ZS Solutions

Northwestern Mutual MHA Daily Use Log

Name
Date / Time
Contractor(s) to provide NM management with a work plan before accessing the MHA. All employees are to sign-in at the security desk and receive a contractor badge at the beginning of the work day.
From the closet at the southeast corner of the grand stairs pick-up the MHA Remote, MHA Checklist and Harken Chair Equipment (Harken chair case, power supply and power cable).
Barricade the area on the lower level of the atrium (including signage, cones and caution tape, etc.) directly below the desired work area to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering it. If accessing the North end of the atrium, barricade the atrium area on the 2nd and 3rd floor as well.
Lower the 4 Harken Chair ropes (primary: white and safety: blue) and the 4 Emergency Descent ropes from the designated window locations on the 6th floor. NEVER DROP THE ROPES – they must be lowered to the ground floor to avoid injury or damage to the building.
On the MHA Remote twist the Emergency-Stop button clockwise to release, twist the ON/OFF switch clockwise to the ON position, press and hold the green START button for 3 seconds, until the green LED light flashes at the top of the remote and lower the MHA platform to the floor.
Inspect the platform: bolted connections between stage sections, limit switches (verify operation) obstruction bar limit switch. Check the Emergency Stop button and confirm that it operates properly (1 total on the remote). Test the Emergency Descent ropes to make sure it operates properly.
Remove all rubbish and obsolete materials from inside the platform to avoid overloading the platform. Make sure the fire extinguisher is secured to the platform at all times.
Make sure all tools are tied off to some type of lanyard or other means to secure the tools to the platform.
Each employee is to have a full body harness and a Y-lanyard for working in the MHA platform. A rope grab will be need for the Harken Chair access.
Contractor to perform 2-way radio / communication check before they start operating the MHA. Contractor can sign-out a NM radio to have contact with NM Security if needed.
Ensure that the track is clear of all obstructions. Ensure that all workers have sufficient light to work safely.
Operator is to become familiar with the controls on the MHA remote. Tie-off the remote to the platform, climb onto the platform and connect one end of the Y-lanyard to the dogline inside the platform.
The Contractor is to ensure they do not exceed the maximum capacity of the primary or secondary platform. (Primary platform and secondary platform capacity is 500 lbs.) Maximum of two (2) workers on the platform at any given time.
Once the contractor has completed all the steps above, they are able to ride the platform up.
Once at the top of the Atrium contractor is to replace the short power cord with the long power cord on the West end of the platform. The long power cord is used to Traverse to the North end of the atrium. Make sure the correct carabiners are replaced and connected to traverse to the North end.
The floor monitor should make sure that the 4 emergency descent ropes do not become tangled or are dragging on any items on the floor level. They must be kept clear of the platform at all times.
The platform should be kept level during operation. If the platform is noticed to be uneven, stop platform operation and manually level the platform to continue.
When traveling along the rails (North / South), the platform is to be at the top of the atrium. Workers are to monitor the position of the carriage to make sure it is aligned with the skylight structure to prevent binding in the platform. Adjust alignment as needed.

Harken Chair Use

The Harken Chair(s) should only be used in case of emergencies. Additional trained people should be present when using the Harken Chairs.
Assemble the Harken Chair per the manufacturer’s instruction manual – insert the white rope down the vertical post and make a minimum of three wraps on the drum. Verify smooth operation in the up direction.
Test the emergency stop button on the chair – please note the power trigger is designed with a panic feature that will stop sending power to the motor if the trigger is squeezed too hard or too fast.
When mounting the chair make sure the seat is at chair height, connect the full body harness dorsal (back) ring to the rope grab using an energy absorbing lanyard. Connect the full body harness front D-ring or manufacturer approved body strap to the top the front tube of the Harken Chair using a locking carbineer. An optional waist belt can be added at operator’s waist and around the front tube.
Test the Harken Chair up and down before traveling more than 4 feet above the floor.
When work it complete, store the Harken Chair in the containers provided.
The MHA should not be used if a Harken Chair has not be set-up and tested.

Daily : Post-Work Checklist – MHA

When the contractor is complete with work on the MHA platform for the day, return the MHA platform to its park position on the rails (Park position is marked on the tube section at the top), pull in the long power cord and place inside the platform. Swap the short power cord for the long power cord on the platform.
After the platform is in its Park position, lower the platform to the ground. Make sure the obstruction bar has been lowered on both ends of the platform. Do not rest the platform on the ground. Exit the platform. Clean the platform of any materials and debris at the end of the work day.
Raise the platform to the top of the atrium just below the limit switches. It is helpful to have operator with the remote go up to the 6th floor to look across the platform to make sure it is level and in the correct position.
The contractor is to disassemble the Harken chair from the primary rope (white) and pack up all the Harken chair equipment.
Raise the 4 emergency descent ropes and the 4 Harken chair ropes to the designated window locations on the 6th floor. Tie down the ropes and close the windows.
Return all Harken chair equipment, the remote and a COMPLETED MHA Daily Use / Checklist to the designated closet storage area by the grand stairs. Complete the checklist and add any operational anomalies or concerns in the box at end of sheet.
Contractor(s) to return their contractor badge to the security desk when finished with the work day.

Return contractor badge to security.