OSHA

OSHA Proposed Fall Protection Rule

With new and changing technology in the fall protection industry and new fall hazards are identified. As our industry evolves, OSHA has and will continue to change and add to their rules. One of the benefits of staying updated and informed these days is you can review what OSHA is considering before it's actually implemented.

This link to OSHA outlines proposed fall protection rules being reviewed in Washington DC. Any changes to these rules will affect the way we currently conduct our fall protection policies and procedures. Some rules addressed are ones currently on the books, however others are the result of new fall protection technology. Most are meant to gather more information for future analysis, there are parts that will actually change the way we look at and implement current fall protection rules.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, or OSHA, was created by the Federal Government in 1971 to help prevent work related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. OSHA Standards outline the legal responsibilities of manufacturers, employers, and workers. OSHA standards are enforced by the federal government and failure to follow OSHA standards can result in fines and citations.

OSHA Standards require employers to make fall protection available to employees working under certain conditions. These conditions can be found in Subpart M of Part 1926 of OSHA's Standards.

Subpart M of Part 1926 - Fall Protection

1926.500 Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart (subpart M)
1926.501 Duty to have Fall Protection
1926.502 Fall Protection System Criteria & Practices
1926.503 Training Requirements

Appendix to Subpart M

App A Determine Roof Widths
App B Guardrail Systems
App C Personal Fall Arrest Systems
App D Positioning Device Systems
App E Sample Fall Protection Plans

1926-500 Scope & Application

(A) (1) This subpart sets forth requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces. It does not apply to employees making an inspection or assessment of the workplace prior to work starting or after construction has been completed.

1926-501 Duty to have Fall Protection

(2) Sets forth those workplaces, conditions, operations, and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided except as follows:
(1) employees working on scaffolds that are covered under subpart L
(11) employees working on cranes that are covered under subpart N
(111) employees performing steel erection work that are covered under subpart R
(1V) employees working on equipment in tunneling operations that are covered under subpart S
(V) employees working in electrical transition and distribution as covered under subpart V
(V1) employees working on ladders and stairways which are covered under subpart X

1926-502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria & Practices

(2) Employers shall provide and install all fall protection systems required by this subpart for the employee, with all other pertinent requirements met prior to the work beginning that necessitates the fall protection.
(20) The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure that the employees can rescue themselves.

1926-502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria & Practices

(A) (1) The employer shall provide training for each employee exposed to a fall hazard.
(A) (2) The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained by a competent person.
(B) (1) The employer shall verify training by maintaining a written certification record of training for each employee.

You can find more information about OSHA Standards at www.osha.gov.

ANSI

The American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, is a privately funded, non-profit organization that was started in 1918 with the goal of enhancing both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. While you are not required by law to conform to ANSI standards, they do help to ensure a safer workplace for all of your employees.

Z359-1 ANSI Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components

1.1 Scope - This standard establishes requirements for the performance, design, marking, qualifications, instructions, training, inspection, use, maintenance, and removal from service of connectors, full body harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers, anchorage connectors, fall arresters, vertical lifelines, and self retracting lanyards comprising personal fall arrest systems for users within the capacity range of 130 to 310 pounds.

1.2.1 This standard addresses only personal fall arrest systems incorporating full body harnesses.
1.2.2 This standard addresses equipment for personal protection against falls from heights and applies to the manufacturers, distributors, purchasers, and users of such equipment.
1.2.3 Body belts, window cleaner belts, chest waist harnesses and chest harnesses when used for body support or work positioning are not addressed by this standard.
1.2.4 Before any equipment shall bear the mark Z359-1 all requirements of this standard must be met.

1.3.1 The requirements of this standard do not address the Construction Industry (SIC Division C), Window Cleaning Belts, & Sports-related Activities.

A10-14 ANSI Safety Requirements for Construction and Demolition Operations

1.1 Scope - This standard establishes performance criteria for the manufacturer and use of body belts, harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, rope grabs, and shock absorbers for construction and demolition. It does not include lineman body belts and pole straps, window washers belts, or safety ladder belts.
1.2 Purpose - This standard details fall arrest/restraint systems, equipment and methods that shall be used when an employee is exposed to a fall hazard.

For more information about ANSI, visit their website at www.ansi.org.