Fall Protection in Residential Construction [1 MB PDF*, 22 pages]. OSHA Guidance Document, (2011).
Fall Protection in Residential Construction. OSHA, (2011).
Fall Protection Safety for Commercial Fishing [725 KB PDF*, 4 pages]. OSHA Fact Sheet.
Fall Protection in General Industry [284 KB PDF*, 2 pages]. OSHA QuickCard.
In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 751 construction workers died on the job, with 35 percent of those fatalities resulting from falls. [More...]
Standards
Fall protection is addressed in OSHA's standards for the construction industry. This section highlights some of the OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices) preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), example cases, and national consensus standards related to fall protection. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans, which are required to be at least as effective as Federal OSHA, and may have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies. Other federal standards and consensus standards related to fall protection hazards are included for reference.
OSHA Standards
Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)
- 1926.451, General requirements (Scaffolding) [related topic page]
- 1926.452, Additional requirements applicable to specific types of scaffolds
- 1926.454, Training requirements (Scaffolding)
- 1926.501, Duty to have fall protection
- 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices
- 1926.503, Training requirements (Fall Protection)
- 1926.760, Steel Erection (Fall protection)
- 1926.800, Underground construction
- 1926.1051, General requirements (Stairways and Ladders)
- 1926.1052, Stairways
- 1926.1053, Ladders
- 1926.1060, Training requirements (Stairways and Ladders)
- 1926.1423, Cranes and Derricks in Construction (Fall Protection)
- 1926.1501, Cranes and Derricks Used in Demolition and Underground Construction
Most Frequently Cited Standards
OSHA Federal Registers
- Employer Payment for Personal Protective Equipment. Final Rule 72:64341-64430, (2007, November 15). OSHA issued a final rule in 2007 requiring employers to pay for required PPE, with limited exceptions.
- Safety Standards for Steel Erection. Final Rules 66:5317-5325, (2001, January 18). Contains requirements for hoisting and rigging, structural steel assembly, beam and column connections, joist erection, systems-engineered metal building erection, fall protection, and training.
- Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry. Advanced Notice of Proposed Rules 64:38077-38086, (1999, July 14). OSHA addressed ten issues, most of which have been raised by interested parties who believe that alternatives to some of the existing fall protection rule's provisions should be permitted. They generally recommend that OSHA allow work practices rather than personal fall arrest systems and guardrails to protect employees against falls.
- Search all available Federal Registers for fall protection.
OSHA Preambles to Final Rules
- Fall Protection (1994)
- Search all available preambles to final rules for fall protection.
OSHA Directives; Instructions to OSHA staff
- Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction. STD 03-11-002, (2010, December 16).
- Clarification of OSHA's enforcement policies relating to floors/nets and shear connectors; Cancellation of CPL 02-01-046 (Sept. 30, 2009). CPL 02-01-048, (2010, April 30). Revision of question/answer 23 and 25 of CPL-02-01-034, all else remains same.
Communications Industry
- Interim Inspection Procedures During Communication Tower Construction Activities. CPL 02-01-036 [CPL 2-1.36], (2002, March 26). Changes OSHA's inspection policy by removing the restriction on hoisting employees on the hoist line to their work stations if those work stations are lower than 200 feet. Otherwise, the original directive is unchanged.
Construction Industry
- Inspection Procedures for Enforcing Subpart L, Scaffolds Used in Construction - 29 CFR 1926.450-454. CPL 02-01-023 [CPL 2-1.23], (1997, January 7).
Steel Erection Industry
- Inspection policy and procedures for OSHA's steel erection standards for construction. CPL 02-01-034 [CPL 2-1-1.34], (2002, March 22). Describes OSHA's inspection policy and procedures and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement by field enforcement personnel of the steel erection standards for construction.
- Search all available directives for fall protection.
OSHA Enforcement Standard Interpretations
Electric Power Industry
- Fall Protection in the power distribution industry. (1995, September 1). Provides an interpretation of the OSHA standards addressing fall protection in the power distribution industry, (29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR 1926.502).
Fall Protection
- Whether certain skylights meet the cover criteria of 1926 Subpart M. (2007, December 12).
- Whether OSHA requirements prohibit working from a portable stepladder and, if not, whether fall protection is required; 29 CFR 1926.1053(b). (2007, November 28).
- Permissibility of attaching welding leads to an occupied lift bucket and using an external lifeline to anchor fall arrest equipment. (2004, February 23). Explanation of fall protection requirements when a worker can tie off to a structure that has no foreseeable risk of failure.
