Oregon OSHA’s

Fall protection

for the
construction
industry
About this guide
Fall protection for the construction industry is an Oregon OSHA Standards and Technical Resources publication.
Who should read this guide?
This guide is for anyone who wants to understand fall-protection concepts and best practices for the construction
industry. It’s also for those who don’t have a professional background in fall protection and who want to understand the
requirements in Division 3, Subdivision M, Fall protection. The guide also highlights fall-protection requirements for work
on ladders and scaffolds.
How the guide is organized
• Parts one and two describe what to consider before on-site work begins.
• Part three describes how to identify and evaluate fall hazards — essential fall-protection activities.
• Parts four and five describe how to get to the work area safely.
• Part six describes fall-protection systems, methods, and the requirements for using them.
• Parts seven, eight, and nine cover fall-protection training, equipment maintenance, and emergency planning.
You can read each section in the order presented or move about as you choose.
Writers, designers, and editors
• Editor: Mark Peterson, DCBS Communications
• Layout and design: Patricia Young
• Writer: Ellis Brasch, Oregon OSHA
• Technical contributor: Ron Haverkost, Oregon OSHA
Questions or comments?
We’d like to hear from you.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
Contact Ellis Brasch at [Link]@[Link], or 503-947-7399. this publication is available in alternative formats. Call the
Piracy notice Oregon OSHA public relations manager, 503-378-3272.
Printing, excerpting, or plagiarizing this publication is fine with us Material contained in this publication is in the public domain
as long as it’s not for profit! Please inform Oregon OSHA of your and may be reproduced without permission from Oregon OSHA.
intention as a courtesy.
 Fall protection for the construction industry

Contents
About this guide 2
Introduction 6
What is fall protection? 6
Why we need protection from falling 6
What is your fall-protection role? 6
Part one — Falling: truths and consequences 9
How Oregon construction workers fall 10
Real-world falls 11
Part two – Preparing to prevent falls 13
Make fall protection part of your safety program 14
Prepare a safety policy 14
Designate competent persons and qualified persons 15
Duties and responsibilities of competent and qualified persons 16
Summary: preparing to prevent falls 17
Part three – Identifying and evaluating fall hazards 19
What is a fall hazard? 20
How to evaluate fall hazards 20
Summary: evaluating fall hazards 23
Part four – Supported access 25
What is supported access? 26
Portable ladders 26
Supported scaffolds 28
Aerial lifts 32

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Part five – Suspended access 35

What is suspended access? 36
Adjustable-suspension scaffolds 36
Crane- and derrick-suspended personnel platforms 41
Part six – Preventing and controlling falls 43
What is a fall-protection system? 44
What to consider when selecting a fall-protection system 45
Personal fall-arrest systems 46
Personal fall-restraint systems 51
Positioning-device systems 51
Guardrail systems 52
Safety-net systems 53
Warning-line systems for roofing work 54
Warning lines for other construction trades 55
Slide-guard systems 56
Safety monitoring for roofing work 57
Catch platforms 57
Covers for holes 58
Fences and barricades 58
Protecting workers from falling objects 59

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Part seven – Training workers about fall protection 61

Why train workers about fall protection? 62
Employers: your responsibility 62
Required training for workers exposed to fall hazards 62
Part eight – Maintaining equipment 65
Inspecting equipment 66
Summary: inspecting, cleaning, and storing equipment 68
Part nine – Responding to falls 71
Prompt rescue required 72
Developing an emergency-response plan 72
Summary: responding to falls 74
Appendix – An overview of Subdivision M 77
About Subdivision M 78
Scope, application, and definitions 78
Duty to have fall protection 78
Fall-protection systems, criteria, and practices 81
Training requirements 81

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Introduction
What is fall protection?
Ask 10 people what fall protection means and you’re likely to get 10 different answers. For many in the construction industry,
equipment is the first thing that comes to mind: personal fall-arrest systems, safety nets, or guardrails, for example. But fall
protection is more than equipment. Fall protection is what you do to eliminate fall hazards, to prevent falls, and to ensure that
workers who do fall don’t die.
Is it possible to make sense of fall protection? We think so. You accomplish fall protection by doing the following:
• Ensure that everyone has a role to play in preventing falls.
• Identify and evaluate fall hazards.
• Eliminate fall hazards, if possible.
• Train workers to recognize fall hazards.
• Use appropriate systems and methods to prevent falls and to protect workers if they do fall.
• Inspect and maintain fall-protection equipment before and after using it.
• Become familiar with Oregon OSHA’s fall protection rules.

Why we need protection from falling

We need protection because even if we’re experienced working at heights, we can lose our balance or grip. We can slip,
trip, or misstep. We can fall at any time. We may think that our reflexes will protect us, but we’re falling before we know it.
And we don’t have to fall far to get hurt. We’ve been falling since Day One. Until we get better at landing, we’ll need
protection from falling.

What is your fall-protection role?

Everyone involved in a construction project has a role to play in preventing falls.
Employers. Identify fall hazards at the site. Eliminate the hazards, prevent falls from occurring, or ensure that if falls occur,
no one dies. Make sure that employees follow safe practices and are trained to recognize them.
Employees. Follow safe work practices, use equipment properly, and participate in training. Recognize unsafe practices,
know the jobs that increase the risk of falling, and understand how to control exposure to fall hazards.

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Architects and engineers. Educate employers about hazards that could expose workers to falls during each phase of a
construction project. When designing buildings and structures, consider fall protection and other safety needs of those who
will do the construction work.
Building owners and managers. Ensure that those who do exterior construction or maintenance work know how to protect
themselves from falls, are aware of installed anchorages, and know how to use their fall-protection equipment.
Equipment manufacturers. Ensure that fall-protection equipment meets OSHA and American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) safety requirements and protects workers when they use it properly. Warn workers through instruction manuals and
equipment labels about the danger of using equipment improperly.
Lawyers. Review your client’s construction bids to ensure they comply with Oregon OSHA requirements. The documents
should clearly state the client’s responsibilities for protecting workers from falls and for identifying and controlling hazards that
cause falls.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Photo: Abby Burnett, Oregon OSHA

This roofing company was cited for a repeat violation for failing to provide its employees with fall protection.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part one – Falling: truths and consequences

• How Oregon construction workers fall

• Real-world falls

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

How Oregon construction workers fall

Table 1 shows that falls from ladders and roofs account for more than half of all disabling falls to lower levels. Falls from
ladders, roofs, and scaffolds are most frequent within the construction trades. The cause? Loss of balance caused by slipping,
tripping, and shifting or unstable ladders.

Table 1: Accepted disabling workers’ compensation claims for falls to a lower level, 2004-2008

Type of fall Number Percent

From ladder 814 41.3
To lower level, other/unknown 349 17.7
From roof 261 13.2
From non-moving vehicle 170 8.6
From scaffolding, staging 156 7.9
From floor, dock, or ground level 119 6.0
Down stairs or steps 86 4.4
From building girders or other structural steel 12 0.6
From piled or stacked material 4 0.2
Source: DCBS Information Management Division, Research and Analysis Section

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Real-world falls
Following are four descriptions of serious accidents in which Oregon workers weren’t protected from falling.
[Source: DCBS Compensable Fatality Report, January 2007 through December 2008]
Fall from ladder. A painter was working on the second story of an apartment building. When he attempted to exit the
second story and climb down the ladder, he lost his footing and fell 10 feet to a concrete walkway. Entry balconies on the
second floor apartments were not equipped with guardrails, and the worker had no other form of fall protection at the time
of the incident. He died the next day from multiple head injuries.
Fall from ladder. A house painter was standing on a stepladder painting the exterior trim on a house. The ladder was
placed on an uneven driveway at a slight incline. He fell from the top of the ladder approximately 10 feet to the paved
driveway. He died in the hospital nine days later from closed head trauma and neck fracture.
Fall through roof opening. A journeyman welder was on a roof welding metal decking to the main roof support structure.
During a lull in the work, a carpenter removed three sheets of decking about 60 feet back from the work that the welder
was doing. The welder disconnected from his fall protection and walked back to the center of the roof where the panels
had been removed. He fell through the unguarded opening, 37 feet to the concrete floor below. He died from a cervical
spine fracture.
Fall from roof edge. A roofer was on top of a residential building when he lost his footing near the edge. He fell 17 feet,
striking his head on the deck below. He died two months later from multiple head injuries.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Photo: Mark Sullivan, Oregon OSHA

This is not the place to plan how to prevent falls. Before you start a construction project, think about the hazards workers may encounter and what you can do to keep workers safe.

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Part two – Preparing to prevent falls

• Make fall protection part of your safety program

• Prepare a safety policy
• Designate competent persons and qualified persons
• Summary: preparing to prevent falls

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Make fall protection part of your safety program

Make fall protection part of your safety program and ensure that everyone has a role to play in preventing falls. Most
successful programs have the following elements:
Management commitment. Business owners and managers are as committed to workplace safety as they are to any other
critical part of the business.
Accountability. Supervisors and employees are held accountable for following safe work practices.
Employee involvement. Employees are involved in the day-to-day effort to maintain a safe workplace.
Hazard identification. Supervisors and employees know how to identify hazards.
Hazard control. Supervisors and employees know how to eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards.
Accident and incident investigation. Accidents and near misses are investigated and their causes prevented from
happening again.
Training. Employees learn safe work practices through classroom training and instruction.
Evaluation. Business owners and managers evaluate their safety
goals at least yearly and use the evaluation to set new goals.

Prepare a safety policy

Does your company have a written safety policy? It should. A
written policy reflects commitment to a safe, healthful workplace,
summarizes management and employee responsibilities, and
emphasizes the safety program’s role. Keep the policy brief,
commit to it, and enforce it.

A good safety policy ensures that

everyone has a role to play in
preventing falls.

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Example of a workplace safety policy

Business commitment. Our company is committed to a safe, healthful workplace for all its employees. Our safety program
involves all employees in the effort to control workplace hazards. All employees, including managers and supervisors, are
held accountable for following this policy.
Management responsibilities. Our managers are responsible for preventing injuries and illnesses and considering all
suggestions for achieving a safe workplace. Managers will stay informed about workplace hazards and will review the safety
program at least once a year.
Supervisors’ responsibilities. Our supervisors are responsible for supervising and training employees to work safely.
Supervisors must enforce safe practices and correct hazardous conditions.
Safety committee responsibilities. Our safety committee includes management representatives and employee
representatives who are responsible for identifying hazards and recommending how to eliminate or control them. The
committee is also responsible for helping managers review the safety program’s strengths and weaknesses.
Employees’ responsibilities. Our safety program achieves success through our employees. All employees are responsible
for identifying and reporting hazards immediately to their supervisors or safety committee representatives, for following safe
work practices, and for using required personal protective equipment.

Designate competent persons and qualified persons

Many of Oregon OSHA’s construction rules refer to competent persons and qualified persons. Federal OSHA created these
terms to designate those who can evaluate hazardous conditions and mechanical systems, inspect equipment, and train
others to work safely.
Who can be competent and qualified persons? OSHA offers the following definitions:
Competent person. “One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working
conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate them.” [1926.32(f)]
Subdivision R (Steel erection) also adds the following: “In Oregon, a competent person is considered to be someone
with equivalent skills as a qualified person in identifying existing and potential hazards in the workplace, while also being
authorized by the employer or employer’s representative to take immediate corrective action to control or eliminate hazards.”

