November 14, 2000

INTRODUCTION:

This document provides interim guidance for selected safety concerns at HET. This guidance is meant to go hand-in-hand with common sense and situational awareness.Any questions or concerns should be directed to the HET Facility Manger.

HET’s #1 Safety Rule:

If you are in a situation that you feel is unsafe, stop work until the problem is remedied!

1.0              FALL PROTECTION

Falling from a height presents the greatest danger to personnel.  The following are basic guidelines for fall protection.  It is difficult to predict every scenario when fall protection should be worn.  In general, personnel are encouraged to wear fall protection in any situation that may pose a danger due to falling. 

1.1              Harnesses – Full body harnesses are available for all personnel.  These harnesses should be worn as snugly as comfort will permit.  Diaper harnesses are not permitted for use as fall protection.  Persons have been known to fall upside down, and out of, diaper harnesses in emergency situations.

1.2              Lanyards – Lanyards are attached to the full body harness at the ring in the upper center of the back.  The expandable portion of each lanyard is attached closest to the harness.  The other end is attached to stationary points that are capable of supporting a 5000-lb load.  Lanyards may not be “doubled-up” in series to provide additional length.

1.3              “Two-Lanyard Rule” – Persons working at height are required to use two lanyards.  When moving from one location to the other, one attaches the second lanyard prior to detaching the first lanyard.  At no times shall a person at height be unattached for any reason, for any length of time.  Seasoned construction workers have fallen to their deaths during brief moments in time when they were momentarily unattached, yet felt safe.

2.0              DOME

2.1              The dome is a “hard-hat area” whenever any persons are working up in the JLG, working up on the catwalk, or lifting a load via the dome crane.  The responsible person (JLG driver or work crew leader) is primarily responsible for enforcement.  Prior to going up, the responsible person must do the following:

2.1.1        Post the “DANGER HARD HAT AREA” sign in the doorway entry into the dome.

2.1.2        Notify other staff throughout the facility of the nature of the work and that the dome floor is a hard-hat area.

2.1.3        The work crew must have, and test, a radio prior to ascending to the work location.

2.2              No persons may enter the dome without, via radio, contacting the work crew and obtaining permission to enter the dome.  The dome access will be controlled to ensure that only essential personnel are in the dome while work is being done overhead.

3.0              JLG

3.1              Harnesses are required when operating or riding in the JLG.  The JLG driver is required to do the following:

3.1.1        Warm the JLG for a minimum of five (5) minutes prior to driving.

3.1.2        Verify that the JLG radio is in the basket and is operational by performing a radio check with ground personnel.

3.1.3        Post the “DANGER HARD HAT AREA” sign in the doorway entry into the dome.

3.1.4        Notify other staff throughout the facility of the nature of the work and that the dome floor is a hard-hat area.

3.1.5        Verify that all riders are wearing safety harnesses.

3.1.6        Verify that all persons are tethered (“clipped off”) at all times, in accordance with the two-lanyard rule.

4.0              TRACKER

4.1              Personnel should read, understand, and follow the memorandum dated 27 September 2000, “Tracker Safety”, included as Appendix 1 of this document.

4.2              Tracker tie-off – The tracker must be tied off when any work is performed that, if the tracker carriage were to suddenly fall downhill, would result in injury to persons or damage to equipment.  The procedure, previously provided to personnel and posted in the facility, is attached as Appendix 2.
 

5.0              PRIMARY MIRROR TRUSS:

5.1              Full body harnesses are required when working in the primary mirror truss at heights greater than 6-feet above solid footing, such as the decking.  The two-lanyard rule applies.

6.0              LIFTING AND RIGGING OPERATIONS

Lifting and rigging, such as the use of facility cranes, is a common operation at HET.  The following guidelines must be followed:

6.1              The person in charge of the operation (“responsible person”) must do the following:

6.1.1        Inspect all rigging (straps, clamps, fixtures, attach points) and verify that this equipment is in proper condition.  For example, if a strap is deemed to be frayed, or otherwise damaged, the eyes should be cut and the strap discarded.

6.1.2        Once the load is rigged, the responsible person should step back from the load and review the as-rigged configuration.  Verify that straps and rigging are appropriate for the size and weight of the load.  Verify that the load is rigged in a stable way. 

6.1.3        The responsible person must ask a peer to review the as-rigged configuration.  This serves as a second sanity check.

6.1.4        Once a load is rigged to the crane, lift a very small distance and verify the stability of the load.

6.1.5        Persons are not permitted under any load!

6.1.6        Before a load is lifted above head-high, hard hats must be worn by all persons in the area. When lifting with the dome crane, the area must be treated as a hard-hat area in accordance with §2.1. 

6.1.7        In typical lifting operations, two persons are involved with lifting the load.  One person operates the crane (“operator”) and the other tends to the load (“tender”).  Only the tender may issue commands to the operator.  All other personnel are to remain quiet, but should closely monitor the operation.  The operator should ask for silence if this silence rule is violated.  The only exception: Others may yell “EMERGENCY STOP” if they note a problem with the lift.

