Alert First Aid
Manitoba Legislation
Manitoba Fall Protection
This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used for any other purpose.
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PART 1
DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL MATTERS
Definitions
1.1 The following definitions apply in this regulation.
…
"fall arrest system" means a fall protection system that is designed to stop a
worker's fall before the worker hits the surface below.
"fall protection system" means a fall protection system set out in section 14.6.
"full body harness" means a device consisting of connected straps designed to contain the torso and pelvic area of a worker with provision for attaching a lanyard, lifeline or other component
"lanyard" means a flexible line of webbing, synthetic fibre or wire rope that is
used to secure a full body harness to a lifeline or anchor.
"travel restraint system" means a fall protection system that is designed to
prevent a worker from travelling to a location where there is a risk of falling.
PART 14
FALL PROTECTION
Application
14.1(1) This Part applies to every workplace where there is a risk of a worker falling
(a) a vertical distance of 3 m or more;
(b) a vertical distance of less than 3 m where there is an increased risk of injury
due to the surface or item on which the worker might land;
(c) into operating machinery or moving parts of the machinery;
(d) into water or another liquid;
(e) into or onto a hazardous substance or object;
(f) through an opening on a work surface; or
(g) a vertical distance of more than 1.2 m from an area used as a path for a
wheelbarrow or similar equipment.
14.1(2) This Part does not apply to a workplace that is subject to Division 2 of Part 31
(Roof Work).
Safe work procedures
14.2(1) An employer must
(a) develop and implement safe work procedures to prevent falls at the workplace;
(b) train workers in the safe work procedures; and
(c) ensure that workers comply with the safe work procedures.
14.2(2) The safe work procedures must identify the fall hazards at the workplace and
set out the measures that will be used to prevent falls at the workplace.
14.2(3) When this Part requires the use of a guardrail system or fall protection
system at a workplace, the safe work procedures must address the following issues:
(a) the location of each guardrail system or fall protection system to be used at the
workplace;
(b) the procedures used to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble a
fall protection system;
(c) where applicable, the rescue procedures to be used for rescuing a worker after
a fall has been arrested.
GUARDRAIL SYSTEMS
Guardrail system requirements
14.3 Subject to section 14.6, an employer must ensure that a guardrail system is
used where there is a risk of a worker falling in any of the circumstances set out in
subsection 14.1(1).
Guardrail requirements
14.4(1) An employer must ensure that a guardrail
(a) is at least 900 mm high and not more than 1,060 mm above the working
surface, with an intermediate rail at between 450 and 530 mm above the working
surface; and
(b) is constructed and secured to resist a static load of 900 N in any direction in
which the load may be applied at any point on the top rail and on any intermediate
rail.
14.4(2) A guardrail must have a toe board securely fastened to the posts and
extending from the surface of the working area to a height of at least 125 mm when
there is a risk of falling objects.
14.4(3) If a guardrail is made from wood, it must
(a) be free from splinters and protruding nails; and
(b) have a top and mid rail of at least 38 mm H 89 mm securely supported on
posts of at least 38 mm H 89 mm and spaced at not more than 2.4 m.
Temporary guardrail removal
14.5 An employer may temporarily remove a guardrail when it is necessary to do
so to facilitate work in the immediate area. The employer must ensure that any worker
in the area uses a fall protection system while the guardrail is removed.
FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Fall protection systems
14.6 When the use of a guardrail system is not reasonably practicable or would
not be effective, an employer must ensure that the worker is protected by at least one of
the following fall protection systems:
(a) a travel restraint system;
(b) a fall arrest system;
(c) a safety net;
(d) another fall protection system approved by the director.
