OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 1 of 34

OSHA MODULE 3 - Fall Protection

Course Description

Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry. Each year
workers are killed and more than 100,000 injured because of falls at construction
sites. OSHA’s construction industry safety standard for fall protection 29 CFR,
Subpart M, outlines 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. This 90-minute interactive online course
provides information to assist the learner in the identification, avoidance, and
control of hazards in the workplace. While workers may need additional training
based on OSHA standards and the specific hazards of their jobs, RedVector’s
Worksite Safety courses can help inject entry-level workers with critical
knowledge on a variety of OSHA-regulated safety and health topics.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the lesson, participants will be able to:

• Identify major fall hazards

• Describe types of fall hazards.
• Protect him/herself from fall hazards
• Recognize employer requirements to protect workers from fall hazards
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 2 of 34

Introduction
No matter which way you slice it, falls are still the leading cause of death in the
construction trade. Each year, workers are killed and more than 100,000 injured
because of falls at construction sites.

Falls of as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious injuries, significant loss of

productivity (for instance, if a worker breaks an arm or leg) and even death (for
instance, if a worker falls and hits his head on cement or breaks his neck).

OSHA’s construction industry safety standard for fall protection (29 Code of
Federal Regulations, Subpart M, Fall Protection, 1926.500, 1926.501, 1926.502,
and 1926.503) outlines 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.

Since there are so many different circumstances that can comprise fall hazards
for a worker, there is no one set of rules that apply to every site or every
situation. Therefore, the issue of how to best protect employees in diverse
situations is not a simple one.

OSHA has acknowledged that accidents involving falls are “generally complex
events frequently involving a variety of factors.” Thus, the standard for fall
protection takes into consideration not just the equipment-related issues in
protecting workers from fall hazards but also the human element – how people
tend to work, perhaps cut corners, and react.

Accidents themselves most often involve a number of factors, including unstable

working surfaces, misuse of fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies
have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers,
and travel restriction systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.

The OSHA Construction standard mandates that any time a worker can fall six
feet or more to a lower level, the worker is at risk and needs to be protected.

OSHA ground rules have established that employers and employees need to do
the following:

▪ Where protection is required, select fall protection systems appropriate for

given situations.
▪ Use proper construction and installation of safety systems.
▪ Supervise employees properly.
▪ Use safe work procedures.
▪ Train workers in the proper selection, use, and maintenance of all
protection systems.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 3 of 34

Overview
What is a Fall Hazard?
Definition
Fall hazards are present at most worksites and many workers are exposed to
these hazards on a daily basis. A fall hazard is anything at your worksite that
could cause you to lose your balance or lose bodily support and result in a fall.
Any walking or working surface can be a potential fall hazard.
Any time you are working at a height of four feet or more, you are at risk. OSHA
generally requires that fall protection be provided at four feet in general industry,
five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. However, regardless of the fall
distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous
equipment and machinery.
The importance of fall protection cannot be stressed enough.
Falls from heights are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, while falls on
the same level (slips and trips) are one of the leading causes of injuries. This
lesson focuses on falls from heights. On scaffolds, fall protection is required at 10
feet. In steel erection, workers on walking/working surfaces with unprotected
sides or edges above 15 feet must be protected. (There are some exceptions for
connectors and workers working in controlled decking zones for heights between
15 and 30 feet. See 1926.760)
Examples
Fall hazard incidents are injuries produced by impact between the injured person
and the source of injury when the motion producing contact was generated by
gravity.
Fall hazards in construction cause accidents such as the following:
• A makeshift scaffold collapsed under the weight of four workers and their
equipment, seriously injuring all four.
• A worker carrying a sheet of plywood on a flat roof stepped into a skylight
opening and fell to the level below.
• A roofer, while attempting to remove a roof opening cover, fell approximately
21 feet to the concrete floor below and was killed.
• A construction worker was working from a carpenters' wall bracket scaffold
without fall protection. The worker fell 19 feet to the ground, sustained blunt
trauma to the head and later died.
Statistics
BLS found the leading causes of worker deaths in the construction industry were:
falls, struck-by object, caught-in or -between, and electrocution. These "Fatal
[Focus] Four" were responsible for three out of five construction worker deaths,
BLS reports. Falls accounted for more than one third of fatal occupational injuries
in construction.
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Data from a long-term study indicates the types of falls that are causing worker
deaths. In the period 1992-2005, about one-third of the fatal falls in construction
were from roofs, 18% were from scaffolding or staging, 16% were from ladders,
and 8% were from girders or structural steel. The other 25% of fatal falls includes
falls through existing floor openings, from nonmoving vehicles, from aerial lifts,
etc.
Occupational fatalities caused by falls are a serious concern. This les son will
help you identify fall hazards at construction worksites so that you can be
protected.
What are the major types of fall hazards in construction?
Major hazards related to unprotected roof edges, roof and floor openings,
structural steel and leading edges
Almost all sites have unprotected sides and edges, wall openings, or floor holes
at some point during construction. If these sides and openings are not protected
at your site, injuries from falls or falling objects may result, ranging from sprains
and concussions to death.
Falls to a lower level are a major cause of fatalities in construction. Factors such
as improperly covered or protected floor holes and openings are a common fall
hazard. It‘s easy to step into a hole or opening when carrying something that
blocks one’s forward view.
Roofing falls are the leading cause of roofing injuries and fatalities. Roofing,
siding and sheet metal work have the highest rate of occupational injuries and
illnesses for a non-manufacturing industry. One of the most frequently cited
serious OSHA violations involving roofing and fall protection is unprotected sides
and edges. Workers involved in steel erection are exposed to fall hazards.
According to The Construction Chart Book (CPWR, December 2007), more
ironworkers are killed from falls than workers in any other construction
occupation. The rate of work-related deaths among ironworkers is 10 times
higher than the construction average. The most frequently cited serious OSHA
violations involving steel erection are fall protection, fall hazard training and fall
protection for connectors.
Examples of accidents related to unprotected roof edges, roof and floor
openings, structural steel and leading edges:
An ironworker was standing on a tilt-up concrete wall, throwing out bridging. He
was wearing a harness and lanyard but was not tied-off. He fell 30 feet to the
ground and sustained crushing injuries to his spine, resulting in permanent
paralysis below the chest.
This accident could have been prevented if the ironworker was properly tied off.
A worker was working on a second-story roof, which was stripped off of the
original roofing clay tile, felt paper and existing skylights. He was preparing the
roof for installation of new materials. While working, he stepped through the
removed skylight opening, which was covered only with felt paper. He fell
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 5 of 34