- Fall protection requirements for work docks/bridges used during bridge construction. (2004, February 9). Concludes that the use of work docks or work bridges built to help construct the bridge or to load/unload construction materials and equipment onto barges must therefore meet 1926 Subpart L.
- Fall protection requirements during installation and removal of tarps and sheeting on/from scaffolds; qualifications of person determining safety on scaffold with wind imposed forces. (2003, July 16). Determines that the installation and removal of tarps or other sheeting material is not considered erection or dismantling of a scaffold. The addition of a tarp or other sheeting material would add lateral loads to the scaffold, and would be "an occurrence which could affect a scaffold's structural integrity," requiring a competent person to inspect it and make an assessment of the anticipated wind forces imposed.
- Fall protection, lifejacket, and lifesaving requirements when working over or near water. (1999, September 28).
- Fall protection for the Elaminator 300 Insulation System. (1998, August 7).
- Team on Erection of Telecommunication Towers. (1997, May 25).
- Clarification of house foundation/basement excavation; Fall protection requirements. (1996, February 1).
- The applicability of Subpart M to equipment covered by ANSI A92, and an interpretation with regard to suspended cages and work platforms on forklift trucks. (1995, November 1).
- Fall Protection Plans in New Subpart M (1926). (1994, May 26).
- Search all available standard interpretations for fall protection.
Ladders
Consensus Standards and Recommendations from other Professional Organizations
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- ANSI/ASSE A10.8-2001, Scaffolding Safety Requirements
- ANSI/ASSE A10.32-2004, Fall Protection Systems for Construction and Demolitions Operations. Establishes performance criteria for personal fall protection equipment and systems in construction and demolition and provides guidelines, recommendations for their use and inspection.
- ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2007, Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access; Workplace Floor, Wall and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrail Systems. Sets forth safety requirements for areas where danger exists of persons or objects falling through floor or wall openings, platforms, runways, ramps, and fixed stairs, in normal, temporary, and emergency conditions. This standard applies to industrial and workplace situations and is not intended to apply to construction, residential, or commercial occupancies except where necessary maintenance or work station access may be required.
- ANSI/IWCA 1-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety. International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA). Serves as a guide for window cleaners, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, architects, consultants, designers and building owners. Part A focuses on safety guidelines for the use of window cleaning access equipment. Part B is geared toward those who manufacture, distribute, design, install or maintain the equipment.
- ANSI ASC A14.1-2007, American National Standards for Ladders - Wood Safety Requirements
- ANSI ASC A14.2-2007, American National Standards for Ladders - Portable Metal- Safety Requirements
- ANSI ASC A14.4-2009, American National Standard Safety Requirements for Job Made Wooden Ladders
- ANSI ASC A14.5-2007, American National Standards for Ladders - Portable Reinforced Plastic Safety Requirements
- ANSI ASC A14.7-2006, American National Standard for Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms
- ANSl/SIA A92.2-2009, Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
- ANSI/SIA A92.3-2006, American National Standard for Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial Platforms
- ANSI/SIA A92.5-2006, American National Standard Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms
- ANSI/SIA A92.6-2006, Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms
- ANSl/SIA A92.8-2006, Vehicle-Mounted Bridge Inspection and Maintenance Devices
- ANSI/SIA A92.9-2011, Mast-Climbing Work Platforms
- ANSl/SIA A92.10-2009, Transport Platforms
- ANSI/ITSDF B56.1, Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks
- ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007, Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program
- ANSl/ASSE Z359.3-2007, Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems
- ANSI/ASSE Z359.4-2007, Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components
- ANSl/ASSE Z359.6-2009, Specifications and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection Systems
- ANSI/ASSE Z359.12-2009, Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest System
- ANSI/ASSE Z359.13-2009, Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards
- ASTM F887-11, Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment
- CSA Z259.14-2007, Fall Restrict Equipment for Wood Pole Climbing
- Search other ANSI standards.
Evaluating and Controlling Exposure
Occupational fatalities caused by falls remain a serious public health problem. The US Department of Labor (DOL) lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all occupational fatalities from trauma. Before you can begin a fall protection program, all potential fall hazards must be identified. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions in the workplace.
- Fall Protection in Residential Construction [Spanish]. OSHA Guidance Document, (2011). Also available as a 1 MB PDF.