Requirements for fall protection systems
14.7(1) An employer must ensure that a fall protection system
(a) is designed, installed, tested, used and maintained in accordance with the
applicable requirements of the following standards:
(i) CSA Standard Z259.1-05, Body Belts and Saddles for Work Positioning
and Travel Restraint,
(ii) CAN/CSA Standard Z259.2.1-98 (R2004), Fall Arresters, Vertical Lifelines,
and Rails,
(iii) CAN/CSA Standard Z259.2.2-98 (R2004), Self-Retracting Devices for
Personal Fall-Arrest Systems,
(iv) CSA Standard Z259.2.3-99 (R2004), Descent Control Devices,
(v) CSA Standard Z259.10-06, Full Body Harnesses,
(vi) CSA Standard Z259.11-05, Energy Absorbers and Lanyards,
(vii) CAN/CSA Standard Z259.12-01 (R2006), Connecting Components for
Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS),
(viii) CSA Standard Z259.16-04, Design of Active Fall-Protection Systems,
(ix) CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal Lifeline Systems,
(x) ANSI Standard 10.11-1989 (R1998), Personnel & Debris Nets for
Construction & Demolition Operations - Safety Requirements for Personnel
and Debris Nets - American National Standard for Construction and
Demolition Operations;
(b) designed and certified as safe by a professional engineer and installed, tested,
used and maintained in accordance with the specifications certified by the
professional engineer.
14.7(2) Despite the reference to safety belts in CSA Standard Z259.1-05, Body Belts
and Saddles for Work Positioning and Travel Restraint, an employer must ensure that a
safety belt is not used as part of a fall protection system at the workplace.
Inspection and maintenance
14.8(1) An employer must ensure that the equipment used as part of a fall protection
system is
(a) inspected before use on each work shift by
(i) subject to subsection (2), the worker who uses the fall protection system,
or
(ii) a competent person other than the worker using the system;
(b) kept free from any substance or condition that could contribute to deterioration
of the equipment; and
(c) maintained in good working order and in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications.
14.8(2) When a safety net is used, the net must be inspected by a competent person
before each work shift.
Inspection after fall arrest
14.9 After a fall protection system has arrested the fall of a worker, an employer
must ensure that the system is not returned to service until it has been inspected and
certified as safe by the manufacturer or a professional engineer.
Defective components
14.10 When a component of a fall protection system is defective in condition or
function, an employer must not use the component and must immediately remove it
from service and either return it to the manufacturer to be repaired or replaced or
destroy it.
Training
14.11 An employer must ensure that a worker using a fall protection system is
trained in its use, care and inspection by a competent person.
Travel restraint systems
14.12 When a travel restraint system is used, an employer must ensure that
(a) the travel restraint system consists of a full body harness with adequate
attachment points;
(b) the full body harness is attached by a lifeline or lanyard to a fixed support that
meets the requirements of section 14.14 (fixed support system requirements); and
(c) the length of the lifeline or the lanyard is selected so that the worker can only
proceed to within one metre of an opening or edge.
Fall arrest systems
14.13(1) When a fall arrest system is used, an employer must ensure that the system
(a) consists of a full body harness with adequate attachment points;
(b) is attached by a lifeline or lanyard to an independent fixed support that meets
the requirements of subsection 14.14(1);
(c) is designed in accordance with CSA Standard Z259.16-04, Design of Active
Fall-Protection Systems and CSA Standard Z259.13-04, Flexible Horizontal
Lifeline Systems;
(d) is manufactured so that a worker's free fall distance does not exceed 1.2 m
excluding the increase in the total fall distance resulting from the use of shock
absorbers; and
(e) is arranged so that a worker cannot
(i) hit the ground or an object or level below the work, or
(ii) swing in a manner that poses a risk to the safety or health of a worker.
14.13(2) When a lanyard referred to in clause (1)(b) is equipped with a shock absorber
or other similar device, the shock absorber or device must comply with CSA Standard
Z259.11-05, Energy Absorbers and Lanyards.
14.13(3) An employer must ensure that a fall arrest system does not include a shock
absorber if wearing or using one could cause a worker to hit the ground or an object or
level below the work.
14.13(4) An employer must ensure that the fall arrest system does not subject a
worker who falls to a peak dynamic fall arrest force greater than 8 kN.