approximately 24 feet to a ceramic tile covered concrete floor and was

hospitalized with a head fracture.
Be aware that holes, including skylights, must have covers that are capable of
supporting, without failure, at least twice the weight of employees, equipment and
materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
Major Hazards Related to Scaffolds
Working with heavy equipment and building materials on the limited space of a
scaffold is difficult. Without fall protection or safe access, it becomes hazardous.
Falls from improperly constructed scaffolds can result in injuries ranging from
sprains to death. Guardrails or personal fall arrest systems for fall
prevention/protection are required for workers on platforms 10 feet or higher.
The majority of the workers injured in scaffold accidents attribute the accident to
factors like the planking or support giving way, or to lack of guardrails or other fall
protection. OSHA’s most frequently cited serious scaffold violations include lack
of fall protection; scaffold access; use of aerial lifts without body belts and
lanyards, platform construction and no worker training.
Examples of accidents related to scaffolds:
A construction worker was working from a carpenters' wall bracket scaffold
without fall protection. The worker fell 19 feet to the ground, sustained blunt
trauma to the head, and later died.
A worker preparing masonry fascia for removal from a building fell from the third
level of a tubular welded-frame scaffold. No guarding system was provided for
the scaffold. Further, the platform was coated with ice, creating a slippery
condition.
Scaffold Work Can Be Dangerous: Know the Basics of Scaffold Safety
There are thousands of scaffold-related injuries – and about 40 scaffold-related
deaths – every year in the U.S. If you are doing work on scaffolds, know how to
work on them safely – it could save your life!
Here are some rules about scaffolds that must be followed if you want to work
safely:
1. A competent person must be available to direct workers who are constructing
or moving scaffolds. The competent person must also train workers and inspect
the scaffold and its components before every work shift, and after any event that
could affect the structural integrity of the scaffold. The competent person must be
able to identify unsafe conditions and be authorized by the employer to take
action to correct unsafe conditions, to make the workplace safe. And a qualified
person, someone who has very specific knowledge or training, must actually
design the scaffold and its rigging.
2. Every supported scaffold and its components must support, without failure, its
own weight and at least four times the intended load. The intended load is the
sum of the weights of all personnel, tools and materials that will be placed on the
scaffold. Don’t load the scaffold with more weight than it can safely handle.
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3. On supported scaffolds, working platforms/decks must be planked close to the

guardrails. Planks are to be overlapped on a support at least 6 inches, but not
more than 12 inches.
4. Inspections of supported scaffolds must include:
● Checking metal components for bends, cracks, holes, rust, welding splatter,
pits, broken welds and non-compatible parts.
● Covering and securing floor openings and labeling floor opening covers.
5. Each rope on a suspended scaffold must support the scaffold’s weight and at
least six times the intended load.
6. Scaffold platforms must be at least 18 inches wide, (there are some
exceptions), and guardrails and/or personal fall arrest systems must be used for
fall protection any time you are working 10 feet or more above ground level.
Guardrails must be between 39 and 45 inches high, and midrails must be
installed approximately halfway between the toprail and the platform surface.
7. OSHA standards require that workers have fall protection when working on a
scaffold 10 or more feet above the ground. OSHA requires the following:
● The use of a guardrail OR a personal fall arrest system when working on a
supported scaffold.
● BOTH a guardrail AND a personal fall arrest system when working on a
single-point or two-point suspended scaffold.
● A personal fall arrest system when working on an aerial lift.
8. Your lifeline must be tied back to a structural anchorage capable of
withstanding 5,000 lbs of dead weight per person tied off to it. Attaching your
lifeline to a guardrail, a standpipe or other piping systems will not meet the 5,000
lbs requirement and is not a safe move.
9. Wear hard hats, and make sure there are toeboards, screens and debris nets
in place to protect other people from falling objects.
10. Counterweights for suspended scaffolds must be able to resist at least four
times the tipping moment, and they must be made of materials that cannot be
easily dislocated (no sand, no water, no rolls of roofing, etc.). [This would be
calculated by the qualified person who designs the scaffold.]
11. Your employer must provide safe access to the scaffold when a platform is
more than two (2) feet above or below the point of access, or when you need to
step across more than 14 inches to get on the platform. Climbing on cross braces
is not allowed! Ladders, stair towers, ramps and walkways are some of the ways
of providing safe access.
12. All workers must be trained on:
• how to use the scaffold, and how to recognize hazards associated with the
type of scaffold they are working on;
• the maximum intended load and capacity;
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 7 of 34

• how to recognize and report defects;

• fall hazards, falling object hazards and any other hazards that may be
encountered, including electrical hazards (such as overhead power lines);
and,
• having proper fall protection systems in place.
Major Hazards Related to Unsafe Portable Ladders
You risk falling if a portable ladder is not safely positioned each time you use
one. While you are on a ladder, it may move and slip from its supports. You can
also lose your balance while getting on or off an unsteady ladder. Falls from
ladders can cause injuries ranging from sprains to death.
BLS data show that falls from ladders account for over 100 fatalities each year.
Factors that contribute to falls from ladders are ladder slip (top or bottom),
overreaching, slipping on rungs/steps, defective equipment and improper ladder
selection for a given task. Frequently cited OSHA ladder violations include not
having a portable ladder extend 3 feet above the landing, no worker training, and
improper use of the top of stepladders.
Examples of accidents related to unsafe portable ladders:
A worker was climbing a 10-foot ladder to access a landing, which was 9 feet
above the adjacent floor. The ladder slid down, and the worker fell to the floor,
sustaining fatal injuries. Although the ladder had slip-resistant feet, it was not
secured, and the railings did not extend 3 feet above the landing.
A worker fell approximately 11 feet from an unsecured 24-foot portable extension
ladder, which he had leaned against the fascia board above the garage of a
house under construction. The worker sustained left leg fracture injuries and was
hospitalized.

Who is Responsible for Fall Protection?

Employers must ensure that all walking and working surfaces have the structural
integrity to support workers safely. Employees are not permitted to access
walkways or other work areas until they have been proven structurally sound and
deemed safe.

Once the surfaces have been determined to be safe, the employer is responsible
for providing fall protection in the form of a guardrail; safety nets; a personal fall
arrest system (PFAS) or positioning device system; or – in some cases –
fencing, barricades, covers or a “controlled access zone” – or a combination of
these systems.

The employer’s options for fall protection in a given situation are usually listed for
each specific type of work operation.

