Fall protection
- For most types of scaffold, the required fall protection is a personal fall arrest system, guardrails, or both.
- To protect workers from falling objects, employers should install protective equipment such as toeboards and nets and have workers wear hard hats.
Fall protection includes guardrail systems and personal fall arrest systems. Personal fall arrest systems include harnesses, components of the harness/belt (such as D-rings), snap hooks, lifelines, and anchorage points.
Vertical or horizontal lifelines may be used.
Lifelines must be independent of support lines and suspension ropes and not attached to the same anchorage point as the support or suspension ropes.
When working from an aerial lift, users should attach the fall arrest system to the boom or basket.
Fall protection for specific types of scaffold
The following chart illustrates the type of fall protection required for specific scaffolds:
| Type of scaffold | Fall protection required |
|---|---|
| Aerial lifts | Personal fall arrest system |
| Boatswain’s chair | Personal fall arrest system |
| Catenary scaffold | Personal fall arrest system |
| Crawling board (chicken ladder) | Personal fall arrest system, or a guardrail system, or by a three quarter-inch diameter grabline or equivalent handhold securely fastened beside each crawling board |
| Float scaffold | Personal fall arrest system |
| Ladder jack scaffold | Personal fall arrest system |
| Needle beam scaffold | Personal fall arrest system |
| Self-contained scaffold | Both a personal adjustable scaffold arrest system and a guardrail system |
| Single-point and two-point suspension scaffolds | Both a personal fall arrest system and a guardrail system |
| Supported scaffold | Personal fall arrest system or guardrail system |
| All other scaffolds not specified above | Personal fall arrest system or guardrail system that meets the required criteria |
Protection from overhead falling objects
To protect employees from falling hand tools, debris, and other small objects, employers should install toeboards, screens, guardrail systems, debris nets, catch platforms, canopy structures, or barricades. In addition, employees must wear hard hats.