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Qualified person. “One who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing or who, by extensive
knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the
subject matter, the work, or the project.” [1926.32(m)]
Federal OSHA doesn’t provide specifics for determining who can assume these roles. The following guidelines may help:
• Know the Oregon OSHA rules that apply to your workplace. The rules will tell you if you need to designate a competent
or a qualified person.
• If an Oregon OSHA rule requires a competent person or qualified person, note the person’s duties and responsibilities.
• If an Oregon OSHA rule requires a competent person, that person must have the authority to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate hazards.
• Determine the knowledge, training, and experience the person needs to meet the rule’s requirements.
• Designate a person whose knowledge, training, and experience meet the rule’s requirements.

Duties and responsibilities of competent and qualified persons

The competent person
• Serves as the monitor in a safety-monitoring system, is responsible for recognizing hazards that cause falls, and warns
workers about hazards
• Determines whether safety nets meet Subdivision M requirements
• Inspects a personal fall-arrest system after it arrests a fall and determines whether the system is damaged
• Evaluates any alteration in a personal fall-arrest system and determines if it is safe to use
• Supervises installation of slide-guard systems
• Trains employees how to recognize fall hazards and follow safety procedures
The qualified person
• Supervises design, installation, and use of horizontal lifeline systems to ensure that they can maintain a safety factor of
at least two — twice the impact of a worker free-falling six feet
• Supervises design, installation, and use of personal fall-restraint anchorages
• Supervises design, installation, and use of personal fall-arrest anchorages

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Summary: preparing to prevent falls

Fall protection is what you do to eliminate hazards that cause falls and to ensure that workers who do fall, don’t die. Before
you start a construction project, think about the hazards workers may encounter and what you can do to keep workers safe.
• Employers: You’re responsible for enforcing safe work practices; identifying fall hazards; and eliminating, preventing,
or controlling the hazards.
• Employees: You’re responsible for following safe work practices and reporting unsafe conditions to a supervisor or a
safety committee representative.
• Prepare a workplace safety policy.
• Determine whether you need to designate competent or qualified persons.
• Make fall protection part of your workplace safety program.

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Fall protection for the construction industry

This photo identifies multiple

unsafe work practices including:
1) Poor lifting practice
2) No fall-protection systems
for workers 10 feet above a
lower level
3) Improper scaffolding set up
4) Poor housekeeping
2
1

Photo: OSHA Training Institute, Southwest Education Center

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part three – Identifying and evaluating

fall hazards

• What is a fall hazard?

• How to evaluate fall hazards
• Summary: evaluating fall hazards

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

What is a fall hazard?

A fall hazard is a workplace hazard that could cause worker’s loss of balance or
physical support. Fall hazards cause accidents such as the following:
• A worker walking near an unprotected leading edge trips over a protruding board
• A worker slips while climbing an icy stairway
• A makeshift scaffold collapses under the weight of four workers and their
equipment
Photo: NIOSH/John Rekus/[Link]
• A worker carrying a sheet of plywood on a flat roof steps into a skylight opening Most fall hazards are foreseeable. You can
identify them and eliminate or control them
before they cause injuries.
How to evaluate fall hazards
Involve others. You may need others to help you evaluate fall hazards. Ask workers who may be exposed to fall hazards and
their supervisors. Involving others also strengthens your safety program.
 Your workers’ compensation insurance carrier will help you evaluate fall hazards. Contact your insurance
carrier to request a consultation.
 Contact Oregon OSHA’s Consultative Services Section to schedule an on-site evaluation, 503-378-3272.
Determine how workers will access elevated surfaces to do their jobs. Will workers be using portable ladders, supported
scaffolds, aerial lifts, or suspension platforms to reach work areas? Which ones will they use? How and where will they use
the equipment?
Identify jobs that could expose workers to falls. Using a set of worksite plans, review the entire construction project.
Evaluate each phase of the project from the ground up. Ensure that all walking/working surfaces have the strength to support
workers and their equipment. Then identify jobs that could expose workers to falls.
 A walking/working surface is any surface – horizontal or vertical – on which a person walks or works.
Identify hazardous work areas. Determine if workers’ jobs could expose them to the following hazards:
• Holes in walking/working surfaces that they could step into or fall through
• Elevated walking/working surfaces 10 feet or more above a lower level
• Skylights and smoke domes that workers could step into or fall through

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• Wall openings such as those for windows or doors that workers could fall through
• Trenches and other excavations that are not readily seen and workers could fall into
• Walking/working surfaces from which workers could fall onto dangerous equipment
• Hoist areas where guardrails have been removed to receive materials
• Sides and edges of walking/working surfaces such as established floors, mezzanines, balconies, and walkways that are
six feet or more above a lower level and not protected by guardrails at least 39 inches high
• Ramps and runways that are not protected by guardrails at least 39 inches high
• Leading edges — edges of floors, roofs, and decks — that change location as additional sections are added
• Wells, pits, or shafts not protected with guardrails, fences, barricades, or covers
Determine how frequently workers will do jobs that expose them to falls. The more frequently a worker is exposed to a
fall hazard the more likely that the worker could fall.
Determine whether workers need to move horizontally, vertically, or in both directions to do their jobs. How workers
move to perform tasks can affect their risk of falling. Knowing how they move to perform tasks can help you determine how to
protect them.
Determine how many workers are exposed to fall hazards. As more workers are exposed to a fall hazard, the more likely it
is one could fall.
Identify walking/working surfaces that could expose workers to fall hazards. Examples are floors, roofs, ramps, bridges,
runways, formwork, beams, columns, trusses, and rebar.
Determine the fall distances from walking/working surfaces to lower levels. Generally, workers must be protected from
fall hazards on walking/working surfaces where they could fall 10 feet or more to a lower level. However, workers must be
protected from falls of six feet or more from any of the following:
• Holes and skylights in walking/working surfaces
• Wall openings that have an inside bottom edge less than 39 inches above a walking/working surface
• Established floors, mezzanines, balconies, and walkways with unprotected sides and edges
• Excavations with edges that are not readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barriers
• Wells, pits, shafts, and similar excavations
 Workers must also be protected from falling onto or into dangerous equipment from any distance.

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Ensure that existing guardrails and covers meet Subdivision M requirements.

• Find the requirements for guardrail systems in 1926.502(b).
• Find the requirements for covers in 1926.502(i).
Identify fall hazards that you can eliminate. Eliminating a fall hazard is the most effective fall-protection strategy.
Ways to eliminate fall hazards:
• Perform construction work on the ground before lifting or tilting it to an elevated position.
• Install permanent stairs early in the project so that workers don’t need to use ladders between floors.
• Use tool extensions to perform work from the ground.
Identify fall hazards that you can’t eliminate. If you can’t eliminate fall hazards, you must ensure that someone who does
fall doesn’t die. There are two ways:
• Prevent falls with covers, guardrails, handrails, perimeter safety cables, and personal fall-restraint systems.
• Control falls with personal fall-arrest systems, positioning-device systems, and safety-net systems. Use these fall-
protection systems only when you can’t eliminate fall hazards or prevent falls from occurring.
Consider administrative practices. Administrative practices help prevent falls by influencing the way people work. Examples
include using a safe work practice instead of a risky one, training workers how to do their jobs safely, and disciplining those
who don’t follow safe practices.
Determine whether anchorages are necessary. If workers use personal fall-arrest or restraint systems, they’ll need secure
anchorages for their lifelines or lanyards. Anchorages for personal fall-arrest systems must be able to support at least 5,000
pounds per attached worker or be designed by a qualified person and have a safety factor of at least two — twice the impact
force of a worker free-falling six feet.
Anchorages for personal fall-restraint systems must be able to support at least 3,000 pounds per attached worker or be
designed by a qualified person and have a safety factor of at least two — twice the peak anticipated dynamic load.
Consider other factors that could increase the risk of falls. Will workers’ jobs expose them to overhead power lines? Will
they need to use scaffolds, ladders, or aerial lifts on unstable or uneven ground? Will they be working during hot, cold, or
windy weather? Consider ergonomics. Will workers need to frequently lift, bend, or move in ways that put them off balance?
Will they be working extended shifts that could contribute to fatigue?

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Summary: evaluating fall hazards

• Identify tasks that could expose workers to falls.
• Identify hazardous work areas.
• Determine how frequently workers will do tasks that expose them to falls.
• Determine whether workers need to move horizontally, vertically, or in both directions to do their tasks.
• Determine the number of workers exposed to fall hazards.
• Identify walking/working surfaces that could expose workers to fall hazards.
• Determine fall distances from walking/working surfaces to lower levels.
• Ensure that existing guardrails and covers meet Subdivision M requirements.
• Identify fall hazards that you can eliminate.
• Identify fall hazards that you can’t eliminate.
• Determine whether anchorages are necessary.
• Consider other factors that could increase the risk of falls.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Do not stand on this step.

Unfold the ladder before you use it.

Incorrect use of this ladder: Do not stand on the second step from the top. Do not use a standard stepladder as a straight ladder.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part four – Supported access

• What is supported access?

• Portable ladders
• Supported scaffolds
• Aerial lifts

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

What is supported access?

Portable ladders, supported scaffolds, and aerial lifts let you get to a work
area and support you while you work. They make getting to a work area
easy, but they can become fall hazards when they’re not used properly.

Portable ladders
Portable ladders are versatile, economical, and easy to use. However,
workers sometimes use them without thinking about using them safely.
Each year, many construction workers in Oregon are injured when they
fall from ladders – most fall less than 10 feet.
Types of portable ladders. We use ladders to do all sorts of tasks, so
it’s not surprising that many types of ladders are available. Table 2
describes the most common types. Photo: Steve Barrett, Oregon OSHA
Workers sometimes use ladders without thinking about using them safely.

Table 2: Common types of portable ladders

Stepladder. Has flat steps, a hinged back, and is not adjustable. For use only on firm, level surfaces. Available
in metal, wood, or reinforced fiberglass. Must have a metal spreader or locking arm and cannot exceed 20 feet.
Supports only one worker.
Extension. Offers the most length in a general-purpose ladder. Has two or more adjustable sections. The sliding
upper section must be on top of the lower section. Made of wood, metal, or fiberglass. Maximum length depends on
material. Supports only one worker.
Platform. Has a large, stable platform near the top that supports one worker. Length cannot exceed 20 feet.
Trestle. Has two sections that are hinged at the top and form equal angles with the base. Used in pairs to support
planks or staging. Rungs are not used as steps. Length cannot exceed 20 feet.
Tripod (Orchard). Has a flared base and a single back leg that provides support on soft, uneven ground. Length
cannot exceed 16 feet. Metal and reinforced fiberglass versions are available. Supports only one worker.