Makes Sense…
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 8 of 34

In addition to the rule that employees must have fall protection anywhere they
can fall six feet to the ground or to a lower level, they must also be protected
from falling into or through holes and from having objects fall upon them from
above.

Whatever form of fall protection the employer deems appropriate must meet
OSHA standards. A competent person must regularly inspect the fall protection
device(s) to ensure that they continue to meet OSHA requirements before
employees are allowed to continue using them (29CFR 1926.502).

Controlled Access Zones

In certain situations, such as those where workers are doing overhand

bricklaying low-sloped roofs, or other types of labor where conventional fall
protection systems might create a greater hazard of the task at hand, a
“controlled access zone” may better serve as the protection for these workers.

Controlled access zones serve a dual purpose – they allow specially trained
individuals to operate without traditional fall protection within a certain area, and
they keep unauthorized individuals out.

When they are created to limit access to areas such as those where masonry
and leading edge work are taking place, the controlled access area must be
delineated by a control line or other means. Control lines can be made of rope,
tape, wires or other materials and their supports; however, each must be:

• Flagged or otherwise clearly marked at not more than 6-foot (1.8 meters)
intervals with high-visibility material;

• Rigged and supported in such a way that the lowest point (including sag)
is not less than 39 inches (1 meter) from the walking/working surface
and the highest point is not more than 45 inches (1.3 meters)—nor more
than 50 inches (1.3 meters) when overhand bricklaying operations are
being performed—from the walking/working surface;

• Each line shall have a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds. Control
lines shall extend along the entire length of the unprotected or leading
edge and shall be approximately parallel to the unprotected or leading
edge.

• Control lines also must be connected on each side to a guardrail system

or wall.

Finally, OSHA mandates that “On floors and roofs where guardrail systems are
not in place prior to the beginning of overhand bricklaying operations, controlled
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 9 of 34

access zones will be enlarged as necessary to enclose all points of access,

material handling areas, and storage areas. On floors and roofs where guardrail
systems are in place, but need to be removed to allow overhand bricklaying work
or leading edge work to take place, only that portion of the guardrail necessary to
accomplish that day's work shall be removed.”

Fall Protection Plans

In certain circumstances, usually involving precast concrete erection work,

residential construction work, or other work wherein the employer can effectively
demonstrate that it is not feasible to use conventional fall protection methods (or
where they can show that conventional fall protection methods might create a
greater hazard), employers may be allowed to develop an alternative fall
protection plan.

Any such plan must meet OSHA requirements and be developed by a qualified
person. New guidelines for residential construction clearly state that it must be
written in the document, in that plan, the reasons why conventional fall protection
systems are infeasible or why their use would create a greater hazard. Locations
where conventional fall protection cannot be used must be clearly identified, and
safety monitoring and controlled access zones set up.

When Should Fall Protection Be Provided?

• Where there is a walking or working surface that has one or more

unprotected edges
• When a worker is building a leading edge
• When there is a danger that a worker could fall through a hole in a
walking or working surface
• When an employee is working on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel
• On ramps, runways, or other walkways
• At the edge of an excavation, hole, well, pit, or shaft
• When employees are working above dangerous equipment (even if it is
less than six feet above such equipment)!
• When a worker is doing overhand bricklaying or related masonry work
• When an employee is working on a roof
• When a worker is doing precast construction erection (with some
exceptions)
• During residential construction. All residential construction employers must
comply with 29 CFR 1926.501 (b)(13).
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 10 of 34

What Are the Rules for Ramps, Runways and Other Walkways?

Ramps and other walkways must be protected by guardrail systems if employees

can fall 6 feet or more. The walking surface/ramp itself must be strong enough to
support workers safely – and the integrity of the surfaces must periodically be
ensured by a competent person designated by the employer.

What About Residential Construction?

Per OSHA 1926.501(b)(13), “Each employee engaged in residential construction

activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by guardrail
systems, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system unless another
provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternative fall protection
measure.

Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or

creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop
and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements of
paragraph (k) of 1926.502.

1926.502(k)(1)

The fall protection plan shall be prepared by a qualified person and developed
specifically for the site where the leading edge work, precast concrete work, or
residential construction work is being performed and the plan must be maintained
up to date.

..1926.502(k)(2)

1926.502(k)(2)

Any changes to the fall protection plan shall be approved by a qualified person.

1926.502(k)(3)

A copy of the fall protection plan with all approved changes shall be maintained
at the job site.

1926.502(k)(4)

The implementation of the fall protection plan shall be under the supervision of a
competent person.

1926.502(k)(5)

The fall protection plan shall document the reasons why the use of conventional
fall protection systems (guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety
nets systems) are infeasible or why their use would create a greater hazard.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 11 of 34

1926.502(k)(6)

The fall protection plan shall include a written discussion of other measures that
will be taken to reduce or eliminate the fall hazard for workers who cannot be
provided with protection from the conventional fall protection systems. For
example, the employer shall discuss the extent to which scaffolds, ladders, or
vehicle mounted work platforms can be used to provide a safer working surface
and thereby reduce the hazard of falling.

1926.502(k)(7)

The fall protection plan shall identify each location where conventional fall
protection methods cannot be used. These locations shall then be classified as
controlled access zones and the employer must comply with the criteria in
paragraph (g) of this section.

..1926.502(k)(8)

1926.502(k)(8)

Where no other alternative measure has been implemented, the employer shall
implement a safety monitoring system in conformance with 1926.502(h).

1926.502(k)(9)

The fall protection plan must include a statement which provides the name or
other method of identification for each employee who is designated to work in
controlled access zones. No other employees may enter controlled access
zones.

1926.502(k)(10)

In the event an employee falls, or some other related, serious incident occurs,
(e.g., a near miss) the employer shall investigate the circumstances of the fall or
other incident to determine if the fall protection plan needs to be changed (e.g.
new practices, procedures, or training) and shall implement those changes to
prevent similar types of falls or incidents.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 12 of 34

Cases & System Details

The Lowdown on Falling Down: Background & Case Histories

To give you an idea just how ubiquitous the problem of falls on construction sites
can be, we will look, initially, at just one area: Falls through skylights and existing
roof openings.

While the data presented is specific to those situations, you will quickly see that
the outcomes, conclusions and recommendations can often apply to a much
broader variety of situations, as they all share a common denominator: People
fell!

OSHA developed standards to prevent workers in general industry and in

construction from falling through skylights and roof and floor openings. The
OSHA General Industry Standard requires that “every skylight floor opening and
hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on
all exposed sides.”

