Fall Protection System- Which requires engineers?

[Abriana Schellenberg]

#105082

Which fall protection systems require a professional engineer in Alberta to stamp them/ design them? Please include any items listed in the below list.

Fixed Ladders:

Ladder Platforms:

Handrails:

Double Bar Safety Gates on Platforms or at the top of ladders:

Permanent fixed anchor points- welded:

Permanent fixed anchor points- bolted:

Rail horizontal rail system attached to a building structure with attached SRL(purpose to climb on top of dry rail cars with tools to unplug the rail car). :

Rail- horizontal rail system- mounted onto the ground either a dirt pile, with an attached SRL (purpose to climb on top of dry rail cars with tools to unplug the rail car):

[Haley O’Halloran]

#105185

In Alberta, the fall protection systems that must be designed or stamped by a professional engineer include:

Fixed Ladders: If a fixed ladder is made of a material other than steel, the employer must ensure that the design is certified by a professional engineer as being as strong as or stronger than that required by PIP Standard STF05501.
Bolted and Welded Permanent Fixed Anchor Points: You must ensure that an anchor rated at two times the maximum arresting force is designed, installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, or specifications certified by a professional engineer.
Rail Systems Attached To The Ground Or A Structure: A rigid horizontal fall protection system must be designed, installed and used in accordance with either the manufacturer’s specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer.

Handrails and double bar safety gates do not need to be designed by a professional engineer in order to be used on a work site, but you should use them in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. However:

Handrails must be continuously protected from falling by EITHER: (i) equipping the fixed ladder or climbable structure with an integral fall protection system that meets the requirements of one of the following:

CSA Z259.2.4-15, Fall Arresters and Vertical Rigid Rails;
CSA Z259.2.5-17, Fall Arresters and Vertical Lifelines; or
ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components.

Learn more about the details of Alberta’s Fall Protection Policy here to ensure your work site is safe and compliant.

-OHSInsider Staff

[Glenn Demby]

#105186

I hope this answers your question. If not, you can contact me directly at glennd@bongarde.com. I’m the editor of OHS Insider.

Fixed Ladders: OHS Code requires fixed ladders to meet Process Industry Practices (PIP) which are created by engineers, specifically:
130(1) An employer must ensure that a fixed ladder installed on or after April 30, 2004 meets the requirements of PIP Standard STF05501 (February 2002), Fixed Ladders and Cages, published by the Construction Industry Institute.
130(3) If a fixed ladder is made of a material other than steel, the employer must ensure that the design is certified by a professional engineer as being as strong as or stronger than that required by PIP Standard STF05501.
Rest Platforms: Fixed ladders are also required to have rest platforms. However, the following exception applies: Rest platform exemption 132 If each worker working on a drilling rig or service rig on a fixed ladder is equipped with and wears a climb assist device that complies with the manufacturer’s specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer, an employer is not required to (a) provide the ladder with rest platforms, or (b) have the side rails extend not less than 1050 millimetres above the point at which the workers get on or off.
Ladder Platforms: I’m not sure what you mean by “ladder platforms.” However, the Code specifies that “climbable structure” means an engineered or architectural work where the primary method of accessing the structure is by climbing the structure with the principle means of support being the climber’s hands and feet;
Handrails: The Code doesn’t say handrails on stairs must be designed by an engineer but does set out criteria: 123(2) An employer must ensure that a stairway is equipped with a handrail that (a) extends the entire length of the stairway, (b) is secured and cannot be dislodged, (c) is between 800 millimetres and 920 millimetres above the front edge of the treads, and (d) is substantial and constructed of lumber that is not less than 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres or material with properties the same as or better than those of lumber.
Guardrails: The Code doesn’t say guardrails must be designed by an engineer but does set out safety standards they must meet: 315(1) An employer must ensure that a guardrail required by this Code (a) has a horizontal top member installed between 920 millimetres and 1070 millimetres above the base of the guardrail, (b) has a horizontal, intermediate member spaced mid-way between the top member and the base, (c) has vertical members at both ends of the horizontal members with intermediate vertical supports that are not more than 3 metres apart at their centres, and (d) is constructed of lumber that is 38 millimetres by 89 millimetres or of material with properties the same as or better than those of lumber. 315(2) Despite subsection (1), a temporary guardrail does not require a horizontal intermediate member if it has a substantial barrier positioned within the space bounded by the horizontal top member, toe board and vertical members that prevents a worker from falling through the space. 315(3) An employer must ensure that a guardrail is secured so that it cannot move in any direction if it is struck or if any point on it comes into contact with a worker, materials or equipment.
Double Bar Safety Gates on Platforms or at the top of ladders: 130(4) The employer must ensure that a self-closing double bar safety gate, or equally effective barrier, is provided at ladderway floor openings and platforms of fixed ladders installed on or after April 30, 2004. To the extent that these components are integral to the fixed ladder and the fixed ladder design must meet PIP/engineering standards, then yes, the gate design would also have to meet engineering standards.
Permanent fixed anchor points: First of all, the Code defines “anchor” as an engineered component for coupling a fall arrest or travel restraint system. Under Sec. 152, an anchor rated at 2 times the maximum arresting force must be designed, installed and used in accordance with EITHER the manufacturer’s specifications OR specifications certified by a professional engineer. The Code doesn’t specifically address whether the anchor points are bolted or welded.
Rail horizontal rail system attached to a building structure with attached SRL(purpose to climb on top of dry rail cars with tools to unplug the rail car). I’m not sure if this is on point but Sec. 153(1) says an employer must ensure that a flexible horizontal lifeline system manufactured on or after July 1, 2009 meets the requirements of (a) CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems, or (b) the applicable requirements of CSA Standard Z259.16-04, Design of Active Fall-Protection Systems. 153(2) An employer must also ensure that a rigid horizontal fall protection system is designed, installed and used in accordance with (a) the manufacturer’s specifications, or (b) specifications certified by a professional engineer

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