Designing Fall Protection & Suspended Access Systems

What are the challenges of designing a suspended access and fall protection system?

Designing a fall protection and suspended access systems is a serious matter, requiring a knowledge of hundreds of pages of relevant OSHA regulations and ANSI standards so as to avoid potential liability. A well-designed-system is safe, compliant and efficient for the users, thereby, reducing operational costs and liability to the building owner.

What are important considerations when designing a system?

First, determine the purpose of the system. Simply stating a “window washing system” in some construction specification — is not adequate. For example, safely accessing window washing equipment installed within 15 feet of an unprotected edge requires an additional fall protection system. This additional system will be used to reach the window washing equipment safely, but not to clean the windows. Similarly, building maintenance personnel who approach within 15-feet of an unguarded roof edge are required to use personal fall protection system. Lack of understanding the basic requirements has led many well-intentioned designers to create latent hazards.

Are you qualified to design fall protection and suspended access systems?

While a designer may have some knowledge about how fall protection and suspended access systems work, OSHA requires that a system be designed by a qualified person. see OSHA’s definition of a qualified person below. Let Summit Anchor Co. assist with your building’s system layout.
Click here to fill out Summit Anchor’s design request.

A qualified person as defined by OSHA: “Qualified describes a person who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems related to the subject matter, the work, or the project.” (OSHA Subpart D. Section 1910.21 scope and definitions)