In 1995, OSHA construction industry standards for fall protection were revised
and consolidated, into OSHA’s Subpart M–Fall Protection [29 CFR 1926.500-
503]. Workers must be protected as follows:

Each employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from falling

through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet (1.8 m) above lower levels by
PFAS (personal fall arrest system), covers, or guardrail systems erected around
such holes [29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4)(i)].

Each fall protection system is described in detail in 29 CFR 1926.502. The

following paragraphs are based on the OSHA standards and summarize these
systems.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

Personal fall arrest systems are one way to protect workers from falls. In general,
workers must have fall protection when they could fall 6 feet or more while they
are working.

Personal fall arrest system [PFAS]: a system used to arrest a worker in a fall
from a working level. It consists of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt or
body harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or
suitable combinations of these.

Deceleration devices often include a rope grab and/or a self-retracting lifeline

or lanyard. A snaphook is one of the most common types of connectors used in
a PFAS. Additionally, the fall-protection system may include a warning line
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 13 of 34

system to alert employees as they approach unprotected sides and edges. As

of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited [29 CFR
1926.500(b)].

OSHA requires workers to wear a full-body harness, (one part of a Personal Fall
Arrest System) when they are working on a suspended scaffold more than 10
feet above the working surface, or when they are working in bucket truck or aerial
lift.
Employers may also choose to use a Personal Fall Arrest System, instead of a
guardrail, when workers are working on a supported scaffold more than 10 feet
above the working surface.

There are three major components of a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS):

When a personal fall arrest system is used for fall protection, it must do the
following:

• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when

used with a body harness;
• Be rigged so that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8
meters) nor contact any lower level;
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration
distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 meters); and
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of
an employee free-falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or the free-fall
distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.

A personal fall arrest system is made up of an anchorage, connecting device,

and a fullbody harness. The connecting device may be a lanyard with
snaphooks, or a self-retracting lifeline. A lanyard could also include a
deceleration device. Make sure you are using components from the same
manufacturer to ensure that the system works as it should. If not, any substitution
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 14 of 34

or change must be evaluated or tested by a competent person to ensure that it

meets the standard.

Body belts cannot be used for fall arresting service. However, a body belt is
allowed as part of a positioning system. A positioning system is one way to
prevent falls from occurring. It involves equipment for keeping your body in a
position where you are not able to fall. For all situations where you could actually
fall, you need to wear a full-body harness.

Vertical lifelines or lanyards must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs,
and be protected against being cut or abraded.

Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear,
damage, and other deterioration. Defective components must be removed from
service. Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of
5,000 pounds. Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be proof-tested to a minimum
tensile load of 3,600 pounds without cracking, breaking, or suffering permanent
deformation. Snaphooks shall be sized to be compatible with the member to
which they will be connected, or shall be of a locking configuration.

The attachment location of the body harness must be in the center of your back,
near the shoulder level or above your head.

Each worker must be attached to a separate vertical lifeline. [There is a special

exception when constructing elevator shafts.]

Unless the snaphook is a locking type and designed for the following
connections, they shall not be engaged:

(a) directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope;

(b) to each other;
(c) to a dee-ring to which another snaphook or other connecter is attached;
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 15 of 34

(d) to a horizontal lifeline; or

(e) to any object incompatible in shape or dimension relative to the snaphook,
thereby causing the connected object to depress the snaphook keeper
and release unintentionally.

OSHA considers a hook to be compatible when the diameter of the dee-ring to

which the snaphook is attached is greater than the inside length of the snaphook
when measured from the bottom (hinged end) of the snaphook keeper to the
inside curve of the top of the snaphook. Thus, no matter how the dee-ring is
positioned or moved (rolls) with the snaphook attached, the dee-ring cannot
touch the outside of the keeper, thus depressing it open. The use of nonlocking
snaphooks is prohibited.

On suspended scaffolds or similar work platforms with horizontal lifelines that

may become vertical lifelines, the devices used to connect to a horizontal lifeline
shall be capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline. Horizontal lifelines
shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified
person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety
factor of at least two. Lifelines shall be protected against being cut or abraded.

Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall distance to 2
feet (0.61 meters) or less shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load
of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kiloNewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline or
lanyard in the fully extended position. Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that do
not limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 meters) or less, ripstitch lanyards, and
tearing and deforming lanyards shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile
load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline or
lanyard in the fully extended position.

Ropes and straps (webbing) used in lanyards, lifelines, and strength components
of body belts and body harnesses shall be made of synthetic fibers. Anchorages
shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified
person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety
factor of at least two, i.e., capable of supporting at least twice the weight
expected to be imposed upon it. Anchorages used to attach personal fall arrest
systems shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or
suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per
person attached. Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking
strength of 5,000 pounds.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 16 of 34

Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be

independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and
capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2kN) per employee attached, or
shall be designed and used as follows: (i) as part of a complete personal fall
arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and (ii) under the
supervision of a qualified person [29 CFR 1926.502(d) (15)(i)(ii)].

Connectors must be made from steel or equivalent materials, with a corrosion-

resistant finish and the edges must be smooth.

Positioning Device Systems

These body belt or body harness systems are to be set up so that a worker can
free fall no farther than 2 feet (0.6 meters). They shall be secured to an
anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an
employee’s fall or 3,000 pounds (13.3 kilo Newtons), whichever is greater.
Requirements for snaphooks, dee-rings, and other connectors used with
positioning device systems must meet the same criteria as those for personal fall
arrest systems.

Personal Fall Arrest System Checklist

Personal Fall Arrest Systems are one way to protect workers on construction
sites where there are vertical drops of 6 or more feet. Systems must be set up so
that a worker cannot fall more than 6 feet, nor come into contact with any lower
level.

You should be able to answer Yes to each of the following.

1. Is your Personal Fall Arrest System made up of an anchorage, connecting
device, and a fullbody harness?
2. Are the components from the same manufacturer to ensure that the system
works as it should? If not, has any substitution or change to a personal fall arrest
system been fully evaluated or tested by a competent person to determine that it
meets the standard?
3. Has your personal fall arrest system been inspected for damage each time
before you wear it? [If there are defects, or if someone has taken a fall using the
equipment, it must be removed from service.]
4. Is the attachment location of the body harness in the center of your back, near
the shoulder level or above your head?
5. Do vertical lifelines or lanyards have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000
lbs? Are they protected against being cut or abraded?
6. Will each worker be attached to a separate vertical lifeline?
7. Is the webbing, [the materials used for ropes and straps of lifelines, lanyard
and harnesses] made of synthetic fibers?
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 17 of 34

8. Is the anchorage for workers’ personal fall arrest equipment independent of

any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms? Is it able to support at
least 5,000 lbs. per worker attached to it?
9. Are the connectors made from steel or equivalent materials, with a corrosion-
resistant finish and smooth edges?
10. Do the D-rings and snaphooks have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000
lbs.?
11. Are snaphooks of a locking-type and designed to prevent the snaphook from
opening and slipping off the connector?
12. Are the snaphooks not directly connected to the webbing, rope or wire, to
each other, to a D-ring to which another snaphook or other connector is attached,
to a horizontal lifeline, or to any other object that could cause the snaphook to
open?