Fixed support system requirements
14.14(1) The owner of a building or structure must ensure that a permanent
anchorage system used as the fixed support in a travel restraint system or fall arrest
system for that building meets the following requirements:
(a) the anchor has an ultimate capacity of at least 22.2 kN in any direction in which
the load may be applied for each worker attached;
(b) the anchorage system is certified by a professional engineer as having the
required load capacity;
(c) where the anchorage system is used in conjunction with a suspended work
platform, the system is designed, constructed and used in accordance with
CAN/CSA Standard-Z91-02, Health and Safety Code for Suspended Equipment
Operations and CAN/CSA-Z271-98 (R2004), Safety Code for Suspended
Elevating Platforms.
14.14(2) When a permanent anchorage system cannot be used at a workplace, an
employer must ensure that the temporary fixed support in a travel restraint system or fall
arrest system meets the following requirements:
(a) when a fall arrest system without a shock absorber is used, a support used in a
fall arrest system must be capable of supporting a static force of at least 8 kN
without exceeding the allowable unit stress for each material used in the
fabrication of the anchor point;
(b) when a shock absorber is used in a fall arrest system, the support must be
capable of supporting a static force of at least 6 kN without exceeding the
allowable unit stress for each material used in the fabrication of the anchor point;
(c) a support used in a travel restraint system must be capable of supporting a
static force of at least 2 kN without exceeding the allowable unit stress for each
material used in the fabrication of the anchor point.
No sharp edges
14.15 An employer must ensure that no component of a travel restraint system or a
fall arrest system comes into contact with a sharp edge that could cut, chafe or abrade
any component of the system.
Fall arrest systems and powered mobile equipment
14.16 When a fall arrest system is used on powered mobile equipment, an
employer must ensure that the system is attached to an anchor in accordance with the
specifications of the manufacturer of the powered mobile equipment.
Fall protection on vehicles
14.17 When a worker may have to climb on a vehicle or its load at any location
other than a garage, warehouse or other permanent facility and it is not reasonably
practicable to provide a fall protection system for the worker, an employer must
(a) take steps to eliminate or reduce the need for a worker to climb onto the
vehicle or its load; and
(b) provide information, instruction and training to a worker on safe work
procedures for climbing or working on the vehicle or its load.
Full body harness
14.18 When a worker uses a full body harness, an employer must ensure that
(a) the full-body harness and connecting linkage are used, maintained, adjusted
and stored in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications; and
(b) the full-body harness is properly fitted to the worker.
Lanyards
14.19 When a worker uses a lanyard, an employer must ensure that the lanyard is
(a) as short as work conditions permit;
(b) equipped with suitable snap hooks;
(c) free of imperfections, knots and splices, other than end terminations;
(d) protected by padding where it passes over sharp edges;
(e) protected from heat, flame, abrasive or corrosive materials during use;
(f) used, maintained, adjusted and stored in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications; and
(g) used by only one worker at a time.
Lifeline requirements
14.20 When a worker uses a lifeline, an employer must ensure that the lifeline is
(a) suitable for the conditions in which the lifeline is to be used, having regard to
factors including strength, abrasion resistance, extensibility and chemical stability;
(b) free of imperfections, knots and splices, other than end terminations;
(c) protected by padding where the lifeline passes over sharp edges;
(d) protected from heat, flame, abrasive or corrosive materials during use;
(e) fastened to a secure anchor point or anchor points as required under this Part;
and
(f) installed, used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications or specifications certified by a professional engineer.
Vertical lifelines
14.21 When a worker uses a vertical lifeline, an employer must ensure that
(a) the lower end of the vertical lifeline extends to the ground or to a safe landing;
and
(b) the vertical lifeline is protected at the lower end to ensure that the line cannot
be fouled by equipment.
Horizontal lifelines
14.22(1) When a worker uses a horizontal lifeline system, an employer must ensure
that the specifications for the system are kept at the worksite and are readily accessible
by a worker.
