INTRODUCTION

What is fall protection?

Go to any construction site and watch those who are working above a lower level. Should they be wearing fall protection? Should they be protected by fall-protection systems? Should they be using fall-protection methods? Do they need fall-protection training? Are they following fall-protection rules? Fall protection is a concept that's hard to describe. Ask 10 people what fall protection means and you're likely to get 10 different answers. Is it possible to make sense of fall protection? We think so.

It's important that you be familiar with OSHA's fall protection standards to help save lives and avoid OSHA citations. Take a look at OSHA’s top 10 most cited violations for 2009 and you will see that fall protection ranks as the number two most commonly cited violation!

1. Scaffolding, General – 9,093 violations
2. Fall Protection – 6,771 violations
3. Hazard Communication – 6,378 violations
4. Respiratory Protection – 3,803 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout – 3,321 violations
6. Electrical, Wiring – 3,079 violations
7. Ladders – 3,072 violations
8. Powered Industrial Trucks – 2,993 violations
9. Electrical, General – 2,556 violations
10. Machine Guarding – 2,364 violations

Why Does OSHA Have a Standard for Fall Protection?

In the construction industry in the U.S., falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year, on average, between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. OSHA recognizes that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently involving a variety of factors. Consequently, the standard for fall protection deals with both the human and equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards.

What Does the Fall Protection Standard Cover?

OSHA has revised its construction industry safety standards and developed systems and procedures designed to prevent employees from falling off, onto, or through working levels and to protect employees from being struck by falling objects. The performance- oriented requirements make it easier for employers to provide the necessary protection. The rule covers most construction workers except those inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work has been completed.

The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include, but are not limited to, ramps, runways, and other walkways, excavations, hoist areas, holes, formwork and reinforcing steel, leading edge work, unprotected sides and edges, overhand bricklaying and related work, roofing work, precast concrete erection, wall openings, residential construction, and other walking/working surfaces. The rule sets a uniform threshold height of 6 feet (1.8 meters), thereby providing consistent protection. This means that construction employers must protect their employees from fall hazards and falling objects whenever an affected employee is 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more above a lower level. Protection also must be provided for construction workers who are exposed to the hazard of falling into dangerous equipment.

Under the standard, employers are able to select fall protection measures compatible with the type of work being performed. Fall protection generally can be provided through the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems, and warning line systems, among others.

The OSHA rule clarifies what an employer must do to provide fall protection for employees, such as identifying and evaluating fall hazards and providing specific training. Requirements to provide fall protection for workers on scaffolds and ladders and for workers engaged in steel erection of buildings are covered in other subparts of OSHA regulations.

The course is intended primarily for construction-industry employers, employees, and others who don't have a professional background in fall protection and who want to see the "big picture." Generally, the course covers the safe practices in 29 CFR 1926, the primary fall-protection rules for construction-industry employers. To complete the picture, the course also highlights fall-protection requirements for work on ladders and scaffolds.

This course is organized so that you can read each module in the order presented or move about as you choose.

Credits:

Special thanks to Oregon OSHA Technical Resources for producing the primary source document for this training, Fall Protection for the Construction Industry.

Additional references:

Fall Protection in Construction (OSHA 3146)

GO TO MODULE ONE