Warning Line Systems

Warning line systems consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and are set up as
follows:

• Flagged at not more than 6-foot (1.8 meters) intervals with high-visibility
material.

• Rigged and supported so that the lowest point including sag is no less
than 34 inches (0.9 meters) from the walking/working surface and its
highest point is no more than 39 inches (1 meter) from the
walking/working surface.

• Stanchions, after being rigged with warning lines, shall be capable of

resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds (71 Newtons)
applied horizontally against the stanchion, 30 inches (0.8 meters) above
the walking/working surface, perpendicular to the warning line and in the
direction of the floor, roof, or platform edge.

• The rope, wire, or chain shall have a minimum tensile strength of 500
pounds (2.22 kiloNewtons), and after being attached to the stanchions,
must support without breaking the load applied to the stanchions as
prescribed above.

• Shall be attached to each stanchion in such a way that pulling on one

section of the line between stanchions will not result in slack being taken
up in the adjacent section before the stanchion tips over.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 18 of 34

Warning lines shall be erected around all sides of roof work areas. When
mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line shall be erected not less
than 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the roof edge parallel to the direction of mechanical
equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet (3 meters) from the roof edge
perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation.

When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line must be erected
not less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the roof edge.

Safety Monitoring Systems

When no other alternative fall protection has been implemented, the employer
shall implement a safety monitoring system. Employers must appoint a
competent person to monitor the safety of workers and the employer shall ensure
that the safety monitor:

• Is competent in the recognition of fall hazards,

• Is capable of warning workers of fall hazard dangers and in detecting
unsafe work practices,
• Is operating on the same walking/working surfaces of the workers and can
see them, and
• Is close enough to work operations to communicate orally with workers
and has no other duties to distract from the monitoring function.

Mechanical equipment shall not be used or stored in areas where safety

monitoring systems are being used to monitor employees engaged in roofing
operations on low-sloped roofs. No worker, other than one engaged in roofing
work (on low-sloped roofs) or one covered by a fall protection plan, shall be
allowed in an area where an employee is being protected by a safety monitoring
system. All workers in a controlled access zone shall be instructed to promptly
comply with fall hazard warnings issued by safety monitors.

Covers

Covers for holes in floors, roofs, and other walking/working surfaces shall meet
the following requirements:

Covers located in roadways and vehicular aisles shall be capable of supporting,

without failure, at least twice the maximum axle load of the largest vehicle
expected to cross over the cover [29 CFR 1926.502(i)(1)].

All other covers shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least twice the
weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the
cover at any one time [29 CFR 1926.502(i)(2)].
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 19 of 34

All covers shall be secured when installed so as to prevent displacement by the

wind, equipment, or employees [29 CFR 1926.502(i)(3)].

All covers shall be color coded, or they shall be marked with the word “HOLE” or
“COVER” to provide warning of the hazard.

Note: This provision does not apply to cast iron manhole covers or steel grates
used on streets or roadways [29 CFR 1926.502(i)(4)].

Guardrail Systems

If the employer chooses to use guardrail systems to protect workers from falls,
the systems must meet the following criteria. Toprails and midrails of guardrail
systems must be at least one-quarter inch (0.6 centimeters) nominal diameter or
thickness to prevent cuts and lacerations. If wire rope is used for toprails, it must
be flagged at not more 6 feet intervals (1.8 meters) with high-visibility material.

Steel and plastic banding cannot be used as toprails or midrails. Manila, plastic,
or synthetic rope used for toprails or midrails must be inspected as frequently as
necessary to ensure strength and stability. The top edge height of toprails, or
(equivalent) guardrails must be 42 inches (1.1 meters) plus or minus 3 inches (8
centimeters), above the walking/working level.

Screens, midrails, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent

intermediate structural members must be installed between the top edge of the
guardrail system and the walking/working surface when there are no walls or
parapet walls at least 21 inches (53 centimeters) high. When midrails are used,
they must be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail
system and the walking/working level.

When screens and mesh are used, they must extend from the top rail to the
walking/working level and along the entire opening between top rail supports.
Intermediate members, such as balusters, when used between posts, shall not
be more than 19 inches (48 centimeters) apart. Other structural members, such
as additional midrails and architectural panels, shall be installed so that there are
no openings in the guardrail system more than 19 inches (48 centimeters).

The guardrail system must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 200

pounds (890 Newtons) applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or
downward direction. When the 200 pounds (890 Newtons) test is applied in a
downward direction, the top edge of the guardrail must not deflect to a height
less than 39 inches (1 meter) above the walking/working level.

Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and

equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least
150 pounds (666 Newtons) applied in any downward or outward direction at any
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 20 of 34

point along the midrail or other member. Guardrail systems shall be surfaced to
protect workers from punctures or lacerations and to prevent clothing from
snagging. The ends of top rails and midrails must not overhang terminal posts,
except where such an overhang does not constitute a projection hazard.

When guardrail systems are used at hoisting areas, a chain, gate or removable
guardrail section must be placed across the access opening between guardrail
sections when hoisting operations are not taking place. At holes, guardrail
systems must be set up on all unprotected sides or edges. When holes are used
for the passage of materials, the hole shall have not more than two sides with
removable guardrail sections.

This hole is improperly covered!

When the hole is not in use, it must be covered or provided with guardrails along
all unprotected sides or edges. If guardrail systems are used around holes that
are used as access points (such as ladderways), gates must be used or the point
of access must be offset to prevent accidental walking into the hole. If guardrails
are used at unprotected sides or edges of ramps and runways, they must be
erected on each unprotected side or edge.

Note: See 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(1) through (15) Guardrail systems, which details
requirements for the installation and use of guardrails. Selected paragraphs that
describe requirements when guardrail systems are used around holes are
included below.