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How falls occur. Most workers fall from unstable ladders that shift or tilt when they climb too high or reach too far beyond the
side rails. Workers also fall when they slip on rungs while they’re climbing or descending and when vehicles strike the ladders.
Workers can reduce their risk of falling by doing the following:
• Inspect ladders frequently and maintain them.
• Match work tasks to appropriate ladders.
• Set up ladders correctly.
• Climb and descend ladders properly.
Required training. A competent person must train workers before they use ladders so that they understand the following:
• The nature of the fall hazards in the work area
• How to use, place, and care for ladders
• Maximum intended load-carrying capacities of the ladders
• Oregon OSHA’s requirements for the ladders they use
Safe practices. Keep the following in mind when you use a portable ladder:
• Select the most appropriate ladder for the task.
• Inspect the ladder before using it; make sure it’s in good condition.
• Angle straight ladders and extension ladders properly. They should have a 4-to-1 slope (height to base).
• Protect the base of a ladder to prevent others from accidentally striking it.
• Select a ladder that will extend at least 36 inches above the access area or provide a grab rail so
that workers can steady themselves as they get on or off. Make sure that the ladder is stable. If
the ladder could be displaced by work activities, secure it.
• Face the ladder when you climb or descend it, keeping at least one hand on the rails.
• Stay within the side rails when climbing or working from the ladder. You can reach out, but keep
the rest of your body within the rails.
• Raise and lower heavy loads with a hand line or a hoist.
• Make sure metal ladders have steps and rungs with skid-resistant surfaces.
• Allow only one person on the ladder. Use a scaffold if two or more people need to work together.
• Never stand on top of a portable ladder. 75°

• Never use ladders that have conductive side rails near exposed, energized equipment. A 4-to-1 slope is
about 75 degrees.

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Supported scaffolds
A supported scaffold is simply an elevated platform that has a rigid means of support. Lay a board across a couple of tall
buckets, and you have a supported scaffold — but not a safe one.
Most supported scaffolds used for construction work are complex structures and workers must know how to erect them,
dismantle them, and work from them safely.
Of the many types of supported scaffolds, fabricated-frame scaffolds are the most common. Like portable ladders, they’re
versatile, economical, and easy to use. You’ll see them on construction sites as single supported platforms and multiple
platforms stacked several stories high on modular frames.

Examples of supported scaffolds:

• Sectional scaffolds
• Fabricated-frame scaffolds
• Tube-and-coupler scaffolds
• Ladder jack scaffolds
• Pump jack scaffolds
• Mast-climbing scaffolds
• Mobile scaffolds
• System scaffolds

How falls occur. Workers fall from scaffolds when components fail, planks
break, handrails give way, and scaffold supports collapse. Untrained or
improperly trained workers also cause many scaffold accidents.
When fall-protection systems are required. If you work on a supported
scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level, you must be protected from Fabricated-frame scaffold
falling. Guardrails at least 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) high are
appropriate for most scaffold platforms. If you can’t use a guardrail system,
then you must use a personal fall-arrest system or restraint system.

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
Guardrails or personal fall-arrest systems are the most
common methods for protecting workers from falls.

Using personal fall-arrest systems. Personal fall-arrest systems must include

a lanyard. Attach the lanyard to a vertical lifeline, a horizontal lifeline, or scaffold
structural member that will hold at least 5,000 pounds. If you’re not sure where
to attach a lanyard, get training from a competent person.
Protection for scaffold erectors and dismantlers. Workers must be
protected from falling when they erect or dismantle supported scaffolds if
protection is feasible and does not increase the risk of a fall. A competent
person must make the determination on a case-by-case basis.
Protection during storms and strong winds. Working from scaffolds is
prohibited during storms or strong winds unless a competent person determines
that it is safe and the workers use personal fall-arrest systems or are protected
by windscreens.
Training for those who work from scaffolds. Those who work from scaffolds
must be trained to recognize fall hazards and to control or minimize the
hazards. Training must cover the following: Fall Hazard! No guardrails. This scaffold has no guardrails
• Scaffold load capacity and the types of loads appropriate for the scaffold and is not fully planked. If you work on a supported
scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level, you must
• When fall protection is required, the appropriate protection to use, and be protected from falling.
how to use it
• How to use scaffold components
• How to reach access areas
• How to protect those below the scaffold from falling objects
• How to avoid electrical hazards

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Training for scaffold erectors and dismantlers. Those who erect or dismantle scaffolds must have additional training from
a competent person that covers scaffold hazards, erecting and dismantling procedures, design criteria, and load capacities.
Safe practices. Follow the safe practices below when you use a supported scaffold.
Getting to the scaffold platform
• Use ladders or stairs to reach platforms that are more than two feet above or below the access point.
• Don’t climb cross-braces to reach a scaffold platform.
Loading scaffold platforms
• Scaffolds must be able to support their own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load.
The maximum intended load includes workers, equipment, and supplies.
• Platforms must not deflect more than 1/60 of the span when they are loaded.
• Platforms must be fully decked or planked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports.
Using scaffold components
• Don’t use damaged scaffold components; repair or replace them immediately.
• Make sure a competent person inspects the components before each shift.
• Don’t modify components.
• Scaffold components made by different manufacturers may be mixed, provided they fit together without force and
maintain structural integrity.
Minding the environment
• Watch for slippery surfaces. Don’t work on platforms covered with snow and ice.
• Stay off scaffolds during storms and strong winds unless a competent person determines that it’s safe.
• Keep a safe distance from power lines and any other conductive source. Minimum clearance distances:
- Uninsulated electrical lines: 10 feet
- Insulated lines more than 300 volts: 10 feet
- Insulated lines less than 300 volts: three feet

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Erecting, dismantling, and moving scaffolds

• Scaffolds must be erected, dismantled, or moved only under the supervision of a competent person.
The competent person must be on site to direct and supervise the work.
• Only trained, experienced persons selected by the competent person may do the work.
• Never use wood outriggers to support a scaffold.
• Don’t use bricks, blocks, barrels, or other unstable objects to level a scaffold.
• Don’t use makeshift methods to increase the working height of a scaffold platform.
Protecting workers from falling objects
• If tools, materials, or equipment could fall from a scaffold, the area below must be barricaded or the scaffold
must have toeboards or screens.
• Don’t throw anything from a scaffold.
Inspecting scaffolds
• Inspect components, connections, planks, and
structures regularly.
• Keep the scaffold level, plumb, and square.

Never use bricks or blocks to level a scaffold.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Aerial lifts
Aerial lifts are designed to position workers and handle materials when
a work surface isn’t easy to reach. The American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) classifies aerial lifts as “vehicle-mounted elevating and
rotating work platforms” (ANSI A92.2-1969).
Types of lifts. Most aerial lifts have extensible or articulating mechanisms
that can position workers up, down, or sideways. ANSI defines and sets
operating standards for four different types of aerial lifts:
• Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating lifts (ANSI A92.2 devices)
• Manually propelled elevating work platforms (ANSI A92.3 devices)
• Boom-supported elevating work platforms (ANSI A92.5 devices)
• Self-propelled elevating work platforms and scissor lifts
(ANSI A92.6 devices)
How falls occur. Most accidents involving aerial lifts can be traced to
untrained or improperly trained workers. Reasons for falls:
• A hydraulic cylinder fails and causes the boom to drop.
• Outriggers are not used or improperly placed and the lift vehicle
overturns.
• Workers are not tied off while they are in the bucket.
• Workers fall or are pulled off the platform when the lift is struck by a
vehicle or moves unexpectedly.
Appropriate fall protection. If you work from an aerial lift, you must be
protected from falling. The type of fall protection you need depends on the
type of lift you use, summarized in Table 3.
If you work from an aerial lift, you must be protected from falling.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Table 3: Fall protection for aerial lifts

Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating lifts [ANSI A92.2 devices]
• Platforms other than buckets or baskets must include guardrail systems with guardrails, midrails, and toeboards.
• Each person who works on a boom-supported platform must use a personal fall-arrest system: a full-body harness and a lanyard
attached to the boom or basket.
Manually propelled elevating work platforms [ANSI A92.3 devices]
The platform must have a guardrail 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) high, a midrail, and toeboards at least four inches high.
Boom-supported elevating work platforms [ANSI A92.5 devices]
• The platform must have a guardrail 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) high, a midrail, and toeboards at least four inches high.
• Each worker on the platform must use a personal fall-arrest system: a full-body harness and lanyard attached to the boom or the platform.
Self-propelled elevating work platforms and scissor lifts [ANSI A92.6 devices]
The platform must have a guardrail 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) high, a midrail, and toeboards at least four inches high.

Safe practices. Keep in mind the following when you use an aerial lift:
• Use the lift only for its intended purpose and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Keep the operating manual with the lift.
• Keep the lift level and stable; use outriggers and intermediate stabilizers.
• Never move the lift when the boom is up and workers are on the platform, unless allowed by the manufacturer.
• Stand on the platform floor. Don’t sit or climb on the edge of the basket, guardrail, or midrail.
• Be sure to close the access gate while you’re working from the platform.
• Inspect the lift before using it to make sure that it’s working properly and it’s in good condition.
• Know the lift’s rated load capacity and don’t exceed it.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from electrical power lines.
• Never use the lift during severe weather.
• Use warning signs or barricades to keep others out of the work area.
• Never tie off to other equipment or to a structure next to the platform.

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Adjustable suspension scaffolds.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part five – Suspended access

• What is suspended access?
• Adjustable-suspension scaffolds
• Crane- and derrick-suspended personnel platforms

