In this Division:

"anchor" means a secure point of attachment for a life line or lanyard;

"carabiner" means a link with a gate that is normally closed or that closes automatically, and is used to connect components of a personal fall protection system;

"control zone" means the area between an unguarded edge of a building or structure and a line which is set back a safe distance;

"fall arrest system" means a system that will stop an employee's fall before the employee hits the surface below;

"fall prevention system" means any of the following when used to protect an employee from a fall or minimize the risk from falling:

(a) guardrails;

(b) a safety belt or full body harness with a lanyard and/or lifeline and an anchor, and their related equipment;

(c) a safety net;

(d) a control zone;

(e) a safety monitor with a control zolle; and

(t) other procedures acceptable to the safety officer .

"fall restraint system" means a work positioning system to prevent an employee from falling from a work position, or a travel restriction system such as guardrails or a personal fall protection system to prevent an employee from travelling to an edge from which the employee could fall;

"free fall distance" means the distance from the point where the employee would begin to fall to the point where the fall arrest system would begin to cause deceleration of the fall;

"full body harness" means a body support device consisting of connected straps designed to distribute a fall arresting force over at least the thigh, shoulders and pelvis, with provision for attaching a lanyard, lifeline or other components;

"horizontal lifeline system" means a system composed of a synthetic or wire rope, installed horizontally between two anchors, to which an employee attaches a personal fall protection system;

"lanyard" means a flexible line of webbing, or synthetic or wire rope, that is used to secure a safety belt or full body to a lifeline or anchor;

"lifeline" means a synthetic or wire rope, rigged from one or more anchors, to which an employee's lanyard or other part of personal fall protection system is attached;

"personal fall protection system" means an individual employee's fall protection system, composed of a safety belt or full body harness, and lanyard, lifeline, and any other connecting equipment, that is used

to secure the employee to ,an individual anchor or to a horizontal lifeline system;

"safety belt" means a body support device consisting of a strap with a means of securing it about the waist and attaching it to other components;

"safety monitor system" means a system in which a trained employee is designated to monitor work activities in a control zone to ensure that work is done in a manner that minimizes the potential for an employee to fall;

"safety strap" means a pole strap or similar support strap, used with a work positioning system suspension belt, for climbing trees or structures such as utility poles;

"shock absorber" means a device intended to limit deceleration of an employee during fall arrest

"swing-fa11 hazard" means the hazard to an employee of swinging and colliding with an obstruction following a fall when connected to a lanyard or lifeline that runs at an angle off vertical;

"total fall distance" means the distance from the point where the employee would begin to fall to the point where the fall would be stopped; and "

"unusual risk of injury" means, with respect to the risk of injury from a fall, there is a risk of injury greater than the risk of injury from impact on a flat surface; for example, from a fall onto operating machinery or into a tank of chemical.

Obligation to use Fall Protection
14.11.1.1

(1) Unless elsewhere provided for in this Part, a railway must ensure that a fall protection system is used when work is being done at a place:

(a) from which a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more may occur , or

(b) where a fall from a lesser height involves an unusual risk of injury.

(2) The railway must ensure that guardrails meeting the requirements of Division 2 of this Part, or other similar means of fall restraint are used when practicable.

(3) If the use of handrails or similar means of fall restraint is not practicable, the railway must ensure that another fall restraint system is used.

(4) If the use of a fall restraint system is not practicable, the railway must ensure that a fall arrest system is used.

(5) If the use of a fall arrest system is not practicable or will result in a hazard greater than if the system was not used, the railway must ensure;

(a) a control zone is used in accordance with this Division;

(b ) a safety monitor system with a control zone is used in accordance with this Division; or (c) other procedures acceptable to the safety officer .

Fall Protection Plan
14.11.1.2

(1) The railway must have a written fall protection plan for a workplace if:

(a) work is being done at a location where employees are not protected by permanent guardrails, and from which a fall of 7.5 m (25 ft) or more may occur;

(b) the railway uses a safety monitor and control zone or other work procedures as the means of fall protection; or

(c) the safety officer so directs, because a fall may involve an unusual risk of injury .

(2) The fall protection plan must be available at the workplace before work with a risk of falling begins.

(3) The plan must specify:

(a) the fall hazards expected in each work area;

(b ) the fall protection system or systems to be used in each area;

(c) the procedures to assemble, maintain, inspect, use and disassemble the fall protection system or systems; and

(d) the procedures for rescue of an employee who has fallen and is suspended by a personal fall protection system or safety net, but is unable to effect self rescue.

