• Employees who are on a walking/working surface with an unprotected edge more than 15 feet above a lower level must be protected by conventional fall protection [1926.760(a)(1)].

Perimeter safety cables must be installed at the final interior and exterior perimeters of multi-story structures as soon as the decking has been installed [1926.760(a)(2)]. Connectors and employees working in controlled decking zones must be protected from fall hazards as provided below [1926.760(a)(3)]. (See Connectors and Controlled Decking Zone.)

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• Connectors must:
  
  
  • be protected by conventional fall protection when working on a surface with an unprotected edge more than two stories or 30 feet above a lower level [1926.760(b)(1)], and
    
    
  • have completed the connector training described in 1926.761 [1926.760(b)(2)].
    
    
• While working at heights over 15 and up to 30 feet, connectors must [1926.760(b)(3)]:
  
  

  be provided with a complete personal fall arrest system or other allowable fall protection, and wear the equipment necessary for tying off.

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• A CDZ can be established as a substitute for fall protection where metal decking is initially being installed and forms the leading edge of a work area over 15 and up to 30 feet above a lower level [1926.760(c)].
  
  
• Leading-edge workers in a CDZ are required to:
  
  
  • be protected from fall hazards above 2 stories or 30 feet (whichever is less) [1926.760(c)(1)], and
    
    
  • have completed CDZ training in accordance with 1926.761 [1926.760(c)(4)].
    
    
• Employees who are not engaged in leading-edge work and properly trained in the hazards involved are prohibited from entering the CDZ [1926.760(c)(2)] and [1926.760(c)(4)].
  
  
• The CDZ is required to:
  
  
  • be no more than 90 feet wide and 90 feet deep from any leading edge [1926.760(c)(3)],
    
    

  not exceed 3,000 square feet of unsecured decking [1926.760(c)(5)], have designated and clearly marked boundaries with control lines or the equivalent [1926.760(c)(3)],

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Note: Control lines are commonly used as a marker because they create a highly visible boundary.

• have safety deck attachments placed from the leading edge back to the control line [1926.760(c)(6)], and
  
  
• have at least two safety deck attachments for each metal decking panel [1926.760(c)(6)].
  
  
• Final deck attachments and the installation of shear connectors are prohibited from being done in the CDZ. [1926.760(c)(7)]

• Guardrail systems, safety-net systems, personal fall-arrest systems, positioning-device systems and their components must conform to the criteria in 1926.502. (See Appendix G.) [1926.760(d)(1)]
  
  
• Fall-arrest system components must be used in fall-restraint systems and conform to the criteria in 1926.502. (See Appendix G.) [1926.760(d)(2)]
  
  
• Either body belts or body harnesses may be used in fall restraint systems for steel erection [1926.760(d)(2)].
  
  
• Perimeter safety cables must meet the criteria for guardrail systems in 1926.502. (See Appendix G.) [1926.760(d)(3)]
  

• The steel erector may leave fall protection in place so it may be used by other trades only if the controlling contractor [1926.760(e)]:
  
  
  • has directed the steel erector to leave the fall protection in place [1926.760(e)(1)], and
    
    
  • has inspected and accepted control and responsibility of the fall protection before authorizing other trades to work in the area [1926.760(e)(2)].