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Tieback system
What is suspended access? and anchorage
Counterweight
Portable ladders, supported scaffolds, and aerial lifts provide easy access Secure
to most elevated work areas. When they’re not feasible or safe, however, anchorage
the alternative is a suspended platform.
Suspended access is a means of getting to difficult-to-reach work
areas on a suspended platform. Usually the platform is an adjustable-
suspension scaffold. The scaffold, typically suspended by wire rope from Primary
suspension
a rooftop anchor, has a hoist that workers use to reach the work area.
Personal rope
In some cases, however, even adjustable-suspension scaffolds may not Primary
fall arrest
be feasible or safe. When there is no other safe way to reach the work system
suspension
area, a crane or a derrick can provide suspended access by hoisting a rope
personnel platform to reach the work area.
Key components
Adjustable-suspension scaffolds of an adjustable
suspension
A suspension scaffold is a temporary elevated platform that hangs by scaffold.
wire rope. Add a hoist to move the platform up or down, and you have
an adjustable-suspension scaffold — but not necessarily a safe one.
Suspension ropes, lifelines, platforms, hoists, overhead support devices,
and tieback systems are critical to the safety of adjustable-suspension
scaffolds. Basic types of adjustable-suspension scaffolds:
Single-point adjustable scaffolds. A single-point suspension scaffold is
suspended by a single wire rope from an overhead support device such
as a davit or outrigger beam. The platform is usually ground rigged.
A boatswain’s chair, the most common single-point suspension scaffold,
supports only one worker in a sitting position. The chair is lightweight,
easy to rig, and favored by window cleaners. Most chairs are equipped with descent-control devices.
Two-point adjustable-suspension scaffolds. Also known as swing-stage scaffolds, these scaffolds are suspended by two
independent ropes from an overhead support device such as a davit or outrigger beam. They’re used by window cleaners on
skyscrapers and by construction workers on high-rise projects.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Multipoint adjustable-suspension scaffolds. As the name suggests, these scaffolds are suspended by more than two
independent ropes. They’re often used for chimney cleaning and are called chimney hoists.
How falls occur. Most accidents involving adjustable-suspension scaffolds happen when a primary suspension rope breaks.
Workers die because they don’t use personal fall-arrest systems or they use them incorrectly. Steel suspension ropes rarely
break if they’re correctly rigged, maintained, and inspected regularly. When the ropes aren’t maintained, they weaken. If an
ascending platform snags, an electric hoist that continues to operate can easily snap a weak rope. Pressure from the two steel
discs that clamp to the support rope in sheave-type hoist motors can also break a weak rope.
Failing anchors also cause serious accidents. Too often, untrained workers attach lifelines and suspension ropes to “secure-
looking” rooftop fixtures for convenience. These anchors fail because they aren’t designed to support suspended loads.
Lifelines fail because workers hang them over unpadded edges, don’t inspect them, or use ropes not designed for personal
fall-arrest systems.
Using adjustable-suspension scaffolds. Before you use an adjustable-suspension scaffold, you need to know the
engineering principles for anchoring and suspending the scaffold, how to rig the scaffold, how to operate the hoist, how to
work safely from the scaffold, and what to do in an emergency.
A competent person must examine all direct connections that are part of the system and confirm that the connections will
support the platform loads. You must also wear a personal fall-arrest system to protect yourself if a connection fails. Most fatal
falls from suspended platforms result when a support rope fails and workers aren’t wearing personal fall-arrest gear.
Newer buildings and renovated buildings usually have some form of support system for suspension scaffolds. However, older
buildings, buildings with large cornices, and tiered buildings often lack adequate support for suspended platforms. If you’re not
sure, have a qualified person determine whether it’s safe to use an adjustable-suspension scaffold on these buildings.
When fall-protection systems are required. If you work on an adjustable-suspension scaffold more than 10 feet above a
lower level, you must be protected from falling with an appropriate fall-protection system.
• Single-point and two-point adjustable-suspension scaffolds: Personal fall-arrest systems and guardrail systems
are required on single-point or two-point adjustable-suspension scaffolds. The top edge of guardrail must be between
36 inches and 45 inches above the platform surface. (The top edge can exceed 45 inches when necessary.)
• Boatswain’s chairs: Personal fall-arrest systems are required for workers who use boatswain’s chairs.
• Multipoint adjustable-suspension scaffolds: Personal fall-arrest systems and guardrail systems are required on
multipoint adjustable-suspension scaffolds. The top edge of the guardrail must be between 36 inches and 45 inches
above the platform surface. (The top edge can exceed 45 inches, when necessary.)

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Required training. Those who work from adjustable-suspension scaffolds must be trained to recognize fall hazards and to
control or minimize the hazards. Training must cover the following topics:
• Scaffold load capacity and the types of loads appropriate for the scaffold
• When fall protection is required, the appropriate protection to use, and how to use it
• How to use scaffold components
• How to reach access areas
• How to protect those below the scaffold from falling objects
• How to avoid electrical hazards
Training for scaffold erectors and dismantlers. If you erect or dismantle scaffolds, you must have additional training by a
competent person that covers scaffold hazards, erecting and dismantling procedures, design criteria, and load capacities.
Safe practices: adjustable-suspension scaffolds. Table 4 highlights safe practices.
Table 4: Safe practices for working from adjustable-suspension scaffolds
Getting on the scaffold platform. Most workers get on a suspended scaffold from a roof or from the ground and then raise
or lower the platform to the work area. Use a ladder if the distance between the access point and the scaffold platform is
more than two feet.
Using support devices. Support devices must rest on surfaces that can support at least four times the scaffold load when
the scaffold operates at the hoist’s rated load, or at least 1.5 times the scaffold load when it is operating at the hoist’s stall
load, whichever is greater. Examples: outriggers, parapet clamps, and cornice hooks.
Using outriggers. Outriggers are the horizontal beams that support suspension scaffolds. They must be made of structural
metal or equally strong material and must be permanently attached to a roof or stabilized by counterweights and secured by
tiebacks.
Using parapet clamps. A parapet is the wall that surrounds the edge of a roof. A parapet clamp is a temporary anchor for a
suspension rope, lifeline, or tieback line. Window washers use parapet clamps to suspend boatswain’s chairs. Unreinforced
parapet walls, precast concrete walls, and masonry walls will not meet the minimum load requirement for support devices.
Using cornice hooks. A cornice hook is a temporary anchor for a suspension rope. A cornice hook should be installed so
that the load from the suspended equipment pulls vertically downward.
 Don’t use a cornice hook as a lifeline or tieback anchor.

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Using counterweights. Use counterweights only to stabilize outriggers and offset the weight of the scaffold. Don’t change
or move them until the scaffold is dismantled. Sand and other flowable materials cannot be used as a counterweight. Solid
materials designed as counterweights, such as concrete or lead blocks, are acceptable.

Using tiebacks. Tiebacks prevent outrigger beams from moving and provide secondary support for a suspended scaffold.
They must be at least as strong as suspension ropes and must be secured to a structurally sound anchor. Never use
standpipes, vents, other piping systems, or electrical conduit for anchorages.
• Install tiebacks perpendicular to the face of the building or structure or use opposing angle tiebacks.
• Support devices such as cornice hooks, roof hooks, or parapet clamps must also be secured by properly installed
tiebacks.

Using suspension rope. A competent person must inspect suspension ropes before each shift. Replace damaged rope
immediately with new rope. Never use repaired rope.
• Suspension rope must be one continuous length. Wire suspension ropes can be joined only with eye-splice thimbles
connected with shackles or cover plates and bolts.
• Don’t use swaged attachments or spliced eyes on wire rope unless the manufacturer or a qualified person made them.
 Keep suspension ropes away from heat and acids or other corrosive substances.

Using hoists. Never use gasoline-powered hoists on suspension scaffolds.

• Hoists must have an operating brake and an automatic braking device or locking pawl that engages if the operating
speed changes suddenly.
• There must be at least four wraps of suspension rope on a winding drum hoist when the scaffold is at its lowest point.
On all other hoists, the suspension rope must be long enough that the scaffold can be lowered without the rope end
passing through the hoist.

Securing scaffolds. Secure two-point and multipoint scaffolds if they could sway while workers are on them; a competent
person must make the determination. Window cleaners’ anchors cannot be used to secure suspension scaffolds.

Using tag lines. If it’s possible for a swinging load to strike the scaffold, use tag lines to control the load.

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What you should know about descent-control devices. A descent-control device lets you descend a primary support
rope — typically from a boatswain’s chair — then lock the device when you reach the work area. The device works by friction,
engaging the support rope and controlling descent speed. Most workers start from the roof and work down the face of the
building. When they reach the ground, they remove the descent equipment from the support rope and return to the roof for
another drop.
How falls occur. Most falls happen when the primary support rope or a supporting anchor fails – not the descent device.
Support ropes fail because workers don’t inspect them regularly or they misuse them. Anchors fail when workers simply
assume they are secure. Descent devices, support ropes, and anchors rarely fail when workers know how to use them.
Oregon OSHA requirements. Oregon OSHA doesn’t have requirements for descent-control devices. Of course, you should
follow the manufacturer’s instructions and be trained by a competent person.
Safe practices for descent-control devices:
• Know how to use the equipment.
• Inspect the equipment daily.
• Rig suspension ropes and support devices properly.
• Use an independently anchored personal fall-arrest system.
• Ensure that primary support ropes and lifelines will support at least 5,000 pounds.
• Don’t use primary support ropes and lifelines that are worn or damaged.
• Protect primary support ropes and lifelines that contact surface edges.
• Protect primary support ropes and lifelines from extreme temperatures and
corrosive chemicals.
• Understand self-rescue procedures and techniques.
• Don’t use descent-control devices in strong winds.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Crane- and derrick-suspended personnel platforms

Sometimes, workers may not be able to reach the work area with stairways, ladders, scaffolds, or aerial lifts. When there is no
other safe way to reach the area, you can use a crane or a derrick and a personnel platform to lift workers to the area.
Employee safety must be the basis for your decision to use this method. [See Subdivision N, Cranes, derricks, hoists,
elevators, and conveyors, 1926.550(g) for more information.]
How injuries occur. Workers rarely fall from suspended personnel platforms. Most accidents happen when the boom or
another part of the crane contacts an energized power line. Other causes of serious accidents:
• Instability. Unstable ground or support surface causes the crane to tip over.
• Lack of communication. The crane operator can’t see the suspended platform while it is moving.
• Rigging failure. Platform loads are not properly rigged.
• Boom failure. The weight of the loaded platform exceeds the boom’s load limit.
Safe practices for riding personnel platforms to the work area:
• Stay within the platform while it’s moving.
• Wear a body belt or harness and use a lanyard; attach the lanyard to the lower load
block or overhaul ball or to a structural member of the platform.
• Stay in view of the crane operator or signal person while you’re on the platform.
• Before leaving the platform for the work area, secure it to the structure.

A crane-suspended personnel platform

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Photo: Steve Clark/Laborers/[Link]

Assembling guardrails. Worker at leading edge tied off to a retractable lanyard.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part six – Preventing and controlling falls

• What is a fall-protection system?
• What to consider when selecting a fall-protection system
• Personal fall-arrest systems
• Personal fall-restraint systems
• Positioning-device systems
• Guardrail systems
• Safety-net systems
• Warning-line systems for roofing work
• Warning lines for other construction trades
• Slide-guard systems
• Safety monitoring for roofing work
• Catch platforms
• Covers for holes
• Fences and barricades
• Protecting workers from falling objects

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

What is a fall-protection system?

A fall-protection system is designed to prevent falls or control them so that someone who does fall doesn’t die. If workers will
be exposed to fall hazards that you can’t eliminate, you’ll need to protect them with one of the fall-protection systems shown in
Table 5.

Table 5: Fall-protection systems

Type of fall-protection system What it does
Personal fall-arrest system Controls (arrests) a fall
Personal fall-restraint system Prevents a fall
Positioning-device system Positions a worker and limits a fall to two feet
Guardrail system Prevents a fall
Safety-net system Controls (arrests) a fall
Warning line Warns a worker of a fall hazard
Slide-guard system Prevents a worker from sliding down a sloped roof

Other fall-protection methods. The following methods may also be appropriate for preventing falls:
• Safety monitoring for roofing work. A method in which a person — rather than a mechanical system — warns roofers
when they are in danger of falling. The monitor, who must be a competent person, is responsible for recognizing the
hazards and warning workers about them.
• Catch platforms. Though not covered in Subdivision M, catch platforms, which consist of a stable platform and an
attached standard guardrail, can protect workers when other systems or methods are not feasible.
• Covers for holes. Simple and effective when they’re properly installed, rigid covers prevent workers from falling through
temporary holes, openings, and skylights in walking/working surfaces.
• Fences and barricades. Use a fence or similar barricade to keep people away from wells, pits, and shafts.

