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EM 385-1-1 Safety and Health Sections 20-26
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21.C Training.

21.C.01 Training of all personnel involved in the Fall Protection Program - The Program Manager, QPs, Cps, End Users, Authorized and Competent Rescuers, as well as any associated fall protection trainers - must be as described in ANSI/ASSP Z359.2, Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program, and must conform to ANSI/ASSP Z490.1, Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health and Environmental Training.

Training for Program Managers must be conducted by a CP Trainer or QP Trainer.

The refresher for all personnel involved in the fall protection program must also be in accordance with requirements prescribed in ANSI/ASSP Z359.2 standard.

21.C.02 Fall Protection Program Manager Training.

Training for Program Managers must be conducted by a CP Trainer or QP Trainer.

  1. Program Managers must have a working knowledge of current fall protection regulations, requirements, standards, equipment and systems. Training must cover the items prescribed in ANSI/ASSP Z359.2 standard.
  2. For USACE-owned and/operated permanent facilities, Program Managers must complete refresher training annually, by participating in at least one (1) hour of fall protection and rescue-related informational meetings and/or training.
21.C.03 Qualified Person for Fall Protection.

A QP must be trained by a QP Trainer in proper inspection, assembly and use of all fall protection equipment and systems that they encounter in their work as a QP. The frequency and duration of training that a QP requires to remain proficient in that role varies with the amount and types of fall protection work for which that person is responsible.

  1. QPs are responsible for performing various duties that may be critical to the life and health of other workers. Training must include those items in ANSI/ASSP Z359.2 standard, and must include hands-on use of all types of equipment and systems used in locations where End Users work, to include: inspecting the systems prior to use; installing systems; analyzing structures and verifying that fall protection systems are properly installed; determining component compatibility; estimating free fall distances; determining total required clearance; dismantling systems storing equipment and common hazards associated with each system component.
  2. For USACE-owned/operated permanent facilities, the refresher training requirement for the QPs is to stay current with fall protection and rescue knowledge by participating in at least one (1) hour annually of fall protection and rescue-related training and/or informational meetings.

21.C.04 Competent Person for Fall protection.

CP must be trained by a Competent Person trainer or a Qualified Person Trainer (see ANSI/ASSP Z359.2).

  1. Currently, Cps must have been trained to the level necessary to safely perform their duties.
  2. Note: Eighteen (18) months from the effective date of this manual, acceptable Competent Person for Fall Protection training must be a MINIMUM of 24 hours, with a combination of formal classroom training and practical applications. All training must be documented.
  3. For USACE-owned/operated permanent facilities, the refresher training requirement for the Cps is to stay current in fall protection and rescue knowledge by participating in at least two (2) hours annually of fall protection and rescue-related training and/or informational meetings.

21.C.05 End User.

Each worker who might be exposed to fall hazards from heights, must be trained before using fall protection equipment by a CP, who is qualified in delivering fall protection training to the workers in the safe use of fall protection systems/equipment and the recognition of fall hazards related to their use, including:

Training end users includes hands-on practice.
  1. The nature of fall hazards in the work area;
  2. The correct procedures for erecting, using, dismantling, inspecting, maintaining, and storing fall protection equipment;
  3. The application limits, free fall distance, total fall distance and clearance requirements of fall protection systems and equipment;
  4. Rescue equipment and procedures;
  5. Hands-on training and practical demonstrations;
  6. Proper anchoring and tie off techniques;
  7. All applicable requirements from this Section.
  8. Refresher training must be provided as necessary for the end users in the following situations:
    • (1) Changes in the fall protection program render previous training obsolete;
    • (2) Changes in fall protection or rescue equipment render previous training obsolete;
    • (3) Inadequacies in an employee's performance indicate a lack of knowledge or skill;
    • (4) A condition in the workplace changes in a manner that could affect the safe use of the fall protection equipment.
  9. For USACE-owned/operated permanent facilities, the refresher training for end users must be provided a minimum of one (1) hour annually to stay current with fall protection and rescue requirements.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

21-4. Acceptable Competent Person for Fall Protection training must be a MINIMUM of 24 hours, with _____.