Subpart M, Fall Protection

• 1926.500, Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart• 1926.502, Fall protection

systems criteria and practices• 1926.503, Training requirements• Appendix

When Is Fall Protection Required?

If workers are working over dangerous materials, they have to wear fall protection below 6 feet

501(b)(10)

451(e)(1)

453(b)(2)(v)

451(g)(1)

100(a)

102(a)(1)

503(a)(1)

501(b)(1)

1053(b)(1)

501(b)(13)

690

694

762

878

1145

1240

1351

1409

1585

4301

Most Frequently Cited Serious Violations in Construction 2014

3

1926 Overall M

FCFALL PROTECTION – RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

PORTABLE LADDERS NOT EXTENDED 3 FEET ABOVE LANDING

FALL PROTECTION – UNPROTECTED SIDES & EDGES

FALL PROTECTION – TRAINING

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

HEAD PROTECTION

SCAFFOLDS – FALL PROTECTION

AERIAL LIFTS – FALL PROTECTION

SAFE ACCESS

FALL PROTECTION – ROOFING WORK ON LOW-SLOPED ROOFS

M

X

M

M

E

E

L

L

L

M

29 C

FR 1

926

SUBP

ARTS

501(b)(11)

501(b)(10)

503(a)(1)

501(b)(1)

501(b)(13)

538

690

1351

1409

4301

Fall Protection [1926.500 – 503]

4

ROOFING WORK ON LOW-SLOPED ROOFS

ROOFING WORK ON STEEP ROOFS

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

UNPROTECTED SIDES & EDGES

FALL HAZARD TRAINING

SUBPART M

Scope and Application• Exception: inspection,

investigation, or assessment of workplace conditions

1926.500(a)(1)

Scope and Application• Does not apply to• scaffolds • working on cranes and derricks• steel erection work (except for towers and

tanks) are provided in subpart R of this part.• certain types of equipment used in

tunneling• erection of tanks and communication and

broadcast• construction of electric transmission or

distribution lines or equipment.• stairways and ladders

1926.500(a)(2)

Definitions

• Anchorage• secure point of attachment for

lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Body Belt• strap with means both for

securing it about the waist

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Body Harness• straps which distribute the fall

arrest forces

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Connector• used to connect parts of the

personal fall arrest system and positioning device systems together

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Controlled Access Zone• area in which certain work (e.g.,

overhand bricklaying) may take place

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Dangerous Equipment• equipment hazardous to

employees who fall onto or into such equipment.

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Deceleration Device• equipment that dissipates a

substantial amount of energy during a fall arrest

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Deceleration Distance• distance between the location

of an employee's body belt or body harness attachment point at the moment of activation and the location of that attachment point after the employee comes to a full stop.

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Free Fall• act of falling before a personal

fall arrest system begins to apply force to arrest the fall

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Guardrail system• a barrier erected to prevent

employees from falling to lower levels

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Hole• a gap or void 2 inches (5.1 cm) or

more in its least dimension

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Infeasible• impossible to perform the

construction work using a conventional fall protection system

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Lanyard• flexible line of rope, wire rope,

or strap which generally has a connector at each end

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Leading Edge• edge which changes location as

additional sections are placed, formed, or constructed

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Lifeline• component consisting of a

flexible line for connection to an anchorage

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Low Slope Roof• roof having a slope less than or

equal to 4 in 12

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Mechanical equipment • motor or human propelled

wheeled equipment used for roofing work, except wheelbarrows and mopcarts

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Opening• gap or void 30 inches or more

high and 18 inches or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees can fall to a lower level

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Fall Arrest System• consists of an anchorage,

connectors, a body belt or body harness

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Positioning Device System• rigged to allow an employee to

be supported on an elevated vertical surface and work with both hands free while leaning.

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Rope Grab• deceleration device which

travels on a lifeline and automatically, by friction, engages the lifeline and locks so as to arrest the fall of an employee.

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Roofing work• hoisting, storage, application,

and removal of roofing materials

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Safety Monitoring System• safety system in which a

competent person is responsible for recognizing and warning employees of fall hazards

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Self-retracting lifeline/lanyard • deceleration device after onset

of a fall, automatically locks the drum and arrests the fall

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Snaphook • connector comprised of a hook-

shaped member with a normally closed keeper• Takes two actions to open

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Steep Roof• roof having a slope greater than

4 in 12

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Toeboard• low protective barrier that will

prevent the fall of materials and equipment to lower levels and provide protection from falls for personnel

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Unprotected side or edge• means any side where there is

no wall or guardrail system at least 39 inches high.

1926.500(b)

Definitions

• Walking Working surface• surface, horizontal or vertical on

which an employee walks or works• not include ladders, vehicles, or

trailers

1926.500(b)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• The employer shall determine if

the walking/working surfaces on which its employees are to work have the strength and structural integrity to support employees safely.