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What to consider when selecting a fall-protection system

Appropriate fall-protection systems have the following characteristics:
• They’re affordable.
• They offer the least interference with workers’ tasks or activities.
• They prevent falls or protect workers who do fall.
Wherever possible, eliminate fall hazards. Identify hazards that you can’t eliminate and evaluate each one. The evaluation
will help you determine appropriate fall-protection systems for your work site. Consider the following:
• What is the fall distance from the walking/working surface to the next lower level?
• How many workers are exposed to the hazard?
• What tasks and work areas are associated with the hazard?
• How will the workers move — horizontally, vertically, or in both directions — to do their tasks?
• Are secure anchorages available or can they be easily installed near the hazard?
• Are there other hazards near the work area, such as overhead power lines?
• How will workers be promptly rescued if they are suspended in a personal fall-arrest system?

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Personal fall-arrest systems

A personal fall-arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a full-body harness that work together to stop a fall
and to minimize the arrest force. Other parts of the system may include a lanyard, a deceleration device, and a lifeline. The
personal fall-arrest system is effective only if you know how all of the components work together to stop a fall. Before you use
a personal fall-arrest system, you should know the following:
A personal fall-arrest system
• How to select and install a secure anchorage
• How to select and use connectors
Anchorage
• How to put on and use a full-body harness
• How to correctly attach and use a lanyard Full-body harness

• When a deceleration device is necessary

• How to erect and use a lifeline Connectors:
snap hook,
• The correct procedures for using retractable devices carabiner,
Lanyard
• How to estimate fall distances or D-ring

• How to avoid swing falls

• How to inspect and maintain the system
• How you will be promptly rescued if you fall

The anchorage. An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices. An anchorage
for a personal fall-arrest system must support at least 5,000 pounds. Anchorages that can’t support 5,000 pounds must be
designed and installed under the supervision of a qualified person and must be able to maintain a safety factor of at least two
— twice the impact force of a worker free-falling six feet. If you don’t know how much weight an anchorage will support, have
a qualified person check it before you trust your life to it.

Anchorage strength is critical, but is not the only factor to consider. Also important:
• Anchorage connector. Unless an existing anchorage has been designed to accept a lanyard or lifeline, you’ll need to
attach an anchorage connector — a device that provides a secure attachment point. Examples include tie-off adapters,
hook anchors, beam connectors, and beam trolleys. Be sure that the connector is compatible with the lanyard or lifeline
and appropriate for the work task.
• Attachment point. The anchorage can be used only as the attachment point for a personal fall-arrest system; it can’t be
used to support or suspend platforms.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

• Location. The anchorage should be located directly above the worker, if possible, to reduce the chance of a swing fall.
• Fall distance. Because a personal fall-arrest system doesn’t prevent a fall, the anchorage must be high enough above
a worker so that the arrest system, rather than a lower level, stops the fall. Consider free-fall distance, lanyard length,
shock-absorber elongation, and body-harness stretch in determining the height of an anchorage.
 Free-fall distance is the distance a worker falls before a personal fall-arrest system begins to stop the fall.
Connectors. An anchorage, a lanyard, and a body harness are not useful until they’re linked
together. Connectors do the linking; they make the anchorage, the lanyard, and the harness a
complete system. Connectors include carabiners, snap hooks, and D-rings.
• Carabiner. This high-tensile alloy steel connector has a locking gate and is used mostly in
specialized work such as window cleaning and high-angle rescue. Carabiners must have a
minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds.
• Snap hook. A hook-shaped member with a keeper that opens to receive a connecting
Carabiner
component and automatically closes when released. Snap hooks are typically spliced
or sewn into lanyards and self-retracting lifelines. Snap hooks must be high-tensile alloy
steel and have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds.
 Use only locking snap hooks with personal fall-arrest systems; locking snap hooks
have self-locking keepers that won’t open until they’re unlocked. Locking snap hook
• D-ring. D-rings are the attachment points sewn into a full-body harness. D-rings must
have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds.
The full-body harness. The full-body harness has straps that distribute the impact of a fall over the thighs, waist, chest,
shoulders, and pelvis. Full-body harnesses come in different styles, many of which are light and comfortable. Before you
purchase harnesses, make sure that they fit those who will use them, they’re comfortable, and they’re easy to adjust.
 A full-body harness should include a back D-ring for attaching lifelines or lanyards and a back pad for support.
 Never use a body belt as part of a personal fall-arrest system.

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Keep the following in mind when you buy a full-body harness:

• The harness must be made from synthetic fibers.
• The harness must fit the user. It should be comfortable and easy to adjust.
• The harness must have an attachment point, usually a D-ring, in the center of the back at about shoulder level.
The D-ring should be large enough to easily accept a lanyard snap hook.
• Chest straps should be easy to adjust and strong enough to withstand a fall without breaking.
• Use only industrial full-body harnesses (not recreational climbing harnesses).
• The harness must be safe and reliable. It should meet ANSI and CSA standards and the manufacturer should have
ISO 9001 certification, which shows the manufacturer meets international standards for product design, development,
production, installation, and service.
Lanyards. A lanyard is a specially designed flexible line that has a snap hook at each end. One snap hook connects to the
body harness and the other connects to an anchorage or a lifeline. Lanyards must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000
pounds. They come in a variety of styles, including self-retracting types that make moving easier and shock-absorbing types
that reduce fall-arrest forces.
 Don’t combine lanyards to increase length or knot them to make them shorter.
Deceleration devices. Deceleration devices protect workers from the impact of a
fall and include shock-absorbing lanyards, self-retracting lifelines or lanyards, and 6 ft. length
rope grabs. of lanyard

Shock-absorbing lanyard. A shock absorber reduces the impact on a worker 31⁄ 2 ft.
during fall arrest by extending up to 3.5 feet to absorb the arrest force. Subdivision deceleration Total
distance 181⁄ 2 ft.
M rules limit the arrest force to 1,800 pounds but a shock-absorbing lanyard can from
anchorage
reduce the force even more — to about 900 pounds. 6 ft. height
of worker
Because a shock-absorbing lanyard extends up to 3.5 feet, it’s critical that the
lanyard stops the worker before the next lower level. Allow about 20 vertical feet 3 ft. safety factor

between the worker’s anchorage point and the level below the working surface.
Always estimate the total distance of a possible fall before using a shock- How to determine total fall distance
absorbing lanyard. Consider the following example: with a shock-absorbing lanyard.

 How to calculate total fall distance: Lanyard length (6 feet) + deceleration distance (3.5 feet)
+ worker’s height (6 feet) + safety margin (3 feet) = 18.5 vertical feet from anchorage to lower level.

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
Never use a shock-absorbing lanyard if the shock absorber is even partially extended or if the
lanyard has arrested a fall.
Self-retracting lanyards or lifelines. Self-retracting lanyards and lifelines offer more freedom to move than shock-absorbing
lanyards. Each has a drum-wound line that unwinds and retracts as the worker moves. If the worker falls, the drum
immediately locks, which reduces free-fall distance to about two feet — if the anchorage point is directly above the worker.
Some self-retracting lanyards will reduce free-fall distance to less than one foot. Self-retracting lanyards are available in
lengths up to 20 feet. Self-retracting lifelines, which offer more freedom, are available in lengths up to 250 feet.
 Self-retracting lanyards and lifelines that limit free-fall distance to two feet or less must be able to
hold at least 3,000 pounds with the lanyard (or lifeline) fully extended.
 Self-retracting lanyards that don’t limit free-fall distance to two feet must be able to hold at least
5,000 pounds with the lanyard (or lifeline) fully extended.
 Beware of swing falls! If you use a self-retracting lanyard or lifeline, work below
the anchorage to avoid a swing fall. The farther you move away from the anchorage,
the farther you will fall and the greater your risk of swinging back into a hard object.
Swing falls are hazardous because you can hit an object or a lower level during the
pendulum motion.
Rope grab. A rope grab allows a worker to move up a vertical lifeline but automatically
engages and locks on the lifeline if the worker falls. When using a rope grab, keep the
following in mind.
• The rope grab must be compatible with the lifeline.
• The rope grab must be correctly attached to the lifeline (not upside down).
• Keep the lanyard (between the rope grab and the body harness) as short as possible.
• Keep the rope grab as high as possible on the lifeline.

Swing falls can

actually increase
fall distance.

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Lifeline. A lifeline is a cable or rope that connects to a body harness, lanyard, or deceleration device, and at least one
anchorage. There are two types of lifelines, vertical and horizontal.
Vertical lifeline. A vertical lifeline is attached to an overhead anchorage and must be connected
directly to a worker’s full-body harness, lanyard, retractable device, or rope grab; it must have a
minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
When a worker needs to move horizontally, however, a vertical lifeline can be hazardous due to
the potential for a swing fall — the pendulum motion that results when the worker swings back
under the anchor point. A swing fall increases a worker’s risk of striking an object or a lower level
during the pendulum motion.
Horizontal lifeline. Unlike a vertical lifeline, the horizontal lifeline stretches between two
anchorages. When you connect a lanyard or rope grab to a horizontal lifeline, you can move
about freely, thus reducing the risk of a swing fall. However, horizontal lifelines are subject to
much greater loads than vertical lifelines. Horizontal lifelines can fail at the anchorage points if
they’re not installed correctly. For this reason, horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed,
and used under the supervision of a qualified person.
Horizontal lifelines and sag angles. Any load on a horizontal lifeline will cause it to deflect or sag.
The sag angle is a horizontal lifeline’s angle of deflection when it’s subjected to a load, such as
a falling worker. Reducing the sag angle (making a horizontal lifeline too tight) actually increases
the force on the line during a fall. As you tighten a horizontal lifeline, you increase
This worker is attached to a vertical
the impact load dramatically! For example, when the sag angle is 15 degrees, the force on lifeline with a lanyard and rope grab.
the lifeline and anchorages subjected to a load is about 2:1. However, if you decrease the The lifeline was anchored to the top of
sag angle to five degrees, the force increases to about 6:1. the column while it was on the ground.

 To reduce loads on a horizontal lifeline, increase the sag angle or connect to

the lifeline with a shock-absorbing lanyard.
Safe practices for personal fall-arrest systems
• Don’t tie knots in rope lanyards and lifelines; knots can reduce strength by 50 percent.
• Don’t tie lifelines or lanyards directly to I-beams; the cutting action of beam edges can reduce the rope’s strength
by 70 percent.
• Know how the sag angle of a horizontal lifeline affects arrest forces on the anchorages.
• Remember, horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

• Think about the potential for a swing fall whenever you connect a lifeline to a personal fall-arrest system.
• Remember, a shock-absorbing lanyard will elongate before arresting a fall. The fall distance includes lanyard length
(before the shock absorber extends), deceleration distance (shock-absorber extension), worker height, and a safety
margin (allow three feet).

Personal fall-restraint systems

Unlike the personal fall-arrest system, which is designed to stop a fall, a personal fall-
restraint system prevents a worker from reaching an unprotected edge and thus prevents a
fall from occurring. The system consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a body harness
or a body belt. The attachment point to the body belt or full-body harness can be at the
back, front, or side D-rings.
The anchorage for a fall-restraint system must support at least 3,000 pounds or be designed
and installed by a qualified person and have a safety factor of at least two.