Instruction or Employees
14.11.1.3

Before an employee is allowed into an area where a risk of falling exists. the railway must ensure the employee is instructed in the fall protection system for the area and the procedures to be followed.

14.11.2 GUARDRAILS

Temporary and Removal
14.11.2.1

(1) If a guardrail must be removed to accommodate work:

(a) only that portion of the guardrail necessary to allow the work to be done may be removed, and

(b ) employees exposed to a fall hazard must be protected by another fall protection system when the guardrail is absent.

(2) The guardrail must be replaced:

(a) when the unguarded area is left unattended, and

(b) after work is completed if the circumstances still require guardrails.

Selection
14.11.3.1

(1) An employee must wear a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the safety officer when using a personal fall protection system for fall arrest.

(2) An employee must wear a safety belt, a full body harness or other harness acceptable to the safety officer when using a personal fall protection system for fall restraint.

Standards
14.11.3.2

(1) A full body harness must meet the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.10-M90, " Full Body Harnesses" , or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) A safety belt must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z259.1095, "Safety Belts and Lanyards " or other standard, appropriate to the type of belt involved, that is acceptable to the safety officer .

Lanyards
14.11.4.1

(1) A lanyard must meet the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z259.1-95, "Safety Belts and Lanyards" or other standard acceptable to the safety officer.

(2) When a tool is used that could sever, abrade or burn a lanyard or safety strap, the lanyard or safety strap must be made of wire rope.

(3) An employee working near an energized conductor or in another work area where a conductive lanyard or safety strap cannot be safely used is exempted from subsection (2) provided that two nonconductive lanyards or safety straps are used, or other effective means of fall protection is used.

Snap Hooks
14.11.4.2

A snap hook on a lanyard or lifeline must be self locking.

Shock Absorbers
14.11.4.3

(1) A shock absorber must be used with:

(a) a lanyard made of wire rope or other inelastic material in a fall arrest system, and

(b) a wire rope vertical lifeline unless the lifeline is part of a ladder safety device.

(2) A shock absorber in a personal fall protection system must meet the requirements of CSA Standard CAN/CSA Z259.11-M92, "Shock Absorbers for Personal Fall Protection Systems", or other standard acceptable to the safety officer. "

(3) When a shock absorber is used in a fall arrest system, allowance must be made for the potential increase in the total fall distance.

Carabiners
14.11.4.4

(1) When in use, a carabiner or similar connecting hardware must be secured to prevent inadvertent opening.

(2) Carabiners, links and rings must:

(a) have an ultimate load capacity of at least 22 kN (5,000 Ibs), and

(b) be clearly marked with their load capacity , and with a means of identifying the manufacturer .

Other Equipment
14.11.4.5

(1) A descent device, harness, safety strap, rope grab, shepard's hook, connecting hardware, shock absorber and other fall arrest equipment used as part of a fall protection system and not covered by one of the standards referenced in this Division must be of a type acceptable to the safety officer.

(2) A Prusik sling may be used in place of a rope grab only if it is used in a manner acceptable to the safety officer .

(3) A triple sliding hitch must not be used as part of a personal fall protection system.

(1) A lifeline, or lanyard used without a lifeline, must be secured to an anchor .

(2) An anchor plate with multiple attachment points designed to support combinations of suspension lines, tie-back lines must be certified in writing by a professional engineer .

(3) A temporary anchor must be removed upon completion of the work for which it was intended.

Fall Restraint Anchor
14.11.4.7

(1) In a fall restraint system, a temporary anchor for a vertical lifeline, or for a lanyard used without a lifeline, must have an ultimate load capacity of at least 3.5 kN (800 lbs) in any direction in which a load may be applied.

(2) In a fall restraint system, a permanent anchor for a vertical lifeline or for a lanyard used without a lifeline must meet the requirements for a fall arrest anchor in section 14.11.4. 8

Fall Arrest Anchor
14.11.4.8

In a fall arrest system, an anchor for a vertical lifeline or for a lanyard used without a lifeline must:

(a) have an ultimate load capacity of at least 22 kN (5,000 lbs) in any direction required to resist a fall, and

(b ) if permanent, be certified in writing by a professional engineer as having the required load capacity .

