5 Access and Egress Best

Practices Ensure Worker

Safety

Getting to and from work platforms is important to both job site safety
and work production here are some tips recommends these work
practices to ensure safe access and egress to and from wall form work
platforms.

1. Workers are not permitted to climb the form or rebar to gain

access to a wall form work platform. It makes no difference
that a worker is tied-off during the climbing process. The
hazard with 100% tie-off while climbing the form to access a work
platform involves the positions workers are in as they attempt to
climb on and off the work platform. In addition, the vertical form
itself does not have the same climbing characteristics as a ladder.
2. Climbing the vertical face of the wall form is permitted only
when work is performed on the form (i.e., when installing or
removing taper-ties). There is normally no other way to accomplish
these work tasks. However, in the case of accessing work
platforms, other methods are available. Make sure walls are braced
before climbing.
3. When performing work off a work platform, fall protection is
required if your feet are 6′ or more above a lower level.This is
typically provided through the use of guardrails on the back side of
the working platform and ensuring the platform is at least 39″ below
the top of the form. If this is not feasible, there are a few options
available:
o Install A 2nd Working Platform, Complete With Guardrails,
On The Opposite Side Of The Wall Form.
 o Install A Guardrail System At The Standard 21″ (Midrail) And
42″ (Top Rail) Heights On The Opposite Side Of The Wall
Form.
o Practice 100% Fall Protection Using Retractable Lanyards.
(This Is The Last Resort To Be Used Only If Nothing Else Is
Feasible.) Anchorage Point For 6′ Shock Absorbing Lanyards
Must Be 18.5′ From The Lower Level And 14.5′ For
Retractable Lanyards.
4. Falling onto rebar is a serious hazard as well. When working over
rebar, the rebar must be protected. Wood or metal reinforced
plastic rebar caps must be used. Standard plastic rebar caps
that are not reinforced are not approved protection.