Working at Heights

Formerly known as : Fall Hazard Management

Craig Berkenmeier Sub-Process Advisor

2009

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Objectives
The purpose of this training module is to introduce you to:

 The Working at Heights Standard

In order to align GOM with the Global Upstream process, Fall Hazard Management will
now be known as Working at Heights

 OE Manual guidance will be revised to include ”blue language” or GOM specific

requirements not applicable to Global Upstream.

We will also be reviewing;

 Fall hazard elimination through design

 Guarding of deck openings

 Scaffolding guidelines

 Fall arrest/rescue equipment

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 The Working at Heights SWP
The primary objective of the Working at Heights Standard is to prevent incidents and
injuries caused by falling through floor and deck openings and by falling while working at
elevations greater than 6 feet.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Working at Heights SWP Requirements
If you are working at elevations of 6 feet or more or near the edge of a work
stand or platform where you may fall 6 feet or more, you must wear Fall
Protection Equipment
Workers must tie off on the Boat Landing and or Plus 10 if not enclosed by
handrails (fall restraint is recommended)
If there is a deck opening larger than 1 ft X 1 ft where employee can fall more than
4 feet, barricades must be installed and fall protection is required
Must use 100% Tie-Off at all times (Double lanyard)
Workers must ensure that all Fall Protection equipment is in good shape
Record of equipment inspection shall be documented (annually) in SMART Plus.
Notifications will be sent from SMART Plus to Field Hub locations for validation.
Actual inspection forms must be archived electronically.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Working at Heights SWP Requirements

Proper rigging techniques are a must

Workers shall ensure proper equipment is available for task at hand
The Competent Person and Rescue Trained Personnel must be
included in Pre-Job (JSA) Planning
Rescue Training
The Rescue Plan must be developed prior to start of work
Workers shall ensure all Rescue Equipment identified on the Rescue
Plan is on-site
Self rescue is not allowed, must have 2 people to climb

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Working at Heights SWP Requirements

Working at Heights is considered to be a high risk activity. This activity

mandates that a Permit to Work must be completed prior to climbing
 A completed JSA and Rescue Plan must accompany all PTW forms
 The Fall Protection Checklist must also be completed prior to climbing
 Workers Must verify that all equipment to be used has a documented
inspection by a Competent Person within the past year
Equipment Compatibility
 Mismatching brands and connecting mechanisms may cause rollout
 The use of a double action auto-locking carabineer minimizes the likelihood of
rollout and is compatible with all brands of equipment

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Working at Heights SWP Requirements

GOM Fall Protection Required Training for Chevron personnel is as follows:

1. Awareness Training for all O&M employees to be provided during the HES Super Sessions.

2. One-Day Fall Protection Class (typically 8 hours) for employees who use fall protection
equipment which includes hands-on use and demonstration of competency.

Other levels of required training are:

 Two-Day Competent Person (Level 3)

 Rescue Training (Level 4)

The number of personnel required to meet levels (3) and (4) of training may vary by field.
However, in order for climbing activities to occur the following conditions must be met:

Operations personnel are required to have a Competent Person survey the work area prior to
beginning work

For Operations personnel, in lieu of a Competent Person reviewing the work site each time,
written climbing procedures developed by a Competent Person must be in place and followed
(i.e. for checking PSV’s, routine tasks)

For Operations personnel there must be at least 1 person who has completed rescue training on
site while climbing activities are in progress.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Working at Heights SWP Requirements
Contractor Requirements

One-Day Fall Protection Class (typically 8 hours) for employees who use fall protection
equipment is required. Training must include hands on use and demonstration of competency

Two-Day Competent Person Training for at least 1 person per crew on site

Rescue Training for at least 1 person per crew on site

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 SWP Scaffolding Requirements

All scaffolding must be properly tagged with the required information

including:

Date of inspection

Name of inspector & erector

Duty rating in pounds per square foot

Precautions under which the scaffolding will be used

Fall arrest equipment is not required to be worn when working within the
rails of scaffolding constructed under the supervision of a certified
scaffold builder (if green tagged)
Fall protection equipment must be worn while climbing to the elevated
scaffolding work platform.