14.11.5 VERTICAL LIFELINES

Standards
14.11.5.1

A vertical lifeline must meet the requirements of CSA Standard Z259.2-M1979, "Fall Arresting Devices; Personal Lowering Devices," and Lifelines", or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

Rope Length
14.11.5.2

A vertical lifeline must have a breaking strength specified by the manufacturer of at least 27 kN (6,000 lbs).

Knots and Splices
14.11.5.3

(1) A vertical lifeline must be free of knots or splices except at its termination.

(2) A termination knot or splice must not reduce the breaking strength of the lifeline to less than 22 kN (5,000 lbs).

Wire Rope Restriction
14.11.5.4 A wire rope vertical lifeline must not be used if there is potential for contact with energized electrical conductors.

Protection Against Abrasion
14.11.5.5

(1) A vertical lifeline must be effectively protected at points of attachment and elsewhere, as necessary , to prevent chafing or abrasion caused by contact with sharp or rough edges.

(2) When a tool is used that could sever, abrade or burn a lifeline, the lifeline must be made of wire rope.

(3) An employee working near an energized electrical conductor or in another work area where a conductive lifeline cannot be safely used is exempt from subsection (2) provided that another

effective means of fall protection is used.

Rope Length 14.11.5.6

(1) A vertical lifeline must extend to within 1.2 m (4 ft) of ground level or other safe lower surface.

(2) The suspended length of a vertical lifeline must not exceed 91 m (300 ft), unless previously authorized by the safety officer .

Free-Fall Limits 14.11.5.7

(1) A personal fall arrest system without a shock absorber must limit ~e free fall of an employee to 1.2 m (4 ft).

(2) A personal fall arrest system with a shock absorber may allow a free fall of up to 2 m (6.5 ft), or the limit specified in the manufacturer's instructions, whichever is less.

Swing-Fall Limits
14.11.5.8

A vertical lifeline must be installed and used in a manner that minimizes the swig-fall hazard,

Independent Anchorage
14.11.5.9

Each vertical lifeline used for fall arrest must be secured to an independent point of anchorage.

Number or Employees
14.11.5.10

Only one employee may be attached to a vertical lifeline, unless the vertical lifeline is part of a ladder safety device .

Ladder Safety Device
14.11.5.11

A lifeline used as part of a ladder safety device must meet the requirements of ANSI Standard A14.3-1984 For Ladder-Fixed-Safety Requirements, or other standard acceptable to the safety officer .

Double Line Systems
14.11.5.12

A double line system, where the lifeline and equipment suspension line are rigged through a common control descent device, must not be used unless the system and procedures for its use are acceptable to the safety officer .

Temporary Systems for Fall Arrest
14.11.6.1

Unless certified by a professional engineer in accordance with the requirements for a permanent system as outlined in section 14.11.6.2, a temporary horizontal lifeline system used for fall arrest must meet the following requirements:

(a) the horizontal lifeline must be a minimum 12 mm (1/2 in) diameter wire rope having a breaking stre~gth specified by the manufacture of at least 89 kN (20,000 lbs);

(b) the horizontal lifeline must be free of splices except at the terminations;

(c) connecting hardware such as shackles and turnbuckles must have an ultimate load capacity of at least 71 kN (16,000 lbs);

(d) the span must be at least 6 m (20 ft) and not more than 18 m (60 ft);

(e) end anchors must have an ultimate load capacity of at least 71 kN (16,000 lbs);

(f) the horizontal lifeline must have an unloaded sag of approximately the span length divided by 60.

(g) the elevation of the line at any point must be at least 1 m (39 in) above the working surface;

(h) the free fall distance must be limited to 1.2 m (4 ft);

(i) a minimum of 3.5 m (12 ft) of unobstructed clearance must be available below the working surface;

(j) no more than 3 employees may be secured to the horizontal lifeline; and

(k) the horizontal lifeline must be positioned so it does not impede the safe movement of employees.

Permanent Systems
14.11.6.2

Before a permanent horizontal lifeline system is used, the railway must ensure that a professional engineer supplies to the workplace a signed and dated drawing and instructions for the lifeline system showing:

(a) the layout in plan and elevation, including anchor locations, installation specifi(:ations, anchor design and detailing;

(b) horizontal lifeline specifications, including permissible free fall distance, clearance to obstructions below, and rope size, breaking strength, termination details and initial sag or tension;

(c) the number of employees permitted to connect to the lifeline, and maximum arrest force to each employee; and

( d) written certification that the lifeline system has been installed in accordance with the design documents .