14.22(2) The specifications for a horizontal lifeline system must address the following
issues:
(a) the arrangement of the system, including the anchorage or fixed support
system;
(b) the components used;
(c) the number of workers that can safely be attached to it;
(d) the instructions for installation or erection;
(e) the maximum load capacity of the system.
14.22(3) When a permanent horizontal lifeline system from a manufacturer is installed
at a workplace, an employer must ensure that, before the system is put into use, the
system is certified as being properly installed according to the manufacturer's
specifications by one of the following:
(a) the manufacturer;
(b) a person authorized by the manufacturer;
(c) a professional engineer.
14.22(4) When a permanent horizontal lifeline system designed by a professional
engineer is installed at a workplace, the employer must ensure that, before the system
is put into use, the system is certified as being properly installed according to the
engineer's specifications by a professional engineer.
Inspection and testing of safety nets
14.23(1) When a safety net is used, an employer must ensure that a professional
engineer or a competent person under a professional engineer's supervision inspects
and tests the installation of the safety net before it is put in service.
14.23(2) An employer must ensure that the safety net
(a) is installed not more than 7.70 m below the work area; and
(b) extends at least 2.5 m on all sides beyond the work area.
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
Erection of second floor exterior wall
14.24(1) When a worker is required to erect a second floor exterior wall on a
residential construction project in circumstances where it is not reasonably practicable
to provide a fall protection system for the worker, an employer must ensure that an
alternate safe work procedure is implemented to protect the safety and health of the
worker.
14.24(2) A safe work procedure implemented under subsection (1) must offer
protection to the worker that is equal or greater to the protection provided by a fall
protection system that meets the requirements of this Part.
Installation of wood trusses
14.25(1) When a worker is required to install wood trusses on a residential
construction project in circumstances where it is not reasonably practicable to provide a
fall protection system for the worker before the installation of roof sheeting, an employer
must ensure that an alternate safe work procedure is implemented to protect the safety
and health of the worker.
14.25(2) A safe work procedure implemented under subsection (1) must
(a) ensure that no work is performed by a worker while standing on the top plate of
the exterior walls of the structure; and
(b) offer protection to the worker that is equal or greater to the protection provided
by a fall protection system that meets the requirements of this Part.
Training and compliance
14.26 When an employer implements an alternate safe work procedure under
section 14.24 or 14.25, the employer must
(a) provide information, instruction and training on the safe work procedures to
workers; and
(b) ensure that workers comply with the safe work procedures.
BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
Required roof protection
14.27(1) The owner of a building that is more than five storeys tall or 15 m in height
that is constructed after the coming into force of this regulation must either
(a) provide a permanent perimeter guardrail system that meets the requirements
of this Part; or
(b) provide roof-level protection consisting of
(i) a continuous parapet or fencing not less than 900 mm in height, or
(ii) a system of lifeline anchors with one anchor set back a minimum of 3 m
from the edge of the roof for every six linear metres of unprotected roof edge.
14.27(2) When roof-level protection on a building consists of a system of lifeline
anchors, the owner of the building must ensure that
(a) each lifeline anchor is
(i) capable of resisting a force of 22.2 kN in any direction in which the load
may be applied for each worker attached, and
(ii) made of stainless steel or other material resistant to corrosion;
(b) the anchorage system is certified by a professional engineer as having the
required load capacity; and
(c) where an eyebolt is used as an anchor, that the interior opening of the eye
measures at least 38 mm.
Steel frame building requirements
14.28 During the construction of a steel frame building, the owner of the building
and the prime contractor responsible for the construction of the building must ensure
that the structural components of the building designed to accommodate a fall
protection system
(a) are designed, approved and certified as safe by a professional engineer; and
(b) include
(i) double connections at each column and at beam webs over a column,
(ii) at least four anchor bolts per column, and
(iii) perimeter columns that extend at least one metre above the finished floor
to permit the installation of perimeter safety cables.
Definition: "anchor"
14.29 In this Part, "anchor" means a secure point of attachment for a lifeline or
lanyard.
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