Statutes, codes, and regulations
West Virginia Administrative Code
Agency 36 - Coal Mine Health And SafetyTitle 36 - LEGISLATIVE EXEMPT RULE BOARD OF COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Series 36-23 - Rules And Regulations Governing Surface Construction Operations Within The Coal Mining Industry Within The State Of WV
Section 36-23-16 - Safety Belts, Lifelines, and Lanyards

W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-16

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Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 36-23-16 - Safety Belts, Lifelines, and Lanyards
16.1. Lifelines, safety belts, and lanyards shall be used only for employee safeguarding. Any lifeline, safety belt, or lanyard actually subjected to in-service loading, as distin­guished from static load testing, shall be im­mediately removed from service and shall not be used again for employee safeguarding.
16.2. Lifelines shall be secured above the point of operation to an anchorage or structur­al member capable of supporting a minimum dead weight of five thousand four hundred (5,400) pounds. Separate lifelines shall be used to protect each employee.
16.3. Lifelines used on rock-scaling operations, or in areas where the lifeline may be subjected to cutting or abrasion, shall be a minimum of seven-eights (7/8) inch wire core manila rope. For all other lifeline applications, a minimum of three quarter inch (3/4") manila or equivalent, with a minimum breaking strength of five thousand four hundred (5,400) pounds, shall be used.
16.4. Safety belt lanyard shall be a mini­mum of one half inch (1/2") nylon, or equiva­lent, with a maximum length for a fall of no greater than six (6) feet. The rope shall have a nominal breaking strength of five thousand four hundred (5,400) pounds.
16.5. All safety belts and lanyard hard­ware shall be drop forged or pressed steel, cadmium plated in accordance with Type 1, Class B plating specified in Federal specifica­tion QQ-P-416. Surface shall be smooth and free of sharp edges.
16.6. All safety belt and lanyard hard­ware, except rivets, shall be capable of with­standing a tensile loading of four thousand (4,000) pounds without cracking, breaking, or taking a permanent deformation.
16.7. Safety protection to prevent an employee from falling shall be provided at all times where the potential fall distance exceeds fifteen (15) feet, and safety belts shall not be used where they are impractical or would pose a safety hazard to the employee.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-16