Although scaffolding is Green Tagged and Fall Protection is not required,

contractors may require personnel to tie-off as per their company policy.

Note: The Hoist & Crane Services Group who perform the majority of our hoist
inspections will use their own personnel to build scaffolding. Hoist & Crane
personnel erecting the scaffolding must be certified in scaffold building.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 What is the Working at Heights Hierarchy of Control?
The hierarchy of how to eliminate falls;

1. Elimination through design, examples include:

 Build protective systems such as handrails and toeboards

 Relocating a PSV or PSV testing line to ground level

2. Passive Fall Protection (Isolating the hazard)

 Provide open hole protection, or guardrails

3. Fall Restraint

 Securing workers to anchorage short enough to prevent worker from falling

4. Fall arrest equipment

 A system designed to stop a worker once a fall has occurred

5. Administrative Controls

 Procedures and practices that minimize the likelihood of personnel falls

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Chevron and Contractor Requirements

The Working at Heights Standard applies to both Chevron and contract personnel
conducting work on Chevron facilities including all OCS, State and land based locations.

This plan does not apply on drilling rig floors and derricks. Drilling contractors shall employ
adequate procedures that are designed to protect their personnel against falls.

For vessels crews on MODUs, liftboats, and other self-propelled boats, contractors shall
employ adequate safety procedures that are designed to guard against falls.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Fall Protection Guidelines for Aircraft Operations
For maintenance and inspection activities performed at hangar locations, approved (designed
specifically for aircraft maintenance) work platforms may be used in lieu of fall protection equipment.

Work platforms with standard guard rails shall be positioned against the aircraft with railings
surrounding the employee on the remaining three sides thus minimizing the exposure to employee
falls.

For inspection and maintenance activities requiring the use of a ladder, or when a work platform with
railings is not used, aircraft personnel will be required to wear fall protection equipment while working
at elevations of six (6) feet or more.

For aircraft maintenance and inspection activities being performed at remote locations such as the
flight line and offshore helidecks, the use of work platforms or ladders are often impractical. Pilots and
maintenance personnel shall be permitted to work at heights of greater that six (6) feet without the
use of Fall Protection Equipment as long as the following conditions have been met:

A Job Safety Analysis has been conducted identifying potential fall hazards and preventive measures

Personnel must utilize the steps and handholds designed by the aircraft manufacturer for employee
access.

Pilots/Mechanics must notify a coworker or PIC (as per the Solitary Worker Guidelines) that they will
be performing climbing activities (Pilot/mechanics often perform maintenance after hours alone and if
they fell it may be hours before someone would miss them)

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 What Type of Fall Arrest Equipment should you use?
 The harness should be of the full body type with a “D” ring centered in the back of
the harness and a fall arrest system rated for no less than 310 pounds.
 In order to minimize the likelihood of Roll Out, size recommendations for D-
rings is 3” OD and 2 ¼” ID
 Rope and straps shall be made from synthetic fibers; cotton and manila rope is not
allowed.
 Lanyards and self-retracting lifelines, which automatically limit free fall to 2 feet or
less, shall be capable of sustaining a minimum load of 3000 pounds.
 If the lanyard and self-retracting lifelines are not capable of limiting free fall to 2
feet, “ripstitch” lanyards with a tensile strength of 5000 pounds will be used.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Double Auto-locking Carabineer
- Minimizes risk of accidental roll-outs
- Compatible w/most equipment

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Anchor Points
 For fall arrest, equipment will be independent of any other point being used to
support or suspend platforms.
 Shall be capable of supporting a minimum of 5000 pounds per person attached,
or 3600 pounds if approved by a qualified person.
 The hook of a crane can be used as an anchor point but may not be used to lift
or lower the employee; the crane must be locked out and tagged out of service.
 When setting up a lifeline, check with the facility engineer or competent person
to ensure that the anchorage points will support the weight of the expected
load.
 Cannot tie off to a handrail/guardrail

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Ensuring Equipment Safety
Before each use, personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected for wear,
damage, and other deterioration, and defective components shall be removed
from service.

