Fall Protection

When is fall protection required in construction?

Per 29 CFR 1926.501(b), fall protection is required at: 6 feet or more on most working surfaces; 6 feet over dangerous equipment regardless of fall distance; any height when working over excavations more than 6 feet deep without guardrails; any height when working on low-slope or steep roofs without warning lines or other systems.

What is a personal fall arrest system?

Per 29 CFR 1926.502(d), a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) consists of: an anchor point capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per attached worker (or designed by a qualified person with safety factor of 2); a full-body harness; and a connector (lanyard, deceleration device, or self-retracting lifeline). The system must arrest a fall in less than 6 feet of fall distance and limit free fall to less than 6 feet.

What training is required for fall protection?

Per 29 CFR 1926.503, employers must provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. Training must cover: fall hazard recognition, procedures for using fall protection systems, role of employees in safety monitoring systems, and limitations of equipment. Retraining is required when changes in work or equipment render previous training obsolete, or when employee performance indicates inadequate understanding.

What are the most common fall protection violations?

Common citations from OSHA inspection data: 1926.501(b)(13) — residential construction unprotected sides/edges; 1926.501(b)(1) — unprotected sides/edges in general construction; 1926.503(a)(1) — failure to train employees on fall hazards; 1926.502(d)(15) — anchor point under 5,000 pounds; 1926.501(b)(11) — steep roof work without protection.