- Preventing Fatal Falls in Construction. OSHA. Provides links to OSHA tools and resources to help prevent construction-related falls.
- Construction Resource Manual. OSHA, (1998).
- Overview for Subpart M Fall Protection. Discusses fall protection provisions and appropriate control measures.
- Overview for Subpart M Fall Protection. Discusses fall protection provisions and appropriate control measures.
- Construction - Pocket Guide. OSHA Publication 3252-05N, (2005). Also available as a 285 KB PDF, 36 pages. Offers top hazards facing construction workers, and provides solutions.
- Stairways and Ladders: A Guide to OSHA Rules. OSHA Publication 3124-12R, (2003). Also available as a 278 KB PDF, 15 pages. Includes fall protection topics for stairways and ladders.
- Fall Protection: Safe practices for setting and bracing wood trusses and rafters [702 KB PDF, 19 pages]. Oregon OSHA, (2005). A Spanish version [2 MB PDF, 19 pages] is also available.
- Fall Protection in the Construction Industry [662 KB PDF, 82 pages]. (2003, October). Explains general concepts and best practices.
- Fall Protection Publications. Landing page for materials on fall protection.
- Drilled Shaft Installation Safety [62 KB PDF*, 2 pages]. International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC)/OSHA Alliance. Identifies potential fall hazards at the surface of the shaft, the use of personal protective equipment and guardrail systems as methods of fall protection, as well as recommended procedures for safe drilled shaft installation.
- Compatibility of Personal Fall Protection System Components. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (2003, September 22). Also available as a 60 KB PDF, 4 pages.
- Fall Protection-It's a Snap! OSHA, (2003, February 3). Provides an "Employer Information Kit" developed for use by construction employers or trainers to voluntarily comply with OSHA's fall protection standards.
- The 100 Most Frequently Cited OSHA Construction Standards in 1991: A Guide for the Abatement of the Top 25 Associated Physical Hazards. OSHA, (1995, March). Also available as a 2 MB PDF, 100 pages. Discusses the most-violated OSHA construction standards. Several of these standards have to do with falls and fall protection.
- Preventing Injuries and Deaths from Falls During Construction and Maintenance of Telecommunication Towers. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-156, (2001, July). Discusses how workers who are involved in construction and maintenance of telecommunications towers are at high risk of fatal falls.
- NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Dangers of Working from Scaffolds. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-120, (1993, January 4). Discusses the dangers of working from scaffolds.
- Preventing Worker Injuries and Deaths Caused by Falls from Suspension Scaffolds. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-108, (1992, August). Examination of risks from working on suspended scaffolds, as well as prevention methods and related regulations.
- Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100, (1989, December). Examination of risks from working around roof openings, including case reports, related standards, and hazard prevention methods.
- Preventing Construction Falls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Landing page for CDC/NIOSH feature partnering with CPWR and Telemundo , offering guidance and hazard prevention methods.
Additional Information
Training
- Construction Industry Safety and Health Outreach Program. OSHA, (1996, May).
- Fall Protection. Describes why and how to provide proper fall protection for construction workers.
Additional Information
- Construction. OSHA's Alliance Program. This is one of OSHA's Strategic Management Plan Focus Areas.
- Hazards of Misusing Wire Form Anchorage Connectors for Fall Protection. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB), (2004, September 1). Also available as a 24 KB PDF, 3 pages.
- Construction. OSHA eTool. A Spanish version is also available. Contains information that helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause the most serious construction-related injuries.
- Falls. Provides possible solutions to unprotected openings, improper scaffold construction, unguarded rebars, and misuse of portable ladders.
- Falls. Provides possible solutions to unprotected openings, improper scaffold construction, unguarded rebars, and misuse of portable ladders.
- Scaffolding. OSHA eTool. Provides illustrated safety checklists for specific types of scaffolds. Hazards are identified, as well as the controls that keep these hazards from becoming tragedies. An estimated 2.3 million construction workers, or 65 percent of the construction industry, work on scaffolds frequently.
- Fall Protection in Supported Scaffolds. Describes requirements for personal fall-arrest and guard rail systems.
- Fall Protection in Supported Scaffolds. Describes requirements for personal fall-arrest and guard rail systems.
- Steel Erection. OSHA eTool. Contains information that helps workers identify and control the hazards that cause the most serious steel erection-related injuries.
- Fall Protection. Describes general fall protection requirements, and special requirements for steel erection.
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.
*These files are provided for downloading.