Fall Protection in

Construction

The content of this presentation is general in nature and provided to you for informational purposes only. The

information is derived from sources believed to be reliable and is offered as a resource to be used together

with guidance from your professional insurance, legal, and safety advisors in maintaining a loss prevention

program. ACUITY assumes no liability by reason of the information contained in this document. If you have a

specific concern, you should contact your professional insurance, legal, or safety advisors.

Senior Loss Control Representative

• 2010: 265 fall fatalities out of 774 total fatalities in

construction

• 2011: 259 fall fatalities out of 738 total fatalities in

construction

PLAN PROVIDE TRAIN

Covers fall hazards in construction except for the

following:

◦ Subpart L – Scaffolds

◦ Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks

◦ Subpart R – Steel Erection in Buildings

◦ Subpart S – Tunneling Operations

◦ Subpart V – Electric Transmission

◦ Subpart X – Stairways and Ladders

◦ 1926.105 – Erection of Tanks and Communication

Towers

1. Protection at or above 6’

2. Walking/working surfaces

inspected before work begins

3. Employees can only work on

surfaces strong enough to

support them safely

• Unprotected sides and edges

• Leading edges

• Hoist areas

• Holes

• Formwork and reinforcing steel

• Ramps, runways, and other walkways

• Excavations

• Dangerous equipment

• Overhand bricklaying

• Roofing – low sloped

• Roofing – steep

• Precast concrete erection

• Residential construction

• Wall openings

• Walking/working surfaces not “otherwise

addressed”

• OSHA rescinded the interim guidelines for

residential fall protection

• Residential contractors must now follow same

requirements in Subpart M – 6’ being the trigger

height

• Exception: If using the required fall protection

system is unfeasible or creates a greater hazard,

the employer must instead develop and implement

a written site-specific fall protection plan

• OSHA does not consider “economic infeasibility”

to be a basis for failing to provide conventional fall

protection

• There is a presumption that it is feasible and will

not create a greater hazard to implement at least

one of the fall protection systems listed in

1926.501(b)(13)

Protect from falling through, tripping or stepping

into, and object falling through

COVER

2x Max Intended Load

Guardrails, fences, or barricades should be

erected around the excavation if not readily seen

• Less than 6’ – guardrail system or equipment

guards

• Greater than or equal to 6’ – guardrail system,

PFAS, safety net system

• Low sloped roofs rise 4 units or less for every run

of 12 units

• Guardrail system

• Safety net system

• PFAS

• Combination of above with a warning line

• Warning line with a safety monitor

• May be used on flat and low-sloped roofs

• Safety monitoring should be used sparingly

• Employees must comply promptly with warnings

and directions

• For use on flat or low-sloped

roofs and along rake edges

of steeper roofs

• Must be at least 6’ back from

edges (10’ when mechanical

equipment is used)

• Lines must remain between

34-39” apart

• Must have a minimum tensile

strength of 500 lbs.

6 feet

Free

Work

Zone

Warning Line

Roof Perimeter

6 f

ee

t

6 feet6 feet

Free Work Zone

Warning Line

• Steep-sloped roofs have a pitch greater than 4

and 12

• Require guardrail system with toe boards

• Safety net system

• PFAS

Parapets must be at least 39” high or roof fall

protection must be provided.

• Guardrail system

• Safety net system

• PFAS

• Fall protection plan

• Greater than or equal to 6’ above lower levels

• And inside bottom edge of opening is less than

39” above walking/working surface

Less than 39”

Must wear hard hats and use:◦ Toe boards, screens, or guardrails

◦ Canopy

◦ Barricades

• Top rail must be 42” above the working or walking

level, plus or minus 3”

• Midrails must be midway at 21”

• Supporting members

• Toe board

• Top rail: 200 pound force

• Midrail: 150 pound force

• Toe board: 50 pound force

• Surfaced to prevent injury

• No projection hazard at rail ends

• No steel or plastic banding

• Wire rope – ¼” diameter and flagged every 6’

• Installed < 30’ below working level

• Bridges – fall area to net unobstructed

• 400-lb drop test or certified by employer or competent person

• Extends sufficiently from the outer edge1926.502(c)(2) specifies the distance

• Inspected at least weekly

• Objects removed as soon as possible

• Border rope strength of 5000 lb

Three types of PFA systems◦ Work positioning

◦ Fall restraint

◦ Fall arrest

• No body belts for fall arrest

• Competent person – inspections

• Prompt rescue

OSHA Standard 1926.502 (d)◦ Several requirements for the three types of fall arrest

systems and their use, based on type and application

◦ Reference the standard

◦ Vendors that provide your equipment

◦ ACUITY Loss Control for assistance

• Limit free fall to two feet

• Anchorage point > 3000 lbs

• Inspected before each use

• Safety belts OK for this use

• Erected around all sides of the roof area

• Erected at least 6’ from the edge if no mechanical

equipment is used

• Access points formed by two warning lines

• Access point must be closed off when not in use

• Consist of ropes, wires, chains, and supporting

stanchions

• Must be flagged every 6’

• Lowest point (including sag) not less than 34” and

not more than 39”

• Only roofing employees allowed between roof

edge and the warning line

• An area in which certain work (e.g., overhand

bricklaying, leading edge work, precast concrete

erection) may take place without the use of a

guardrail system, personal fall arrest system, or

safety net system, and access to the zone is

controlled

• Several provisions for CAZ with specifics for each

found under 1926.502(g) in the OSHA standards

• Allowed for leading edge work

• Precast concrete erection

• Residential construction

• OSHA does not consider “economic infeasibility”

to be a basis for failing to provide conventional fall

protection

• Prepared by a qualified person

• Site specific

• Changes made by a qualified person

• Plan must be kept on site

• Implemented by competent person

• Document why conventional fall protection

systems are not feasible

• Discuss measures used to protect the workers

• Identify all controlled access zones

• Where no other measures are used, a safety

monitor must be used

• Indentify all controlled access zones to the

employees

• Plan must be reviewed if there is an employee fall

or near miss

Sample fall plans are provided in OSHA Standard

Subpart M – Appendix E for:

◦ Residential construction

◦ Precast concrete erection

• There must be a training program that assures

each employee has been trained

• The employer must verify that employees are

trained by written documentation

• Retraining is required when the employee does

not have the understanding and skill required to

safely perform fall protection activities

• 6’ trigger height for fall protection

• Active fall protectiono Guardrail systems

o Hole covers

o Warning lines

• Passive fall protectiono Fall restraint

o Fall arrest

o Safety nets

• Fall protection plan ◦ Least preferred method

◦ Allowed on leading edge, precast erection, and

residential construction

◦ Must be site specific and employer has the burden to

show that conventional fall protection systems are

infeasible

• Employee trainingTraining program must be provided with written

documentation maintained

• www.osha.gov/stopfalls

• www.stopconstructionfalls.com

• For further assistance

◦ Call your agent

◦ Contact ACUITY Loss Control at 800.242.7666

◦ Send an email to ACUITYEducation@acuity.com

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