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Falls are the leading cause of
construction worker fatalities. Each year between 150 and 200 workers die and
more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites.
Special trade contractors, such as roofers, carpenters, and structural steel
erectors, accounted for half of the fatal falls. Knowing and implementing the following
rules will help protect you from such a fall.
Who does the rule apply
to?
The fall protection rule covers
most construction workers. OSHA exempts those who inspect, investigate, or
assess workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work
is done. This is because their exposure to fall hazards are for very short
durations, if at all.
The rule identifies areas or
activities where fall protection is needed. These include: (1) ramps, runways,
and other walkways, (2) excavations, (3) hoist areas, (4) holes, (5) formwork
and reinforcing steel, (6) leading edge work, (7) unprotected sides and edges,
(8) overhand bricklaying and related work, (9) roofing work, (10) precast
concrete erection, (11) wall openings, (12) residential construction, and (13)
other walking/working surfaces.
What is threshold height?
Threshold height is that height
where your employer must provide fall protection for the areas or activities
described above. For this fall protection rule that height is six feet. At that
height your employer must provide the equipment and training required to
protect you from falling off, onto, or through working levels that are six feet
or more above lower levels.
Selection of equipment
Under the fall protection rule,
employers can select fall protection measures and equipment to fit the type of
work you are doing. The three most common methods of providing fall protection
are guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
Training
Your employer must provide
training, taught by a competent person, any time you could be exposed to fall
hazards. The training must include: (1) recognizing and minimizing fall
hazards, (2) procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and
inspecting the fall protection equipment you will use, and (3) an understanding
of the OSHA fall protection rules.
What the rule contains
The fall protection standard has
three elements that are important to you. They are: (1) situations at your
worksite that require protection from falling (1926.501), (2) different types
of fall protection equipment and systems your employer can use to provide you
protection (1926.502), and (3) training requirements (1926.503).
Always use all fall protection
systems and equipment your employer provides, it could save your life.
This information is provided by: Assurance Agency
This information is provided by: Assurance Agency
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