1926.501(a)(2)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• unprotected side or edge which

is 6 feet or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling

1926.501(b)(1)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• leading edge 6 feet or more

above lower levels shall be protected

1926.501(b)(2)(i)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee in a hoist area shall be

protected from falling 6 feet or more to lower levels

1926.501(b)(3)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• protected from falling through

holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet above lower levels

1926.501(b)(4)(i)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• protected from tripping in or

stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers

1926.501(b)(4)(ii)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• protected from objects falling

through holes

1926.501(b)(4)(iii)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee on the face of

formwork or reinforcing steel shall be protected from falling 6 feet or more to lower levels

1926.501(b)(5)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee on ramps, runways,

and other walkways shall be protected from falling 6 feet or more to lower levels

1926.501(b)(6)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee at the edge of an

excavation 6 feet or more in depth shall be protected from falling when the excavations are not readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barrier

1926.501(b)(7)(i)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee at the edge of a well,

pit, shaft, and similar excavation 6 feet or more in depth shall be protected from falling

1926.501(b)(7)(ii)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee less than 6 feet above

dangerous equipment shall be protected from falling

1926.501(b)(8)(i)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee performing overhand

bricklaying and related work 6 feet or more above lower levels, shall be protected from falling’• employee reaching more than

10 inches below the level of the walking/working surface on which they are working, shall be protected by conventional fall protection

1926.501(b)(9)(i)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope

roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling • Warning line system allowed

1926.501(b)(10)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• Each employee on a steep roof

with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling

1926.501(b)(11)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee engaged in the

erection of precast concrete members who is 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling

1926.501(b)(12)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee engaged in residential

construction activities 6 feet or more above lower levels shall be protected

1926.501(b)(13)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• employee working on, at, above,

or near wall openings shall be protected from falling • Includes chutes

1926.501(b)(14)

Duty to Have Fall Protection• Walking/working surfaces not

otherwise addressed

1926.501(b)(15)

Guardrail Systems

• Top Rail 42 inches +/- 3 inches

1926.502(b)(1)

Guardrail Systems

• Midrails installed between top edge of guardrail and walking working surface

1926.502(b)(2)(i)

Guardrail Systems

• Intermediate members such as ballusters – 19 inches

1926.502(b)(2)(iii)

Guardrail Systems

• Guardrail systems – 200 pounds outward and downward

1926.502(b)(3)

Guardrail Systems

• Midrails – 150 pounds outward and downward

1926.502(b)(5)

Failure of a midrail

Guardrail Systems

• So surfaced to prevent injury to an employee from puncture or laceration

1926.502(b)(6)

Guardrail Systems

• The ends of top rails and midrails shall not over hang the terminus posts

1926.502(b)(7)

Guardrail Systems

• If wire rope is used for top rails, it shall be flagged at not than 6 foot intervals.

1926.502(b)(9)

Guardrail Systems

• A chain, gate, or removal guardrail section shall be places across the access openings at hoisting areas

1926.502(b)(10)

Guardrail Systems

• Ladderways or points of access shall be provided with a gate or offset

1926.502(b)(13)

No gate or offset

Safety Net Systems

• See 1926.502(c)

1926.502(c)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Snaphooks not directly

engaged to webbing, rope, wire rope• To each other• With another snaphook

to the same d-ring• To a horizontal lifeline• Incompatible shaped

1926.502(d)(6)(i)-(vi)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Horizontal lifelines maintaining a

safety factor of two

1926.502(d)(8)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Lanyards and lifelines shall have

a minimum braking strength of 5,000 pounds

1926.502(d)(9)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Lifelines shall protected from

being abraded

1926.502(d)(11)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Self-retracting lifelines and

lanyards which limit free fall to 2 feet shall be capable of supporting 3,000 pounds

1926.502(d)(12)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Self-retracting lifelines and

lanyards which do not limit free falls to 2 feet shall be capable of supporting 5,000 pounds

1926.502(d)(13)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Anchorages independent from

equipment suspension anchorages

1926.502(d)(14)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Anchorages 5,000 pounds or

maintain a safety factor of two

1926.502(d)(15)(i)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Limit fall arrest forces to 1800

pounds with a harness

1926.502(d)(16)(ii)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• No free fall more than 6 feet nor

contract and lower level

1926.502(d)(16)(iii)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Limit maximum deceleration

distance to 3.5 feet

1926.502(d)(16)(iv)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Withstand twice the potential

impact energy of an employee falling 6 feet or the free fall distance permitted by the system.

1926.502(d)(16)(v)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Remove when subjected to

impact loading

1926.502(d)(19)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• The employer shall provide for

prompt rescue

1926.502(d)(20)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Inspected prior to each use

1926.502(d)(21)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• Not attached to guardrails

1926.502(d)(23)

Personnel Fall Arrest Systems• When use at hoist areas, rigged to

allow the movement of the employee only so far as the edge of the walking/working surface.

1926.502(d)(24)

Work Positioning Systems• Limit free fall to 2 feet• Anchorage 3000 pounds

1926.502(e)(1)&(2)

Warning Line Systems

• Flags 6 feet away when mechanical equipment not used• Access path from ladder formed

from two warning lines

1926.502(f)(1)(i)&(iii)

Warning Line Systems

• When mechanical equipment is used• Flags 6 feet when using parallel• Flags 10 feet when perpendicular

1926.502(f)(1)(ii)

Controlled Access Zones• Leading Edge• Overhand Bricklaying• Precast

1926.502(g)

Safety Monitoring System• Roofing only• On the same level• Close to communicate• No other responsibility

1926.502(h)(1)(iii)-(v)

Flags too close

Covers

• Support twice the weight• Secured• Colored coded, or use “Hole,

“Cover”

1926.502(i)(1)-(4)

Toeboards

• 50 pounds strength• 3.5 inches high

1926.502(j)(2)-(3)

Fall Protection Plan

• Prepared by qualified person• Copy at the jobsite• Document why and where

conventional fall protection cannot be used• Names of employees allowed in

the controlled access zone

1926.502(k)(1)-(6)

Fall Protection Training

• Employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. • The program shall enable each

employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed in order to minimize these hazards.

1926.503(a)(1)