Positioning-device systems
A fall-restraint system
Positioning-device systems make it easier to work with both hands free on a vertical surface
such as a wall or concrete form. Positioning-device systems are also
A positioning-device called Class II work-positioning systems and work-positioning systems.
system with self-
retracting lifeline The components of a positioning-device system — anchorage, connectors, and body support — are
similar to those of a personal fall-arrest system. However, the systems serve different purposes. A
positioning-device system provides support and must stop a free fall within two feet; a personal-fall-
arrest system provides no support and must limit free-fall distance to six feet.
Anchorage. Positioning-device systems must be secured to an anchorage that can support at least
twice the potential impact of a worker’s fall or 3,000 pounds, whichever is greater.
Connectors. Connectors must have a minimum strength of 5,000 pounds. Snap hooks and D-rings
must be proof-tested to a minimum load of 3,600 pounds without deforming or breaking.
Body support. A body belt is acceptable as part of a positioning-device system. However, it must limit
the arresting force on a worker to 900 pounds and it can only be used for body support. A full-body
harness is also acceptable but must limit the arrest force to 1,800 pounds. Belts or harnesses must
have side D-rings or a single front D-ring for positioning.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Guardrail systems
A guardrail system consists of a top rail, midrail, and intermediate vertical member. Guardrail systems can also be combined
with toeboards that prevent materials from rolling off the walking/working surface.
Guardrail systems must be free of anything that might cut a worker or snag a worker’s clothing. Top rails and midrails must be
at least 1/4-inch thick to reduce the risk of hand lacerations; steel and plastic banding cannot be used for top rails and midrails.
Other requirements for guardrails:
• Wire rope used for a top rail must be marked at least every six feet with high-visibility material.
• The top rail of a guardrail must be 42 inches (plus or minus three inches) above the walking/working surface. The top-
edge height can exceed 45 inches if the system meets all other performance criteria.
• Midrails must be installed midway between the top rail and the walking/working surface unless there is an existing wall
or parapet at least 21 inches high.
• Screens and mesh are required when material
could fall between the top rail and midrail or
between the midrail and the walking/working
surface.
• Intermediate vertical members, when used
instead of midrails between posts, must be no
more than 19 inches apart.
• A guardrail system must be capable of
withstanding a 200-pound force applied within
two inches of its top edge in any outward or
downward direction.
• Midrails, screens, and intermediate structural
members must withstand at least 150 pounds
of force applied in any downward or outward
direction.
Photo credit: Scott Collins, Time Frame Inc.
Temporary guardrail systems make it easy to protect workers.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Safety-net systems
Safety-net systems consist of mesh nets and
connecting components.
• Safety-net openings can’t be more than six
inches on a side, center to center.
• Safety nets must not be installed more than 30
feet below the working surface.
• An installed net must be able to withstand a
drop test consisting of a 400-pound sandbag,
30 inches in diameter, dropped from the
working surface.
• Inspect safety nets regularly and remove
debris from them no later than the start of the
next work shift.

The minimum horizontal distance to the net’s outer

edge depends on how far below the working surface
the net is placed, as shown in Table 6. Photo: mountsinai/CHEP/[Link]
A safety-net system

Table 6: Minimum horizontal distance from the edge of the working surface to the net’s outer edge
Net distance below the working surface Minimum horizontal distance
Up to 5 feet 8 feet
5 to 10 feet 10 feet
Greater than 10 feet 13 feet

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Warning-line systems for roofing work

Roofing work refers to hoisting, storing, applying, and removing roofing materials and equipment. Roofing work includes work
on related insulation, sheet metal, and vapor barriers, but does not include construction of the roof deck or leading-edge work.
A warning-line system for roofing work consists of ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting stanchions that mark off the area
where roofing work can be done without guardrails, personal fall-arrest systems, restraint systems, or safety nets. Warning-
line systems can only be used for roofing work on roofs that have slopes of 2:12 or less, vertical to horizontal. The purpose of
the line is to warn roofers that they are near an unprotected edge.
The warning line must be at least six feet from an unprotected edge and meet the following criteria:
• Be flagged at least every six feet with high-visibility material.
• Be rigged so that the line is 34 to 39 inches from the walking/working surface.
• Have a minimum tensile strength of 500 pounds. Don’t use plastic caution tape for a warning line.
• Be attached to each stanchion so that tension on one section of the line will not cause an adjacent stanchion to tip over.
Stanchions must be able to support a force of at least 16 pounds applied horizontally in the direction of the roof edge
without tipping over.

Those who do roofing 6’ 10’

work between the Point of access Point of access
warning line and an
unprotected roof edge Warning lines Warning lines
must be protected
with personal
6’ 6’ 10’ 10’
fall-arrest systems, Roof work area Roof work area
Unprotected
Unprotected
restraint systems, edge edge
guardrail systems,
safety monitoring 10’
6’
systems,
or safety nets.
Lower level Lower level

Warning-line system where no mobile equipment is used Warning-line system where mobile equipment is used

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Warning lines for other construction trades

Construction trades that don’t do roofing work can also use warning lines to alert workers who are approaching
an unprotected edge of a roof, floor, or other work surface.
The warning line can be a rope, wire, or chain.
Setting up a warning line. Set up the warning line so that it keeps
workers at least 10 feet back from the unprotected edge. This
“setback” distance must eliminate the exposure and the risk that
a worker could fall over the edge. You may need to increase the
distance to eliminate the risk in some situations.
Factors such as weather, visibility, the slope and condition of the
work surface, the work performed, materials handled, and the
experience and supervision of the workers can increase the risk
of a fall – even at a 10-foot setback. The correct setback distance
eliminates the exposure and the risk of a fall.
Safe practices
• The work surface should be relatively flat with a slope of 2:12
or less.
• The warning line should be 34 to 39 inches above the work
surface. You can use a warning line to alert workers they are approaching an
unprotected edge of a roof, floor, or other work surface. The warning
• The warning line should be rope, wire, or a chain. Avoid using line must be set up so that it eliminates the risk that a worker could fall
plastic tape for a warning line; workers should be able to feel over the edge. Signs and flagging emphasize the hazard.
the line if they back up against it, even if they’re wearing heavy
clothing.
• The warning line should be flagged at least every six feet with high-visibility material and have warning signs that are
visible to workers.
• Stanchions that support the warning line should be able to withstand a force of at least 16 pounds, applied horizontally
in the direction of the unprotected edge, without tipping over.
• No workers can enter the area between the warning line and the unprotected edge unless they are protected by a fall
protection system described in Subdivision M, 1926.502, Fall protection systems, criteria, and practices.
 Never use a warning line as a substitute for a guardrail.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Slide-guard systems
A slide-guard system prevents workers from sliding down a sloped roof. The system,
which consists of a slide guard (typically nominal 2 x 6 inch lumber) and at least two roof
brackets, must be installed under the supervision of a competent person. Roof brackets
are available from roofing equipment suppliers. A slide-guard system can also be made
at the work site without manufactured roof brackets. Slide-guard systems cannot be the
only means of fall protection on roofs with a ground-to-eave height greater than 25 feet. Slide-guard system
Requirements for slide-guard systems Personal fall-arrest system is optional.
• Slide-guard systems can be used only on roofs with slopes between 3:12 and 8:12
and ground-to-eave height of 25 feet or less.
• Roofs with slopes between 3:12 and 6:12 must have at least one slide guard Greater than 6:12 – 8:12 slope
below the work area, no closer than six inches from the eave.
• Roofs with slopes between 6:12 and 8:12 must have multiple slide guards no 60˚ angle

more than eight feet apart vertically. The lowest slide guard must be no closer 90˚ angle ax
60˚ angle 8’ m
than six inches from the eave.
90˚ angle ax
• The slide guard closest to the eave must be perpendicular to the roof surface. 8’ m Roofs with slopes between
6:12 and 8:12 must have
All other slide guards must be set at an angle not less than 60 degrees to the multiple slide guards.

roof surface. 3:12 – 6:12 slope

• Slide guards must provide continuous protection along the length of the roof.
Manufactured roof brackets. Install manufactured roof brackets according to the
90˚ angle
manufacturer’s directions. Keep the information at the job site for those who want Roofs with slopes
between 3:12 and 6:12
to review it. must have at least one
slide guard below the
• Each bracket must be six inches or larger and all brackets must bear on a work area no closer than
six inches from the eave.
solid surface.
• The horizontal space between brackets cannot exceed the manufacturer’s
specifications — or eight feet — whichever is less.
Attaching slide guards. Use nominal 2 x 6 inch lumber for slide guards. Secure the slide guards to the roof brackets or use
another method to prevent them from cantilevering and failing due to material flex.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Job-made slide-guard systems. Use nominal 2 x 6 inch lumber for a job-made slide-guard system.
Vertical members must be backed to horizontal flat members. Anchor horizontal members to solid Full support
bracing
bearing surfaces with two 16-penny common nails or the equivalent every four feet. Anchor vertical
members to horizontal members with one 16-penny common nail or the equivalent every two feet.
Vertical members must have full-support bracing every eight feet, horizontally.

Safety monitoring for roofing work Job-made

slide-guard
A person, rather than a mechanical system, warns roofers when they are in danger of falling with this systems
method. The monitor, who must be a competent person, is responsible for recognizing fall hazards and
warning workers about them.
Safety monitoring can be used only to protect those who do roofing work on roofs that have slopes no greater than 2:12 and
widths no greater than 50 feet. Safety monitoring on roofs wider than 50 feet is not permitted unless a warning-line system
also protects the workers. Safety monitor
The safety monitor’s responsibilities include:
Roof
• Recognizing fall hazards Unprotected sides
and edge
• Warning workers when they are unaware of hazards or aren’t working safely
Roofing work crew
• Staying on the same walking/working surface as the workers to watch them and Work area
to communicate with them while they are working
50’ Max
• Avoiding any other work or distracting activity while monitoring the workers
Only those who are doing roofing work are permitted in the area controlled by the
safety monitor. Mechanical equipment can’t be used or stored in the area. Lower level

Catch platforms
A typical safety-monitoring system
A catch platform is a stable platform with attached standard guardrails that can “catch”
a falling worker or materials. You can use a catch platform to prevent workers from falling when other systems or methods
are not feasible. Because a catch platform is a scaffold – and covered by Subdivision L (Scaffolds) requirements – it must be
able to support its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it. The maximum
intended load includes workers and materials, and the impact force of the fall.
 For more information about scaffolds, see Part four – Supported access

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Covers for holes

Simple and effective when they’re properly installed, rigid covers prevent workers

HOLE
HOLE

HOLE
from falling through skylights or temporary openings and holes in walking/working HO
LE

surfaces. Covers must: HOL

E

• Support at least twice the maximum expected weight of workers, equipment,

and materials. Skylights are not considered covers unless they meet this
All covers must be painted a distinctive color
strength requirement. or marked with the word HOLE or COVER.
• Be secured so they won’t be displaced accidently
• Have full-edge bearing on all four sides
• Be painted with a distinctive color or marked with the word HOLE or COVER

Fences and barricades

Fences and barricades are warning barriers, usually made from posts and wire or boards that keep people away from hazards
such as wells, pits, and shafts.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Protecting workers from falling objects

Be aware of those working above or below you. Protect yourself and others from falling objects with one of the
following methods:
• Canopies. Make sure canopies won’t collapse or tear from an object’s impact.
• Toeboards. Toeboards must be least 31/2 inches high and strong enough to withstand a force of at least 50 pounds
applied downward or outward.
• Panels and screens. If you need to pile material higher than the top edge of a toeboard, install panels or screens to
keep the material from dropping over the edge.
• Barricades and fences. Use them to keep people away from areas where falling objects could hit them.
 When doing overhand bricklaying, keep materials and equipment (except masonry and mortar) at least
four feet from the working edge.
 When doing roofing work, keep materials and equipment at least six feet from the roof edge unless there
are guardrails along the edge. All piled, grouped, or stacked material near the roof edge must be stable
and self-supporting.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Employees must be trained before they begin tasks that could expose them to fall hazards. The trainer must be a competent person. Photo: Kevin Weeks

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part seven – Training workers about

fall protection
• Why train workers about fall protection?
• Employers: your responsibility
• Required training for workers exposed to fall hazards

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Why train workers about fall protection?

