08.01.2007

State clarifies Harness rules

AWPT the American arm of IPAF has managed to obtain a clarification concerning a misunderstanding caused by a widely circulated story stating that the State of Washington had issued a document requiring the use of harnesses on scissor lifts.

Dan K. McMurdie, compliance operations manager for the State of Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health, told AWPT that the Division of Occupational Safety and Health has not changed its requirements for fall protection while using scissor lifts.

The fitting of guardrails fully satisfies its fall protection requirements.

A full body harness and lanyard is only required when working from a boom elevated platform or rotating aerial device.

The misunderstanding apparently stems from wording found in Section WAC 296-869-20045, “Working from the Platform”, that states, “Make sure all persons in the platform wear a full body harness with lanyard attached.” This section however, pertains only to “Aerial Lifts” which are defined as, “An aerial device mounted on a vehicle such as a truck, trailer, or all-terrain vehicle.” Scissor lifts are not considered “Aerial Lifts”, they fall into the classification of “Elevating Work Platforms.”

Washington specifically defines scissor lifts as “Self-propelled elevating work platforms” which are defined as, “A self-propelled, integral chassis, elevating work platform with a platform that can't be positioned completely beyond the base.”

Further clarification of the new rules contained in Chapter 296-869 WAC “Elevating Work Platforms” can be found on the Department’s web site at
www.lni.wa.gov/WISHA/Rules/elevatedplatforms/default.htm

Vertikal Comment

The harness debate has been confused in the USA by too many experts overlooking the real reason for the need to wear harnesses in some types of aerial lifts. Documentation such as that issued by Washington State has clearly not helped the situation.

For the normal day to day operation of standard aerial lifts, the only reason for wearing a harness is to prevent the occupants of the platform from being catapulted out of the basket. It has nothing at all to do with ‘fall arrest’.

For this reason IPAF and other organisations recommend the wearing of a full body harness and short lanyard in boom lifts only.

Scissor lifts are not subject to a catapult effect when hit or when dropping off of a kerb or into a hole. If a scissor lift is hit badly or drops off a steep kerb it is likely to tip over. In such a situation it is often better not to be tied to the machine.

A boom lift however will often ‘recover’ from such events creating a massive catapult effect in the cage. A short lanyard and full body harness will help keep the occupants fro being thrown out.

Hopefully this clarification will help North American manufacturers stop their slide towards recommending harness wearing in scissor lifts (as well as booms), as it only dilutes and undermines the importance of the harnesses message for boom lifts.