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Falls are the leading cause of death in construction

Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious lost-time accidents and sometimes death

Falls from 11 feet result in death 50% of the time

Every worker on a job site is at risk of a fall

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Falls in ConstructionFalls in Construction

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1. Guardrails2. Safety nets3. Personal fall arrest system4. Covers/ Holes

Types of Fall ProtectionTypes of Fall Protection

5. Positioning device systems6. Warning line systems7. Controlled access zones

• leading edge, precast concrete, overhand bricklaying

8. Safety monitoring9. Fall protection plans

Conventional Fall Protection Systems

These 4 systems should be used for most situations The other 5 systems are for:

• Unique situations have unique fall protection methods

• When and if conventional fall protection is infeasible

MIOSHA Standard Requires Cover completely and securely and mark with

the words “Hole” or “Cover” Capable of supporting 2 times If no cover, guard with a guardrail

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Floor Holes

Covers, guardrails, or PFAS

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Skylights and Roof Openings Skylights and Roof Openings

"Each employee in a hoist area shall be protected from falling 6 feet or more to lower levels by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems, or portions thereof, are removed to facilitate the hoisting operation and an employee must lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening (to receive or guide equipment and materials, for example), that employee shall be protected from fall hazards by a personal fall arrest system.

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Many falls have taken place when employees are cutting a hole or removing a cover from an existing hole. In order to prevent falls and falling object hazards, the following requirements will apply: A cover must not be removed unless the work operation

does not allow for it to be in place. When cutting a hole and/or removing an existing cover,

employees must be protected from falling into the hole with a personal fall arrest system or restraint system unless the hole is in the immediate process of being permanently filled or covered with the equipment for which it was intended

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A cover must be readily available when cutting a hole. Immediately after completing the cut, the cover shall be secured over the hole and properly marked. Under no circumstances shall an employee walk away from a newly created hole, a re-exposed hole, or a partially cut hole without properly covering it.

To prevent being struck by falling objects, precautions shall be taken to prevent workers from walking underneath an area where a hole is actively being cut or where a cover has been removed. This can be accomplished by barricading the area below the hole and having a spotter keep others from entering the area.

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Covers may only be removed on the hole that is actively being worked on. Multiple uncovered holes are not allowed. Exception: During roofing work when workers are actively working on multiple holes, additional precautions must be implemented to prevent access to the other holes.

MIOSHA CSHD-COM-04-2R2 SUBJECT: Fall Protection – General Interpretations

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MIOSHA Fact Sheets

MIOSHA CSHD-COM-04-2R2

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