Workers need to know about the workplace hazards they may be exposed to, how to recognize the
hazards, and how to minimize their exposure. The best way for them to learn is through training.
Training ensures that they know about the hazards and can demonstrate how to protect themselves

Photo: Renee Stapleton, Oregon OSHA

from falling.
 Some employers assume they can train their employees simply by showing them a
fall-protection training video or giving them a safe practice guide (even this one!).
But that’s not training.

Employers: your responsibility

If you’re an employer, you’re responsible for ensuring that your employees can recognize fall
hazards and that they know how to protect themselves before they’re exposed to the hazards.
You can’t assume your employees know how to protect themselves from falls. If they’re starting
You can’t assume employees
work on a new site, for example, they might not recognize fall hazards or know how to protect know how to protect themselves
themselves unless you train them. from falls. This one put his
personal fall-arrest gear on
Required training for workers exposed to fall hazards upside down.

Workers who could be exposed to fall hazards must understand the hazards and know procedures that minimize the hazards.
As an employer, you can determine how to train your employees. What’s important is that, through training, your employees
can recognize fall hazards and know how to minimize the hazards.
 The trainer must be a competent person. (Recall that a competent person is one who can identify work-site
hazards and who has management authority to control them.) The trainer must know and be able to explain
the following:
• The nature of fall hazards at the work site
• Procedures for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling fall-protection systems
• How to use and operate fall-protection systems
• The role of each employee who may be affected by a safety-monitoring system
• The restrictions that apply to mechanical equipment used during roofing work
• The procedure for handling and storing materials and for erecting protection from falling objects
• The requirements of Subdivision M

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

When to train. Employees must be trained before they begin tasks that could expose them to fall hazards or before they use
fall-protection systems. They must be retrained when they don’t recognize fall hazards, when they don’t follow safe practices
for using fall-protection systems, and when changes in the workplace or in the fall-protection systems used make their
previous training obsolete.
What to put in writing. Keep a record of each employee’s fall-protection training. Include the employee’s name, the training
date, and the trainer’s name. Record the information on a simple form like the example in Table 7.

Table 7: Example of a fall-protection training form

Employee name Training date Trainer’s signature Type of training
Jim Smith 1/4/2010 Frank Jones Identifying fall hazards (initial training)

Art Smith 4/4/2010 Frank Jones General fall-protection procedures

Miles Smith 4/4/2010 Frank Jones General fall-protection procedures

Thelonious Smith 4/4/2010 Frank Jones General fall-protection procedures

Mary Lou Smith 5/4/2010 Frank Jones Using personal fall-arrest systems

Jancis Smith 7/4/2010 Frank Jones Hazard identification (retraining)

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Before you use a personal fall-arrest system, inspect components for damage or wear. Photo: Renee Stapleton, Oregon OSHA

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part eight – Maintaining equipment

• Inspecting equipment
• Summary: inspecting, cleaning, and storing equipment

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Inspecting equipment
Pay attention to the condition of your equipment. Inspect it frequently, keep it clean, and store it properly, and it won’t let you down.
Inspecting fall-arrest, fall-restraint, and positioning-device systems. Each time you use a personal fall-arrest, restraint,
or positioning-device system, inspect the components for damage or excessive wear. Replace any component that looks
damaged. Don’t use a personal fall-arrest system that has arrested a fall unless a competent person has determined that the
system is safe to use.
Harness, lifeline, and anchorage. Inspect these components regularly. Table 8 shows what to look for.

Table 8: Inspecting harness, lifeline, and anchorage

Component What to look for
Harness webbing Frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts, burns, and chemical damage
Harness D-rings Cracks, breaks, and rough or sharp edges; the D-ring should pivot easily
Harness buckles Excessive wear, frayed or cut fibers, broken stitching
Harness grommets Loose, bent, or broken grommets, and punched holes not made by the manufacturer
Lifelines Wear or deterioration
Anchorages and Look for abrasion and damaged threads or swages. Inspect stitching and loops on
anchorage connectors synthetic slings for cuts, cracks, or frayed and broken stitching. Look for excessive
kinks or damaged steel fibers.

Snaphooks. Look for cracks, excessive wear, and corrosion. The snaphooks should open easily and close firmly. Keeper
locks must prevent the keeper from opening when it’s closed.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Lanyards. Inspect before use. Table 9 shows what to look for.

Table 9: Inspecting lanyards

Type of lanyard What to look for
Wire rope lanyard Cuts, frayed strands, or excessive wear

Web lanyard Cuts, discoloration, cracks, frayed or broken stitching

Rope lanyard Frayed or cut fibers; the entire length of the rope should have the same
diameter
Shock-absorbing lanyard Cuts, discoloration, cracks, frayed or broken stitching; remove a lanyard from
service if any part of the warning label is exposed

Self-retracting lifelines. Look for cuts, frayed strands, or excessive wear

in the line and damage to the housing. If the unit needs service, check the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Don’t try to repair it yourself.
Guardrail systems. Inspect manila, plastic, or synthetic rope used for
top rails or midrails to ensure that the rope meets the minimum strength
and rail height requirements for guardrail systems in Subdivision M. [See
Subdivision M, 1926.502(b).]
Safety-net systems. Inspect safety nets for damage or deterioration
weekly and after any event that could damage them. Remove defective
components from service.
Ladders. A competent person must inspect ladders periodically, and
immediately after any event that could damage them.
Scaffolds. A competent person must inspect a scaffold and its
components after it has been erected, before each shift, and after any
Equipment inspections are critical.
event — including severe weather — that could damage it. The inspection Do you see the small fracture in this picture?
should include the foundation, platform, guardrails, and access areas.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Suspension scaffolds. A competent person must inspect suspension ropes before each shift and after any event that could
damage them. Inspect and tighten wire rope clips to the manufacturer’s recommendations at the start of each shift. Inspect
manila or synthetic rope used for top rails or midrails frequently to ensure that it meets the minimum strength and rail height
requirements for suspension scaffolds in Subdivision M. [See Subdivision M, 1926.502(b).].
Crane- and derrick-suspended personnel platforms
• After a trial lift. A competent person must inspect the rigging, personnel platform, and the base that supports the
crane or derrick immediately after a trial lift.
• After proof testing. A competent person must inspect the platform and rigging immediately after they have been
proof tested.

Summary: inspecting, cleaning, and storing equipment

Inspecting equipment
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions and warnings.
• Inspect equipment before using it. Look for damaged or
missing parts. Labels, warnings, and other instructions
should be readable.
• If equipment looks like it needs repair, remove it from
service and have a competent person examine it.
• Have a competent person inspect equipment regularly.
• Mark equipment with a unique code or item number.
Identification numbers make it easier to keep track of the
equipment and to document maintenance or repair.

Should this worker begin his inspection at his hard hat?!

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Cleaning equipment
• Wash synthetic rope and body harnesses in soapy water to remove dirt; rinse them with clean water. Air-dry
at room temperature. Don’t use cleaning solvents; solvents can damage synthetic material.
• Don’t lubricate moving parts unless the manufacturer requires it; lubricants attract dirt.
• Don’t remove information labels and warnings; make sure they’re still legible after cleaning.

Storing equipment
• Follow manufacturer’s instruction for storing equipment.
• Store equipment in an area that is clean, dry, and moisture-free; avoid excessive heat, light, oil, and corrosive chemicals.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Photo: Troy Buzalsky, Canby Fire District

Paramedics treat a worker who fell 25 feet through a hole on the roof of a construction project.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Part nine – Responding to falls

• Prompt rescue required
• Developing an emergency-response plan
• Summary: responding to falls

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Prompt rescue required

The best strategy for protecting workers from falls is to eliminate the hazards that cause falls. If you can’t eliminate the
hazards, you must protect workers with an appropriate fall-protection system or method. If a worker is suspended in a
personal fall-arrest system, you must provide for a prompt rescue.
 Prompt means immediately. A worker suspended in a harness after a fall can lose consciousness if the harness puts
too much pressure on arteries. A worker suspended in a body harness must be rescued in time to prevent serious
injury. If a fall-related emergency could happen at your work site, you should have a plan for responding immediately.
Workers who use personal fall-arrest systems must know how to rescue themselves promptly after a fall or they must be
promptly rescued.

Developing an emergency-response plan

Keep it simple. Your plan should show that you’ve thought about how to eliminate and control hazards and that workers know
how to respond promptly if something goes wrong.
Get others involved in planning. When other workers participate, they’ll contribute valuable information, take the plan
seriously, and be more likely to respond effectively during an emergency. Key planning objectives:
• Identify the emergencies that could affect your site.
• Establish a chain of command.
• Establish procedures for responding to the emergencies.
• Identify critical resources and rescue equipment.
• Train on-site responders.
Identify emergencies that could affect your workplace. Identify any event that could threaten worker safety or health.
Two examples:
• A worker suspended in a full-body harness after a fall
• A worker on a scaffold who contacts an overhead power line

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Identify critical resources and rescue equipment. Prompt rescue won’t happen without trained responders, appropriate
medical supplies, and the right equipment for the emergency.
• First-aid supplies. Every work site needs medical supplies for common injuries. Does your site have a first-aid kit for
injuries that are likely to occur? Store the supplies in clearly marked, protective containers and make them available to
all shifts.
• Rescue equipment. Identify on-site equipment that responders can use to rescue a suspended worker. Extension
ladders and mobile lifts are useful and available at most sites. Determine where and how each type of equipment would
be most effective during a rescue. Make sure the equipment will permit rescuers to reach a fall victim, that it’s available
when rescuers need it, and that rescuers know how to use it.
Will your longest ladder reach a suspended worker? If not, what equipment will reach the worker? When equipment is needed
for a rescue, will workers know where it is and how to use it? Think about seasonal and environmental conditions and how
they may affect rescue equipment and those who use it. Equipment that works for summer rescues may not work for winter
rescues.
Train on-site responders. An effective emergency-response plan ensures that on-site responders know emergency
procedures, how to use available rescue equipment, and — if necessary — how to contact off-site responders. Workers who
use personal fall-arrest systems and who work alone must know how to rescue themselves. Those who work at a remote site
may need a higher level of emergency training than those who work near a trauma center or a fire department.
Establish a chain of command. All workers must know their roles and responsibilities during an emergency. A chain of
command links one person with overall responsibility for managing an emergency to those responsible for carrying out specific
emergency-response tasks. Make sure that back-up personnel can take over when primary responders aren’t available.
Establish procedures for responding to emergencies. Procedures are instructions for accomplishing specific tasks.
Emergency procedures are important because they tell workers exactly what to do to ensure their safety during an emergency.
Your emergency-response plan should include the following procedures — preferably in writing — that describe what people
must know and do to ensure that a fallen worker receives prompt attention:
• How to report an emergency
• How to rescue a suspended worker
• How to provide first aid
After an emergency, review the procedures; determine if they should be changed to prevent similar events and revise
them accordingly.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Summary: responding to falls