Personal fall arrest systems and components subjected to impact

loading shall be immediately removed from service and shall not be
worn again for employee protection until inspected and determined by
a competent person to be undamaged and suitable for reuse.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Competent and Qualified Persons
A Competent person – Is one who is capable of identifying existing and
predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to
take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

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 successively demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems
relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Deck Openings
Primary Objective

The primary objective of Guidelines for Guarding Deck Openings is to prevent

incidents and injuries caused by falling 4 feet through an opening in the deck, or

falling off open-sided floors, platforms, or runways at elevations of 6 or more

feet.

Openings smaller than 1' x 1' are not required to meet these guidelines,
however, to prevent injury, these hole should covered.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Protecting Deck Openings
Openings in decks

Personnel shall wear fall arrest equipment when making an opening in the deck or
floor. Notification of any deck openings on the facility or site shall be reviewed and documented
during the development of the Job Safety Analysis.

Openings in decks accessible to personnel shall be covered, guarded, or otherwise made

inaccessible immediately and reported to the person in charge (PIC).

Every floor hole/deck opening into which personnel can accidentally walk shall be guarded with a
guardrail, covered with a floor hole cover of standard strength and construction, or constantly
attended by someone (29 CFR 1910.23).

Although an attendant is acceptable under 29 CFR 1910.23, Chevron does not allow for
a "hole watch" in lieu of guardrails. Chevron requires that the hole be either covered or
protected with guardrails. A hole watch may, however, be assigned as an additional safeguard.

The manner of blockage shall prevent a person's foot or body from inadvertently passing through
the opening (33 CFR 142.87).

Unprotected perimeters

Except for helicopter landing decks and areas not normally occupied, the unprotected perimeter
of all floor and deck areas and openings shall be rimmed with guards or wire mesh fence.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Requirements for Guardrails
Minimum vertical height of 42 inches to the top of the guardrail.

Guardrail shall be capable of supporting a load of at least 200 pounds applied in

any direction (except upward) at any point on the top rail or corresponding
member.

Guardrail shall have a standard toeboard and intermediate rail or fencing from top
to bottom. Examples of fencing materials are chain link and orange safety netting.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Additional Requirements for Guardrails
The access gate shall be kept closed and shall be opened only for personnel to
enter or exit the area enclosed by the guardrail.

When personnel are working inside the guardrail, the guardrail should be erected
five (5) feet from the closest edge of the opening when physically possible. When
personnel are not working inside the guardrail, the guardrail shall be erected to
prevent access to the hole; however, the five-foot perimeter is not required.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Horizontal Lifelines
Effective September 2008, Horizontal lifelines shall not be assembled in the field
using cable, clamps and other connectors unless approved by an engineer

Horizontal lifelines must be an engineered system or approved by an engineer.

Anchor points for the life lines must be capable of supporting a minimum of 5000
pounds per person attached, or 3600 pounds if approved by a qualified person.

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Summary of Changes
Two changes have been initiated since 2008
The Leadership and HES groups for aviation are implementing fall protection requirements
at hangar, shore bases and the Picayune facility.

For aircraft maintenance and inspection activities being performed on offshore helidecks, the use of
work platforms or ladders are often impractical. Pilots and maintenance personnel shall be permitted
to work at heights of greater that six (6) feet without the use of Fall Protection Equipment as long as
the following conditions have been met:

A Job Safety Analysis has been conducted identifying potential fall hazards and preventive measures

Personnel must utilize the steps and handholds designed by the aircraft manufacturer for employee
access

Pilots/Mechanics must notify a coworker or PIC (as per the Solitary Worker Guidelines) that they will
be performing climbing activities

The Fall Hazard Management Plan will now be known as Working at Heights to align GOM
with GU

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID

 Contact Information
For any additional information regarding Working at Heights, please
contact either:

 Craig Berkenmeier (337) 989-3436

 Greg Mitchell (985) 773-6279

 Noel George (985) 773-6542

 Mark Boone (985) 773-7693

 Joe Burke (337) 989-3472

 Keith Triche (985) 773-6697

© Chevron 2005 DOC ID