- Signage
Ladders
- Fixed Ladders
- Portable Ladders
- Folding stepladders
- Platform stepladders
- Straight and Extension Ladders
- Double stepladders
- Trestle ladders
- Step and Trestle Ladders
- Office and Stockroom Ladders
- Ladder inspection
- Proper Ladder Care and Storage
- Placement
Interpret and Implement a fall protection plan
- Risk assessment
- Meaning of risk assessment and what the Act says about risk assessments
- General principles for a risk assessment
- Legislative Requirements
- Fall protection plan contents
- Usage of fall protection equipment.
- Fall Prevention Equipment
- Fall Arrest Equipment
- Areas for use should include
- Areas not to be used for anchorage
Working at heights hazards
Duties of the supervisor
Weather and physical conditions
Update and adapt the fall protection plan
Fall protection emergencies
- Perform basic fall arrest rescue to bring a casualty down
- Before the fall
- Fall arrest
- Suspension
- Interference among phases
- Before the potential fall
- After a fall
- For harness rescues
- Legislative requirements
- Rescue techniques
- General considerations for rescue
- All rescue planning and operations should address the following issues
- Types of rescue
- General considerations for carrying out a rescue
- General procedure for casualty recovery
- Suspension trauma
- Following an accident, the casualty should be
- Specific procedures
- Suspension Trauma
- Signs & symptoms that may be observed in an individual who is approaching orthostatic
- intolerance
- Factors that can affect the degree of risk of suspension trauma
- Conclusions and Recommendations
- Training
- Rescue Procedures
Entry Level Requirements Into This Programme?
- Certified copy of his/her ID document
- School certificate Grade 7 (Std 5) or Skills certificate equivalent NQF Level 1
- Be medically fit and in possession of a medical certificate, declaring him/her free from a condition that may prevent him/her from working safely at heights.
Learning Assumed To Be In Place And Recognition Of Prior Learning:
- Communication at NQF Level 1 or equivalent
- Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 1 or equivalent
Who Should Attend”
This CETA-accredited Fall Arrest Systems course is designed for people working at height where there is a risk of injury from a fall, who are involved in performing tasks at height. It is specifically recommended for:
- General construction workers — performing activities above two metres where there is a risk of falling from one level to another and required to use personal fall arrest equipment as part of their daily work on construction and civil engineering sites
- Rope access professionals — requiring formal fall arrest certification to work legally and safely on structures, buildings, masts and elevated surfaces across South Africa
- Structure assemblers — erecting and dismantling steel, timber and prefabricated structures at height where personal fall arrest systems are a daily operational requirement
- Roofing and cladding contractors — working on roofs and building facades where collective fall protection is not always possible and personal fall arrest equipment must therefore be used
- Maintenance and facilities workers — performing repairs, inspections and servicing on elevated equipment, roofs and structures where fall restraint and arrest systems are required
- Painters and plastering contractors — working at height on building surfaces where personal protective equipment is the primary means of fall protection
- Telecommunication and electrical technicians — installing and maintaining equipment on masts, towers, rooftops and elevated infrastructure where fall arrest systems are mandatory
- Supervisors and team leaders — responsible for ensuring workers at height are correctly harnessed, that fall arrest systems are properly installed and that fall protection plans are consequently implemented and maintained on site
- Safety officers and SHE Representatives — requiring a thorough understanding of fall arrest equipment, inspection requirements and fall protection plan implementation under the OHS Act and Construction Regulations
- Emergency response team members — trained to perform basic harness rescues, manage suspension trauma and coordinate emergency response in the event of a fall arrest incident on site