Before on-site work begins
• Identify emergencies that could affect your work site.
• Establish a chain of command.
• Document procedures for responding to emergencies and make sure they’re available at the site.
• Post emergency-responder phone numbers and addresses at the work site.
• Identify critical resources and rescue equipment.
• Train on-site responders.
• Identify off-site responders and inform them about any conditions at the site that may hinder a rescue effort.
• Identify emergency entry and exit routes.
• Make sure responders have quick access to rescue and retrieval equipment, such as lifts and ladders.
During on-site work
• Identify on-site equipment that can be used for rescue and retrieval, such as extension ladders and mobile lifts.
• Maintain a current rescue-equipment inventory at the site. Equipment may change frequently as the job progresses.
• Re-evaluate and update the emergency-response plan when on-site work tasks change.
When an emergency occurs
• First responders should clear a path to the victim. Others should direct emergency personnel to the scene.
You can use 911 for ambulance service; however, most 911 responders are not trained to rescue a worker
suspended in a personal fall-arrest system.
• Make sure only trained responders attempt a technical rescue.
• Prohibit all nonessential personnel from the rescue site.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

After an emergency
• Report fatalities and catastrophes to Oregon OSHA within eight hours. Call 503-378-3272 or 800-922-2689.
• Report injuries requiring overnight hospitalization with medical treatment (other than first aid) to Oregon OSHA
within 24 hours.
• Identify equipment that may have contributed to the emergency and put it out of service.
• Have a competent person examine equipment. If the equipment is damaged, repair or replace it. If the equipment
caused the accident, determine how and why.
• Document in detail the cause of the incident and describe how it can be prevented from happening again.
• Review emergency procedures. Determine how the procedures could be changed to prevent similar events.
Revise the procedures accordingly.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

An example of an established floor. An established floor is any floor where all the exterior walls are in place.

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

Appendix – An overview of Subdivision M

• About Subdivision M
• Scope, application, and definitions
• Duty to have fall protection
• Fall-protection systems, criteria, and practices
• Training requirements

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 Fall protection for the construction industry

About Subdivision M
Subdivision M, which covers Oregon OSHA’s fall-protection requirements
for the construction industry, has four parts:
• Scope, application, and definitions: 1926.500
• Duty to have fall protection: 1926.501 and 437-003-1501
• Fall-protection systems, criteria, and practices: 1926.502
• Training requirements: 437-003-0503
Also included in Subdivision M are four non-mandatory appendices:
• Guidelines for complying with safety-monitoring systems for roofing
work: Appendix A
• Guidelines for complying with guardrail systems: Appendix B
• Guidelines for complying with personal fall-arrest systems: Appendix C
• Guidelines for complying with positioning-device systems: Appendix D

Scope, application, and definitions

Covered in 1926.500 are the scope and limitations of Subdivision M rules
and the definitions of key words.
 Subdivision M’s requirements do not apply to workers who
inspect, investigate, or assess workplace conditions before
construction work begins or after all construction work has Subdivision M covers Oregon OSHA’s fall-protection requirements
been completed. for the construction industry.

Duty to have fall protection

The requirements in 1926.501, Duty to have fall protection, cover the conditions and operations for which fall protection is
required and 437-003-1501, General fall protection, establishes the fall-protection requirement and exceptions for workers
who walk or work at heights of 10 feet or higher.
 The general fall-protection requirement is 10 feet. When workers are exposed to a hazard that could cause them
to fall 10 feet or more, they must be protected by a fall-protection system described in 1926.502, Fall-protection
systems criteria and practices.

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
The exception to the general requirement is six feet. In some cases, workers must be protected from falls if
they are working at heights of six feet or more. Table 10 describes the exceptions.

Table 10: Exceptions to the general fall-protection requirement

Fall hazard Fall protection Fall protection options
requirement
Holes and skylights that are six feet or Six feet Personal fall-arrest systems, personal
more above lower levels fall-restraint systems, safety-net systems,
guardrail systems, or covers
Wall openings that have an outside bottom Six feet Personal fall-arrest systems, personal
edge six feet or more above a lower level fall-restraint-systems, safety-net systems,
and an inside bottom edge less than 39 or guardrail systems
inches above the walking/working surface
Established floors, mezzanines, balconies, Six feet Personal fall-arrest systems, personal
and walkways that have unprotected sides fall-restraint systems, safety-net
or edges six feet or more above lower systems, or guardrail systems
levels
Excavations with edges that are obscured Six feet Guardrail systems, fences, or barricades
by brush or other visual barriers and that
have a depth of six feet or more
Wells, pits, or shafts six feet deep or Six feet Guardrail systems, fences, barricades,
deeper or covers
Unprotected work areas above Any height Personal fall-arrest systems, personal
dangerous equipment fall-restraint systems, safety-net systems,
guardrail systems, or equipment guards

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When hardhats are required. Workers must wear hardhats when their jobs expose them to falling objects. In addition,
employers must do one of the following to reduce employees’ exposure to objects that could fall from upper levels:
• Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems on upper levels to prevent objects from falling.
• Build a canopy over workers to prevent falling objects from striking them.
• Erect a barricade that prevents workers from entering an area where they could be exposed to falling objects.
Fall-protection requirements not covered in Subdivision M. Subdivision M does not cover fall-protection requirements
for the activities shown in Table 12.

Table 12: Fall-protection requirements not covered in Subdivision M

Activity Find the requirements in
Working from scaffolds Subdivision L: Scaffolding
Working from cranes and derricks Subdivision N: Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and conveyors
Crossing over an excavation Subdivision P: Excavations
Structural-steel erection Subdivision R: Steel erection
Tunneling operations Subdivision S: Underground construction, caissons, cofferdams, and compressed air
Working on electric transmission Subdivision V: Power transmission and distribution
and distribution lines
Working from stairways or ladders Subdivision X: Stairways and ladders

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Fall-protection systems, criteria, and practices

The requirements in 1926.502, Fall-protection systems criteria and practices, cover installing, constructing, and
using the following:
• Guardrail systems: 1926.502(b)
• Safety-net systems: 1926.502(c)
• Personal fall-arrest systems: 1926.502(d)
• Personal fall-restraint systems: 437-003-0502
• Positioning-device systems: 1926.502(e)
• Warning-line systems for roofing work: 437-003-1502 and 1926.502(f)
• Safety-monitoring systems for roofing work: 437-003-2502
• Slide-guard systems: 437-003-3502
• Covers for holes in walking/working surfaces: 1926.502(i)
• Protection from falling objects: 1926.502(j)

Training requirements
The requirements in 437-003-0503, Training requirements, cover workers who may be exposed to fall hazards.
Training program. Workers must be trained to recognize fall hazards and to know procedures that minimize the hazards.
Workers must be trained before they begin tasks that could expose them to fall hazards or before they use fall-protection
systems. The trainer must be a competent person who understands the fall hazards and can explain to the
workers how to protect themselves.
Certification of training. Each employee’s name, training date, and the trainer’s signature must be documented in the
training record.
Retraining. Employees must be retrained when they don’t recognize fall hazards, when they don’t follow safe practices for
using fall-protection systems, and when changes in the workplace or in the fall-protection systems used make their previous
training obsolete.

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OregonOSHA Services
Oregon OSHA offers a wide variety of safety and health services to employers and employees:
Appeals
503-947-7426; 800-922-2689; [Link]@[Link]
• Provides the opportunity for employers to hold informal meetings with Oregon OSHA on concerns about
workplace safety and health.
• Discusses Oregon OSHA’s requirements and clarifies workplace safety or health violations.
• Discusses abatement dates and negotiates settlement agreements to resolve disputed citations.
Conferences
503-378-3272; 888-292-5247, Option 1; [Link]@[Link]
• Co-hosts conferences throughout Oregon that enable employees and employers to learn and share ideas
with local and nationally recognized safety and health professionals.
Consultative Services
503-378-3272; 800-922-2689; [Link]@[Link]
• Offers no-cost, on-site safety and health assistance to help Oregon employers recognize and correct
workplace safety and health problems.
• Provides consultations in the areas of safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, occupational safety and
health programs, assistance to new businesses, the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program
(SHARP), and the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).
Enforcement
503-378-3272; 800-922-2689; [Link]@[Link]
• Offers pre-job conferences for mobile employers in industries such as logging and construction.
• Inspects places of employment for occupational safety and health hazards and investigates workplace
complaints and accidents.
• Provides abatement assistance to employers who have received citations and provides compliance and
technical assistance by phone.

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• Public Education 503-947-7443; 888-292-5247, Option 2; [Link]@[Link]

• Provides workshops and materials covering management of basic safety and health programs, safety
committees, accident investigation, technical topics, and job safety analysis.
Standards and Technical Resources
503-378-3272; 800-922-2689; [Link]@[Link]
• Develops, interprets, and gives technical advice on Oregon OSHA’s safety and health rules.
• Publishes safe-practices guides, pamphlets, and other materials for employers and employees
• Manages the Oregon OSHA Resource Center, which offers safety videos, books, periodicals, and research
assistance for employers and employees.

Need more information? Call your nearest Oregon OSHA office.

Bend Pendleton
Salem Central Office Red Oaks Square 200 SE Hailey Ave.
350 Winter St. NE, Rm. 430 1230 NE Third St., Ste. A-115 Pendleton, OR 97801-3056
Salem, OR 97301-3882 Bend, OR 97701-4374 541-276-9175
541-388-6066 Consultation: 541-276-2353
Phone: 503-378-3272
Consultation: 541-388-6068 Portland
Toll-free: 800-922-2689
Eugene 1750 NW Naito Parkway, Ste. 112
Fax: 503-947-7461 Portland, OR 97209-2533
1140 Willagillespie, Ste. 42
en Español: 800-843-8086 Eugene, OR 97401-2101 503-229-5910
541-686-7562 Consultation: 503-229-6193
Web site: [Link]
Consultation: 541-686-7913 Salem
Medford 1340 Tandem Ave. NE, Ste. 160
1840 Barnett Road, Ste. D Salem, OR 97303
Medford, OR 97504-8250 503-378-3274
541-776-6030 Consultation: 503-373-7819
Consultation: 541-776-6016

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