*The following cases were investigated by NIOSH to represent a variety of falls

through skylights and other roof and floor openings. Through 2002, the FACE
program investigated 43 fatal falls through skylights and roof and floor openings.
Complete FACE reports are available on the NIOSH Web site:
[Link]/niosh/face/[Link].
*Source: NIOSH Publication No. 2004-156: Preventing Falls of Workers through Skylights and
Roof and Floor Openings, [Link]
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 21 of 34

Case Study

1. A 39-year-old, self-employed residential construction contractor died after

falling through an unguarded floor opening and onto the concrete footing
10 feet below (Figure 2). He was framing the second floor with two other
workers and was in the process of holding a level to the gable end of the
second-floor master bedroom when he apparently stepped back into one
of two floor openings built to accommodate a chimney. Both the first and
second floors had been decked with plywood except for the chimney floor
opening. Each floor opening measured approximately 4 feet x 5 feet
[Massachusetts Department of Public Health 1999].

Figure 2

2. A 27-year-old carpenter died when he fell through a roof opening to a

concrete floor 13 feet below after partially unsecuring a sheet of plywood
used to cover the opening. Nails had been removed from one side of a 4-
x 8-foot sheet of 5/8-inch plywood that was placed over a 37- x 67-inch
roof opening for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning unit. Evidence
suggests that the victim removed nails from one side of the plywood cover
so that he could drop an electric cord to the floor below, where power
outlets were available. He apparently knelt down and leaned into the
opening with the plywood resting on his back to look for someone below
who would plug the cord into an electrical outlet. While kneeling, the victim
either lost his balance or the weight of the plywood caused him to fall
headfirst through the opening [NIOSH 1989b].

Incidents such as these suggest that employers, workers, and building owners
may not fully appreciate or recognize the seriousness of fall hazards associated
with working near unguarded skylights and roof and floor openings. In the two
graphic incidents described for this course and others that you can read by going
to [Link] to access the full text of the
NIOSH Alert, The NIOSH FACE investigations identified the following
contributing factors in these fall-through incidents:

• Inadequate safety programs and worker training

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 22 of 34

• Failure to identify and eliminate fall hazards or to provide an adequate fall

prevention system
• Removal of hole covers by workers
• Failure to protect workers from fall hazards during bad weather conditions
• Inappropriate task assignments for young workers
• Lack of written agreements between general contractors and
subcontractors to clearly describe how safety responsibilities will be
handled and how workers will be protected from hazards at the worksite

Responsibilities
What Should My Employer Oversee?

To avoid the types of falls described above, NIOSH investigators recommended

that employers:

• Develop and enforce a written fall prevention program that, at a minimum,

complies with applicable OSHA fall prevention standards.

• Require, provide, and ensure the use of appropriate fall prevention

systems that use one of the following:

o Covers or screens
o Railings or guardrails
o PFAS. If a PFAS is used, employers need to select an anchorage
point that is suitable to arrest a fall and inform workers where these
anchorage points are located.

• Assign a competent person to inspect the worksite before work begins to

identify fall hazards and determine the appropriate fall prevention system
workers are to use.
• Periodically conduct inspections to ensure that the fall prevention system
selected is used and maintained correctly and provides adequate
protection.
• Provide training to each worker who may be exposed to a fall hazard that
will enable them to recognize fall hazards and understand how to minimize
these hazards. Worker training in fall protection should be provided by a
person qualified through education and/or experience. The training should
include, at a minimum, the following elements:
o Identification and description of fall hazards in the work area

o Correct procedures for erecting, inspecting, maintaining, using, and

disassembling fall prevention systems (such as covers, guardrail
systems, PFAS, etc.)
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 23 of 34

o Defined roles for workers in fall prevention plans

o Applicable OSHA regulations including, for example, requirements

for standard guardrails, covers, screens, or PFAS to prevent falls
through skylights and roof and floor openings [29 CFR 1910.23 and
1926.500–503]

What Should I Do to Ensure My Own Protection?

The investigators agreed that workers need to take the following common-sense
steps to protect themselves from falls through skylights and roof and floor
openings:

• Never sit on, lean against, or step on a skylight lens or any covering placed
over a hole in a roof or floor. The material used for the cover may not support
your weight.

• Guard or securely cover all holes you have created or uncovered before you
leave the work area. Other workers might not notice an uncovered hole and
fall through.

• Ask your supervisor for the safety procedures to follow when covering or
guarding a hole.

• Always use a PFAS when working over an unguarded or uncovered opening

more than six feet above a lower level—for example, while you are installing
a skylight or ventilation unit in an opening that cannot be guarded or covered
because of the nature of the work.

• If you use a PFAS, inspect it daily and report any damage or deficiencies to
your supervisor. Tie off only to those anchorage points that your employer
has identified as safe.

• Immediately report to your supervisor any unguarded skylight or roof or floor

opening or other fall hazards in your workplace.

• Participate in all safety and health training programs offered by your

employer.

• Follow safe work practices identified by your employer.

• Ask your employer for instructions if you do not know how to perform your
job safely.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 24 of 34

• Obtain fall protection information from your employer or from the OSHA
office (visit - [Link] or call 1–800–321–
6742).

By now, you should be generally familiar with some fall-prevention basics:

If workers are working on roofs or other elevated surfaces with unprotected sides
and edges six feet or more above the ground or the lower level, fall protection is
in order.

The basic forms of fall protection are guardrail systems, safety net systems,
personal fall arrest systems, and covers. Let’s look at some of these points in a
bit more detail.

Preventing Ladder Falls

Why construction falls?

Here are a few basic facts about falls in construction:

-- Every day, four construction workers die on the job.
-- Falls are the most common cause of fatal injuries to construction workers.
-- The consequences of a fall affect not only the worker, but also his or her family
and community.
-- Construction falls can be prevented. Contractors and foreman can do many
things to organize the worksite to be safer for their employees. But workers
themselves can also make some inexpensive, simple changes to the way they
work that can save their lives.
-- Ladders are one of the most common pieces of equipment on a construction
site. But that doesn't mean they are safe. There are construction workers who
are injured or killed falling from a height every day. Using ladders more safely is
one way to start preventing falls at your work site.

Set an example at work

Your co-workers can learn a lot from you. At first, you might be the only one who
is concerned with safety at your worksite. But over time, other workers will see
that the foreman will give you the time you need to be safe. They will see how
many little things add up to big effects on safety. And they will see how they, too,
can help to make your worksite safer. So, set an example. Don't worry about
being the first—they'll thank you for it later.

How can I prevent a fall from a ladder?

