Worker & Management Training
The fall protection systems were installed by
workers under the direct supervision of a qualified
person. According to 29 CFR 1926.32(l), a qualified
person is:
one 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 relating to the subject matter,
the work or the project.
For this wood-framing contractor, qualified persons
are supervisors and/or foremen who started
as skilled workers in the framing profession then
moved into a leadership role.
For training, supervisors as well as all other employees
at hiring initially receive 6 to 8 hours of classroom
instruction on the following subjects: 1) how
truss systems are permanently and/or temporarily
braced according to manufacturers’ instructions
and/or field interpretation of Structural Building
Components Association BCSI B2; 2) how sheathing
is affixed to trusses to create a proper structure to
accept fall protection anchors; 3) envelope requirements
for swing falls and proper ground clearances;
4) walkthrough of manufacturers’ instructions for
installing nailed anchors and truss-spanning anchors;
5) fitting and wearing a fall protection harness;
and 6) installation and theory of operation of
SRLs. Additionally, all workers receive field training
during which they must demonstrate their understanding
of the classroom methodologies.
During their training, supervisors are asked to
recommend a fall protection plan for a job site (including
equipment selection) and determine where
anchors might be installed. Then, they are observed
supervising installation of fall protection systems
and are quizzed on topics covered in the classroom.
Workers and supervisors are taught that fall
protection is a system—all components must work
together to properly protect workers. Using such a
method, all workers are empowered and taught to
install anchors appropriately under the supervision
of a competent person who is also qualified in the
subject matter of fall protection anchor location