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Falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths.
Construction Standards
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Construction Standards and Resources
Standards and Policy for
Non-Construction Work
Standards
How to Protect Workers
from Falls
How to Protect Workers from Falls
Where to Find Training
and Additional Information
Where to Find Training and Additional Information

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Standards and Policy for Non-Construction Work

Fall protection, for activities not in the construction industry, is addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, marine terminals and longshoring industry. This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA standards), 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. 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 hazards are included for reference.

OSHA Standards

General Industry (29 CFR Part 1910)

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR Part 1915)

  • 1915.71, Scaffolds or staging

  • 1915.72, Ladders

  • 1915.73, Guarding of deck openings and edges

  • 1915.74, Access to vessels

  • 1915.75, Access to and guarding of dry docks and marine realiways

  • 1915.76, Access to cargo spaces and confined spaces

  • 1915.77, Working surfaces

  • 1915.158, Lifesaving equipment (life rings and PFDs)

  • 1915.159, Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)

  • 1915.160, Positioning device systems

  • Subpart I Appendix B, General testing conditions and additional guidelines for personal fall protection systems (Non-mandatory)

Marine Terminals (29 CFR Part 1917)

Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring (29 CFR Part 1918)

  • 1918.22, Gangways

  • 1918.23, Jacob's ladders

  • 1918.24, Fixed and portable ladders

  • 1918.25, Bridge plates and ramps

  • 1918.26, Access to barges and river boats

  • 1918.31, Hatch coverings

  • 1918.32, Stowed cargo and temporary landing surfaces

  • 1918.33, Deck loads

  • 1918.34, Other decks

  • 1918.35, Open hatches

  • 1918.36, Weather deck rails

  • 1918.37, Barges

  • 1918.85, Containerized cargo operations. Includes requirements for fall protection

  • 1918.87, Ship's cargo elevators

  • 1918.97, First aid and lifesaving facilities (life-rings)

  • 1918.105, Other protective measures (Personal flotation devices)

Construction

For construction-specific information, see the Fall protection - construction standards section.

OSHA Regulatory Agenda

  • The OSHA Regulatory Agenda contains an entry related to walking/working surfaces and personal fall protection systems.

OSHA Federal Registers

OSHA Preambles to Final Rules

OSHA Directives; Instructions to OSHA staff

General Industry

Maritime Industry

OSHA Enforcement Standard Interpretations

Electric Power Industry

Example Cases

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)

  • 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/ASSE A10.8-2001, Scaffolding Safety Requirements

  • 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 A14.3-2008, American National Standards for Ladders - Fixed - Safety Requirements

  • 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

  • ANSl/SIA A92.10-2009, Transport Platforms

  • ANSI/ITSDF B56.1, Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks

  • ANSI Z359.1-2007, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Component. Establishes requirements for the performance, design, marking, qualification, instruction, 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 (59 to 140 kg).

  • 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

  • CSA Z259.14-2007, Fall Restrict Equipment for Wood Pole Climbing

  • ASTM F887-11, Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment

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