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Module 9 of 10 200m 10 exam Qs

Fall Protection & Safety

Fall arrest systems, CDZ zones, hot work permits, fire watch, galvanizing safety, and PPE.

  • Describe personal fall arrest system components and requirements
  • Explain Controlled Decking Zone (CDZ) regulations and boundaries
  • Identify hot work permit requirements and fire watch duties
  • Recognize galvanizing and welding safety hazards

Lesson 1

Fall Protection & Personal Fall Arrest

Fall Protection Requirements

Working at heights is the leading cause of death in the ironworking trade. In Canada, fall protection is required at heights of 3 metres (10 feet) or more, or at any height where a fall could result in injury (near open edges, holes, or hazardous conditions).

The three types of fall protection systems are:

  • Guardrail systems - passive protection using top rail, mid rail, and toe board
  • Safety net systems - catch systems installed below work areas
  • Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) - body harness, lanyard, and anchor point
3 m
Fall protection trigger height (Canada)
5,000 lb
Minimum anchor point strength
6 ft
Maximum free fall distance

PFAS Components

A Personal Fall Arrest System consists of:

  1. Full body harness - distributes arrest forces across the chest, shoulders, and thighs. The dorsal D-ring (back) is the primary attachment point for fall arrest
  2. Lanyard - connects the harness to the anchor. Shock-absorbing lanyards limit arrest forces to 8 kN (1,800 lb) maximum on the worker's body
  3. Anchor point - must support 5,000 lb (22.2 kN) per attached worker or be designed by a qualified engineer
  4. Self-retracting lifeline (SRL) - retractable wire rope or webbing that locks when a fall occurs, limiting free fall to inches
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Fall Clearance

Before attaching a PFAS, calculate the total fall clearance distance: lanyard length + deceleration distance + harness stretch + worker height + safety margin. If the clearance distance exceeds the height above the lower level, the PFAS will not prevent contact with the surface below.

Key Takeaway

Fall protection is required at 3 metres in Canada. The PFAS anchor must support 5,000 lb. Shock-absorbing lanyards limit arrest force to 8 kN (1,800 lb). Always calculate fall clearance distance.
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