General Requirement "
14.11.7.1

Safety belts, harnesses, lanyards, connecting hardware, anchors and other similar d6vices must be:

(a) inspected by a qualified person before use on each work shift;

(b) kept free from substances and conditions that could contribute to their deterioration; and (c) maintained in good working order.

Removal from Service
14.11.7.2

(1) A device or part that is defective in condition or function must be removed from service.

(2) After a fall protection system has arrested the fall of an employee, it must:

(a) be removed from service, and

(b) not be returned to service until it has been inspected and recertified as safe for use by the manufacturer or it's authorized agent, or by a professional engineer .

14.11.8 SAFETY NETS

Standards
14.11.8.1

A safety net must be designed, installed, tested and inspected in accordance with the requirements of ANSI Standard A10.11-l989, for " Construction and Demolition Operations-Personnel and Debris Nets", or other standard acceptable to the safety officer.

Supporting Structures
14.11.8.2

The railway must ensure that the supporting structure to which a personnel safety net is attached is certified in writing by a professional engineer as being capable of withstanding any load the net is likely to impose on the structure.

Prohibited Use
14.11.9.1

Use of a control zone in not permitted as the fall protection system:

(a) on a working surface where the slope of that surface exceeds 4 vertical in 12 horizontal;

(b) on skeletal structure work; and

(c) for scaffold erection and removal.

Width of the Zone
14.11.9.2

(1) The width of the control zone must be at least 2 m (6.5 ft).

(2) Additional distance must be added to the minimum width of a control zone, with regard to whether:

(a) the working surface is slippery or sloped;

(b) the work is carried out at an elevation relative to the unguarded edge; and

(c) the risk is increased by the use of equipment near the control zone.

Work Outside the Zone
14.11.9.3

If employees will at a11 times remain further from the unguarded edge than the width of the control zone, no other fall protection need be used.

Work Near the Zone
14.11.9.4

(1) If an employee will be working within 2 m (6.5 ft) of the control zone, the line defining the control zone must be established by a raised warning line or other equally effective means at all times during such work.

(2) A raised warning line marking the edge of a control zone must be:

(a) a line of high visibility material, or a line flagged or clearly marked with high visibility materials at intervals not exceeding 2 m (6.5 ft), and

(b) rigged and maintained to be between 0.85 m and 1.15 m (34 in and 45 in) above the working surface.

Safety Monitor for Work in the Zone
14.11.9.5

(1) If permitted by section 14.11.1.1, a safety monitor system with a control zone may be used as the means of fall protection for employees in the control zone.

(2) The safety monitor must ensure that the work activity in the control zone is performed in accordance with the fall protection plan and in a manner that minimizes the potential for an employee to fall. .

(3) A safety monitor must:

(a) be experienced in the work overseen and trained in the role of safety monitor;

(b) be present at all times when an employee is in the control zone;

(c) have complete authority over the work as it relates to the prevention of falls;

(d) not engage in any other duties while acting as the safety monitor;

(e) be located so as to have a clear view of the work;

(f) be able to have normal voice communication with the employees being protected; and

(g) be instantly distinguishable from other employees.

(4) Only employees directly required for the work at hand may be inside the control zone.

(5) A safety monitor may monitor a maximum of 8 employees.

(6) The fall protection plan for the workplace must specify the name of each safety monitor and contain a record of the monitor's training for this role.

Application
14.11.10.1

Fall protection is not required on unguarded railway bridges and similar strucnlres when:

(a) the work being undertaken is of a minor nanlre such as inspections, replacing rail securing

equipment and joining materials;

(b) the employees remain between the gauge of the running rails; and

(c) the spaces in the bridge deck or between ties do not exceed 30 cm (12 in).

Anchors
14.11.10.2

Rail sliders and similar anchoring devices which attach to the running rails shall: (a) meet the requirements of section 14.11.4.7, and (b) be of a highly visible colour .

Fall Protection Plan
14.11.10.3

The fall protection plan as require in section 14.11.1.2 must include provision for ensuring that any anchoring or similar devices that attaches to the running rails are removed from the rails when the employees are not using them, and that all items and equipment used for fall protection and rescue have been accounted for at the end of each work shift.