- Author
- Yancey, C. W. C. | Carino, N. J. | Sansalone, M.
- Title
- Perimeter Safety Net Projection Requirements.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBSIR 85-3271, May 1986, 60 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. Telephone: 1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000; Fax: 703-605-6900. Website: http://www.ntis.gov
- Keywords
- construction | safety | falling bodies | fall trajectory | horizontal distance | safety nets | simulated falls
- Abstract
- Current construction-site safety net regulations set limitations on the minimum horizontal projection of perimeter nets and the maximum vertical distance between an elevated working surface and the net below. These limitations were arbitrarily established as no actual or simulated fall data existed. The adequacy of these requirements in ensuring construction worker safety has been questioned. Thus, a test program was carried out to determine the adequacy of existing regulations. Simulated fall tests were conducted using anthropomorphic dummies to represent falling workers. The dummies fell from a 30-foot (9.1 m) high platform and their trajectories were recorded photographically. The photographs were used to reconstruct the dummies' trajectories and to determine the horizontal distance between the face of the platform and the center of gravity of the dummy. Results are presented to show the trajectory of the falling body and the maximum horizontal distance in the final landing position. An analytical model was developed to simulate a falling worker. The model can be used to predict trajectories for a given set of initial conditions including worker height and weight, departure horizontal velocity,and fall height. Guidelines are presented for revising existing regulations pertaining to the dimensional requirements for perimeter nets.