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Standard Interpretations
08/03/2004 - Use of fall protection by deaf employees performing steel erection activities. |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
Standard Number: | 1926.750; 1926.750(a); 1926.750(b)(1); 1926.760; 1926.760(a)(1); 1926.760(a)(3); 1926.760(b); 1926.760(c) |
August 3, 2004 Ms. Holly Cole 210 Park Avenue Suite 1350 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Re: Use of fall protection by deaf employees performing steel erection activities; §1926.760 Dear Ms. Cole: This is in response to your letter dated July 29, 2004, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), asking for clarification of OSHA's fall protection requirements for employees performing steel erection activities. Specifically, you ask whether the effective use of fall protection methods required in 29 CFR 1926.760 depends on the ability of an employee to hear. We have paraphrased your questions as follows: Question: Scenario: I have a deaf employee who will be performing welding operations on structural steel members, steel decking and steel girders. He will not be operating in a Controlled Decking Zone and will not perform connecting activities. Do the fall protection methods required under Part 1926 Subpart R (Steel Erection) depend on the ability of an employee to hear? Answer: Title 29 CFR 1926.750 (Subpart R) "Scope" states: §1926.750(a)As your employee will be welding structural steel, steel decking and steel girders, under §1926.750(b)(1) he will be considered to be performing steel erection activities. Where employees are engaged in general steel erection activities, an employer must ensure that a sufficient fall protection system is in place. Section 1926.760 (Subpart R) "Fall Protection" states: §1926.760(a)(1)As far as we are aware, none of these systems rely on verbal warnings or cues.1 If you need any additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax #202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail. Sincerely, Russell B. Swanson, Director Directorate of Construction [Corrected 6/08/2007] 1 Note that none of these systems involve the use of a monitor. In addition, as we understand your scenario, the fall protection exceptions for connecting work and decking work in §1926.760(b) and 1926.760(c) are inapplicable. [ back to text ] |
Standard Interpretations - Table of Contents |
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