OSHA Fall Protection – General Requirements

Falls are one of the most serious hazards in construction. Workers may be exposed to fall hazards while working from roofs, elevated surfaces, leading edges, ramps and walkways, or around holes, openings, excavations, and other lower levels.

OSHA Fall Protection requirements under 29 CFR 1926.501 – Duty to Have Fall Protection establish when employers must protect construction employees from

 fall hazards. The protection required depends on the work being performed, the location of the exposure, the fall distance, and the particular hazard involved.

Where Fall Hazards Occur

Fall hazards are not limited to roofs or extremely high work areas. They can occur whenever an employee is exposed to an unprotected edge, opening, lower level, or other condition where a fall could result in injury.

Common fall hazards addressed by OSHA include:

• Unprotected sides and edges.
• Leading edges.
• Holes, floor openings, and skylights.
• Hoist areas.
• Formwork and reinforcing steel.
• Ramps, runways, and other walkways.
• Excavations, wells, pits, and shafts.
• Dangerous equipment below a working surface.
• Roof work.
• Wall openings.
• Walking and working surfaces above lower levels.

Recognizing the location and nature of the fall exposure is the first step in determining what type of fall protection is required.

When Is OSHA Fall Protection Required?

For many construction activities, OSHA requires fall protection when employees are exposed to falls of 6 feet or more above a lower level.

The 6-foot threshold, however, is not a universal rule for every type of work. Scaffolds, steel erection, ladders, aerial lifts, and certain other operations are addressed by additional OSHA standards and may have different requirements.

Employers must determine which OSHA standard applies to the work being performed and provide the required protection.

Guardrail Systems

Guardrails provide a physical barrier between employees and an exposed edge. Because employees do not have to connect themselves to an anchorage, guardrails are a form of passive fall protection.

A typical guardrail system includes a top rail, intermediate protection such as a midrail, and supporting posts. Toeboards, screens, or other measures may also be necessary when falling objects could endanger employees below.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is designed to safely stop an employee after a fall has begun.

A system typically includes a full-body harness, connecting device, and suitable anchorage. Depending on the application, the connecting device may include a shock-absorbing lanyard, self-retracting lifeline, vertical or horizontal lifeline, or other component designed for fall arrest.

Fall arrest is different from fall prevention. With a fall arrest system, a fall may occur, but the system is designed to stop the employee before striking a lower level or other hazard.

Safety Net Systems

Safety nets are another form of OSHA-recognized fall protection for certain construction activities. They are installed below the working surface to catch an employee who falls.

Proper placement, clearance, strength, installation, inspection, and the conditions surrounding the work area are critical to an effective safety net system.

Fall Restraint and Positioning Systems

Not every system involving a harness is a personal fall arrest system.

Fall restraint is intended to prevent an employee from reaching an exposed edge or another location where a fall can occur.

Positioning systems support an employee on an elevated vertical surface while allowing the employee to work with both hands.

Understanding the difference between restraint, positioning, and fall arrest is important because the equipment, setup, and OSHA requirements may differ.

Holes and Openings

Employees must also be protected from falls through holes and openings. Depending on the condition, OSHA permits protection such as covers, guardrail systems, or personal fall arrest systems.

Covers may also be required to prevent employees from stepping or tripping into holes and to prevent objects from falling through openings onto employees below.

Skylights should be evaluated as openings unless they are capable of providing the required protection.

Protection from Falling Objects

Fall protection also addresses hazards to employees working below elevated areas.

Tools, equipment, debris, and materials can fall from elevated surfaces and strike workers underneath. Depending on the situation, protection may include:

• Toeboards or screens.
• Guardrail systems.
• Canopies.
• Barricades and restricted areas.
• Keeping materials and equipment sufficiently far from exposed edges.

Employees exposed to falling-object hazards must also use appropriate head protection.

Why Fall Protection Matters

Effective fall protection begins before employees are exposed to a fall hazard. Employers should identify the exposure, determine which OSHA requirements apply, and select a system appropriate for the work and working conditions.

Guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, safety nets, restraint systems, positioning systems, covers, and other protective measures serve different purposes. The appropriate system depends on the particular hazard and the work being performed.

For additional regulatory information, see OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 – Duty to Have Fall Protection.

For company-specific procedures, equipment requirements, inspections, training, and responsibilities, refer to the company’s Fall Protection Program.