6.1.8        Mezzanine Crane Special Instructions

6.1.8.1  The doorway, under the mezzanine crane, connecting the office and the mezzanine should be posted with signage as a “DO NOT ENTER” area whenever the mezzanine crane is in use.  This to prevent persons unknowingly walking under a load as they exit the office area. 

6.1.8.2  Persons working on the mezzanine adjacent to the mezzanine guardrail when it is OPEN, must use fall protection (§1.0). 

6.1.9        CCAS Crane Special Instructions

6.1.9.1  Fall protection must be worn by all personnel in the CCAS tower whenever the cargo hatch is open.

6.1.9.2  Loads should not be lifted up the CCAS tower when winds are unacceptably high.

6.1.9.3  A tag line must be used when lifting a load.  The person tending the tag line must be in radio communication with persons in the tower. All persons on the ground must avoid standing under the load and must wear hard hats.

7.0              CCAS TOWER

7.1              Climbing the Tower

7.1.1        Persons must not climb the tower when winds are high, or footing is not sure, such as when wetness or ice are present.

7.1.2        Prior to ascending: Inform other personnel in the facility of the nature of your work.  Take a radio and verify the operation of the radio prior to climbing the tower.  Call to ground support immediately prior to climbing the tower, and keep ground support apprised of progress in climbing the tower.  Ground personnel should pay close attention to progress of those climbing the tower.  Climb the tower in a slow, steady fashion, taking advantage of each landing to take a break. When a person finishes the climb, notify ground personnel immediately.

7.2              Working up in the CCAS Dome

7.2.1        Regularly inform ground personnel of your status at approximately 15-minute intervals.

7.2.2        Keep all hatches closed as much as possible.

7.2.3        Fall protection is required when the cargo hatch is open.

7.3              Descending the Tower

7.3.1        Prior to descending: Inform ground personnel that you are finished with your work and are coming down. Keep ground support apprised of progress in descending the tower.  Ground personnel should pay close attention to progress of those descending the tower. Descend the tower in a slow, steady fashion, taking advantage of each landing to take a break. When a person finishes the descent, notify ground personnel immediately.

7.3.2        The CCAS ladder cover must be closed and locked at all times the CCAS tower is not occupied.

8.0              WEATHER

8.1              During icy conditions, care must be taken to prevent falling due to slick surfaces. 

8.1.1        Personnel must avoid walkways, such as the steps which lead to the CCAS tower, during icy conditions.

8.1.2        Ice melting pellets are available to de-ice sidewalks and walkways.  This may be found in the flammable storage cabinet or in the Krabbenhut. Ice melting pellets should be sprinkled liberally on icy areas.  The best protection from falling is to avoid these areas in the first place!

Appendix 1 – “Tracker Safety” memorandum, attached to this document.

Appendix 2 – “Tracker Tie Off Procedure,” attached to this document.

Tracker Tie Off Procedure

·        Ensure that the tracker is in “shutdown” mode.

·        Ensure that the tracker is powered off.  This may be conformed that ensuring that the red lamp in the tracker startup box is not illuminated.

·        Place a large, prominent notice on the TCS computer monitor stating that “Tracker is Tied Off”  An 8.5” x 11” paper is sufficient.

·        Retrieve the “Tracker Tie Off Strap” from the telescope operator console.  This strap, and an accompanying foam reminder block, is kept there when not in use. 

·        Go up in the JLG and tie off the tracker using the strap

·        Drive the JLG to the work site.

·        Shut off the JLG.

·        Place the foam block over the “START” button of the JLG.  This serves as a reminder that the tracker is tied off, and must be untied prior to coming back down.

The intent if tying off the tracker is to make it impossible for the carriage to fall downhill.  One should tie the tracker, from either side, such that the strap encompasses both a tracker beam structural member and a carriage structural member. 

Once the tracker work is completed, follow the following steps:

·        Remove the foam reminder block from the JLG start button

·        Drive the JLG to the strap tie off location

·        Remove the strap. 

·        Attach the foam reminder block to the strap.

·        Drive the JLG to the ground.

·        IMMEDIATELY enter the control room and place the strap between the TCS monitor and the TCS keyboard.

·   Remove the sign from the TCS computer monitor.

It is imperative that all operators verify the following prior to starting up the tracker:

1.      Verify that the strap labeled “Tracker Tie Off Strap” is properly stored between the TCS monitor and the TCS keyboard.  If this strap is not here, it must be found before proceeding.

2.      Go out into the dome, look up, and verify that the tracker is not tied off. 

All operators should presume that the chance that the tracker is tied off is extremely high.  The tracker should not be operated until the operator is confident that proper procedures have been followed, and are satisfied that the tracker is not tied off.