There are many ways you can prevent a fall from a ladder—here are just three
suggestions to get you started.
1. Choose the right ladder for the job.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 25 of 34

– First you need to make sure that a ladder is the best equipment for what you
need to do. Would scaffolding or a mechanical lift be better?
– Many times, the ladder is the only physical support you have while you are
working. If it fails, you can fall. That's why it is so important to find the right ladder
when you do need to use one. The three main types of ladders—step ladders,
straight ladders, and extension ladders—are used in different situations for
different tasks.
– Before you start using a ladder, ask yourself two questions.
– Is the ladder long enough? It should be long enough for you to set it at a stable
angle and still extend at the top to give you something to hold on to when you get
on the ladder to descend. Setting the ladder at the right angle helps you keep
your balance on the ladder. It also helps keep the ladder from falling backwards.
• Make sure the ladder extends 3 feet (3 rungs; 0.9 meters) above the
surface you will be working on.
• Make sure the ladder is placed at a stable angle. For every four feet (1.2
m) high the ladder is, the base should be 1 foot (.3 m) out from the wall
• For example, if you will be working on a 10 foot-high roof (3 m), you need
a ladder that is at least 14 feet (4.25 m) long. The base should be 2 1⁄2
feet (.75 m) from the wall.
– Is the ladder in good working condition? It shouldn’t be missing pieces or be
cracked or otherwise damaged. Check the duty rating on extension ladders – is it
high enough for the weight you will be putting on it? Longer ladders don’t always
have higher duty ratings, so be sure to check. In construction, the most common
ratings are:
• Heavy Duty (I) supports up to 250 pounds (113 kg).
• Extra heavy duty (IA) supports up to 300 pounds (136 kg).
• Special duty (IAA) supports up to 375 pounds (170 kg).
2. Tie the top and bottom of the ladder to fixed points when necessary: if it
doesn’t extend 3’ above the landing, on slippery surfaces, and where it
could be displaced by work activities or traffic.
– Tie both sides of the top of the ladder to a fixed point on the roof or other high
surface near where you are working. The bottom should be tied to a fixed point
on the ground. Securing the ladder in this way prevents the ladder from sliding
side-to-side or falling backwards and prevents the base from sliding.
– Tying the ladder off at the beginning of the day and untying it at the end will
only take you about 5 minutes. It can make all the difference for your safety. If
you need to move the ladder around, allow extra time for this important step, or
consider using something else, such as a scaffold.

3. Don't carry tools or other materials in-hand while climbing the ladder.
– Take precautions when you are going up or down a ladder. Instead of carrying
tools, boards, or other materials in your hands, use a tool belt, install a rope and
pulley system or tie a rope around your materials and pull them up once you
have reached the work surface. Ask for help if you need to use more than one
hand to pull them up.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 26 of 34

– Carrying tools or anything else in your hands as you climb the ladder can throw
you off balance. When you climb a ladder, always use at least one hand to grasp
the ladder when going up or down.

Using Fall Protection

How Does a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) Protect Me?

A PFAS uses a body harness that you wear and adjust to fit (as of January 1,
1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited). A body belt may be used
as a positioning device in a fall arrest system. For instance, in a telephone
lineman aerial bucket, the bucket is the fall arrest and the body belt attached
inside with a short lanyard is a positioning device to keep you inside the bucket.
(CFR 1926.500, (b)definitions, 1926.502 (e) positioning device systems. This
harness is fastened to a secure anchorage so that you cannot fall more than a
little bit. In addition, a PFAS may consist of a deceleration device, lifeline, or
suitable combination.

Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear,
damage, and other deterioration, and defective components must be removed
from service.

A safety line anchorage used with the PFAS must be independent of any
platform anchorage, and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker.

If a personal fall arrest system is used for fall protection, it must do the following:

• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds when used

with a body belt;
• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds when
used with a body harness;
• Be rigged so that an employee can neither free-fall more than 6 feet nor
contact any lower level;
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration
distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet; and
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of
an employee free-falling a distance of 6 feet or the free-fall distance
permitted by the system, whichever is less.

How Do Guardrail Systems Protect Me?

Guardrail systems are like fences, providing a physical barrier to prevent workers
from falling. Each usually consists of a top rail, a mid-rail and a toe board.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 27 of 34

The top edge of a guardrail must be from 39 to 45 inches above the

walking/working level, and there most also be a means of protection from falling
between the top rail and the walking surface. Midrails, screens, mesh, or
intermediate vertical members may be used for this protection.

The guardrails must be strong enough to support a falling employee. They must
be able to withstand a force of at least 200 pounds applied within the top two
inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction. When the 200-
pound test is applied in a downward direction, the top edge of the guardrail must
not deflect to a height less than 39 inches above the walking/working level.

How Does a Safety Net System Protect Me?

Safety nets catch workers who fall! So, obviously, they must be strong enough to
support a falling employee and have small enough mesh openings that the
employee doesn’t fall through the net itself.

Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working

surface on which employees are working and never more than 30 feet (9.1
meters) below such levels. Defective nets shall not be used. Safety nets shall be
inspected at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration.

Safety nets must extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface as follows:

Vertical distance from working level to Minimum required horizontal distance of

horizontal plane of net. outer edge of net from the edge of the
working surface.

Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) 8 feet (2.4 meters)

More than 5 feet (1.5 meters) up to 10 feet 10 feet (3 meters)

(3 meters)

More than 10 feet (3 meters) 13 feet (3.9 meters)

Six Feet Over

Places you must use fall protection if they’re six feet or more above (or below)
the ground:

• Excavations
• Hoist Areas
• Holes
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 28 of 34

• Leading Edges
• Precast Concrete Erection and Residential Construction
• Ramps, Runways, and Other Walkways
• Low-slope Roofs
• Steep Roofs
• Wall Openings

Training
Employers must provide a training program that teaches employees who might
be exposed to fall hazards how to recognize such hazards and how to minimize
them.

Employees must be trained in the following areas:

• The nature of fall hazards in the work area;

• The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and
inspecting fall protection systems;
• The use and operation of controlled access zones and guardrail, personal
fall arrest, safety net, warning line, and safety monitoring systems;
• The role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when the
system is in use;
• The limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the
performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs;
• The correct procedures for equipment and materials handling and storage
and the erection of overhead protection;
• The employees' role in fall protection plans; and
• The standards of Subpart M

Employers must prepare a written certification that identifies the employee

trained and the date of the training. The employer or trainer must sign the
certification record. Retraining also must be provided when necessary.

