• Employers must protect employees from the danger of being struck by objects falling from an overhead area.

The Walking-Working Surfaces rule requires that employers protect employees from being struck by objects falling from overhead. When workers are at risk the employer must take preventative steps, including:

• Requiring employees to wear head protection that meets the requirements of 1910 Subpart I;
• Erecting toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems;
• Erecting canopy structures;
• Keeping falling objects far from an edge, hole, etc., to prevent the object from falling to a lower level; or
• Barricading the area until the hazard is protected or eliminated.