Conclusion

While it is always safest to perform work at ground level, in construction this

simply is not always possible. Remember to tether or restrain workers on high so
that they can’t reach the edge of a long drop, and use the proper method of fall
prevention whenever there’s any possibility of a fall hazard.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 29 of 34

Free-falling a distance as little as four to six feet can cause serious injury and
even death, so while it might be tempting to run up a ladder or onto a roof or over
to a leading edge “just for a second” to do something quickly, keep in mind that
the risk you’re taking just might end up costing you your life (or the quality
thereof).
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 30 of 34

Fact Sheet

Fall Protection

Worksite Safety: OSHA Fall Protection

OSHA ground rules have established that employers and employees need to do
the following:

▪ Where protection is required, select fall protection systems appropriate for

given situations.
▪ Use proper construction and installation of safety systems.
▪ Supervise employees properly.
▪ Use safe work procedures.
▪ Train workers in the proper selection, use, and maintenance of all
protection systems.

When Should Fall Protection Be Provided?

• Where there is a walking or working surface that has one or more

unprotected edges
• When a worker is building a leading edge
• When there is a danger that a worker could fall through a hole in a walking
or working surface
• When an employee is working on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel
• On ramps, runways, or other walkways
• At the edge of an excavation, hole, well, pit, or shaft
• When employees are working above dangerous equipment (even if it is
less than six feet above such equipment)!
• When a worker is doing overhand bricklaying or related masonry work
• When an employee is working on a roof
• When a worker is doing precast construction erection (with some
exceptions)
• During certain types of residential construction.

The following have been determined to be contributing factors in many fall-

through accidents:

• Inadequate safety programs and worker training

• Failure to identify and eliminate fall hazards or to provide an adequate fall
prevention system
• Removal of hole covers by workers
• Failure to protect workers from fall hazards during bad weather conditions
• Inappropriate task assignments for young workers
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 31 of 34

• Lack of written agreements between general contractors and

subcontractors to clearly describe how safety responsibilities will be
handled and how workers will be protected from hazards at the worksite

The four most common types of fall-prevention equipment are:

• Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

• Guardrail or Railing Systems
• Safety Net Systems
• Covers

Employees must be trained in the following areas:

• The nature of fall hazards in the work area;

• The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and
inspecting fall protection systems;
• The use and operation of controlled access zones and guardrail, personal
fall arrest, safety net, warning line, and safety monitoring systems;
• The role of each employee in the safety monitoring system when the
system is in use;
• The limitations on the use of mechanical equipment during the
performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs;
• The correct procedures for equipment and materials handling and storage
and the erection of overhead protection;
• The employees' role in fall protection plans; and
• The standards of Subpart M
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 32 of 34

Glossary
Anchorage-A secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or deceleration
devices.

Body belt-A strap with means both for securing it about the waist and for
attaching it to a lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration device.

Body harness -Straps that may be secured about the person in a manner that
distributes the fall-arrest forces over at least the thighs, pelvis, waist, chest, and
shoulders with a means for attaching the harness to other components of a
personal fall arrest system.

Connector-A device that is used to couple (connect) parts of a personal fall

arrest system or positioning device system together.

Controlled access zone-A work area designated and clearly marked in which
certain types of work (such as overhand bricklaying) may take place without the
use of conventional fall protection systems—guardrail, personal arrest or safety
net—to protect the employees working in the zone.

Deceleration device-Any mechanism-such as rope, grab, ripstitch lanyard,

specially-woven lanyard, tearing or deforming lanyards, automatic self-retracting
lifelines/lanyards-which serves to dissipate a substantial amount of energy during
a fall arrest, or otherwise limits the energy imposed on an employee during fall
arrest.

Deceleration distance-The additional vertical distance a falling person travels,

excluding lifeline elongation and free fall distance, before stopping, from the point
at which a deceleration device begins to operate.

Guardrail system-A barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower

levels.

Hole-A void or gap 2 inches (5.1 centimeters) or more in the least dimension in a
floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.

Lanyard-A flexible line of rope, wire rope, or strap that generally has a connector
at each end for connecting the body belt or body harness to a deceleration
device, lifeline, or anchorage.

Leading edge-The edge of a floor, roof, or formwork for a floor or other

walking/working surface (such as the deck) which changes location as additional
floor, roof, decking, or formwork sections are placed, formed or constructed.

Lifeline-A component consisting of a flexible line for connection to an anchorage

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 33 of 34

at one end to hang vertically (vertical lifeline), or for connection to anchorages at

both ends to stretch horizontally (horizontal lifeline) and that serves as a means
for connecting other components of a personal fall arrest system to the
anchorage.

Low-slope roof-A roof having a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to

horizontal).

Opening-A gap or void 30 inches (76 centimeters) or more high and 18 inches
(46 centimeters) or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees
can fall to a lower level.

Personal fall arrest system-A system including but not limited to an anchorage,
connectors, and a body belt or body harness used to arrest an employee in a fall
from a working level. As of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest
is prohibited.

Positioning device system-A body belt or body harness system rigged to allow
an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall, and
work with both hands free while leaning backwards.

Rope grab-A deceleration device that travels on a lifeline and automatically, by

friction, engages the lifeline and locks to arrest a fall.

Safety-monitoring system-A safety system in which a competent person is

responsible for recognizing and warning employees of fall hazards.

Self-retracting lifeline/lanyard-A deceleration device containing a drum-wound

line which can be slowly extracted from, or retracted onto, the drum under
minimal tension during normal employee movement and which, after onset of a
fall, automatically locks the drum and arrests the fall.

Snaphook-A connector consisting of a hook-shaped member with a normally

closed keeper, or similar arrangement, which may be opened to permit the hook
to receive an object and, when released automatically closes to retain the object.

Steep roof-A roof having a slope greater than 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).

Toeboard-A low protective barrier that prevents material and equipment from
falling to lower levels and which protects personnel from falling.

Unprotected sides and edges-Any side or edge (except at entrances to points

of access) of a walking/working surface (e.g. floor, roof, ramp, or runway) where
there is no wall or guardrail system at least 39 inches (1 meter) high.

Walking/working surface-Any surface, whether horizontal or vertical, on which

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course: Module 3 - Fall Protection Page 34 of 34

an employee walks or works, including but not limited to floors, roofs, ramps,
bridges, runways, formwork, and concrete reinforcing steel. Does not include
ladders, vehicles, or trailers on which employees must be located to perform their
work duties.

Warning line system-A barrier erected on a roof to warn employees that they
are approaching an unprotected roof side or edge and which designates an area
in which roofing work may take place without the use of guardrail, body belt, or
safety net systems to protect employees in the area.