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There are many working heights that trigger the use of fall protection depending on whether employees will be working on elevated locations, or from scaffolds, elevating work platforms, or aerial devices. Even dangers existing below the working surface can trigger the use of fall protection and type of fall protection that must be provided. Since falls are among the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths, employers are required to set up the workplace to prevent falls and falling objects from overhead platforms, elevated workstations, or through holes in the floor and walls.
Scope
In general industry, Cal/OSHA requires fall protection for elevated work locations in a building or building structure at 30 inches above the floor, ground, or other working surface of the building. For other elevated locations that are not buildings or building structures, fall protection is required where an employee is exposed to a fall of 4 feet or more. And, in construction, the trigger height for fall protection is 7-1/2 feet above the ground, floor, or level underneath.
Federal OSHA’s fall protection requirements for general industry also apply to employees exposed to a fall of 4 feet or more. However, the construction industry standard is triggered at a height of 6 feet or greater above a lower level. For both industries, this height application is lessened if the employee is working near dangerous equipment, for example, working over machinery with open drive belts, pulleys or gears, or open vats of degreasing agents or acid. Click the following links to view applicable requirements.
Fall protection for general industry activities
Fall protection for construction activities
Citations
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 1, Article 2, Section 3211. Wall Openings
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 1, Article 2, Section 3232. Ramps
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 1, Article 2, Section 3234. Fixed Industrial Stairs
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7, Group 1, Article 2, Section 3277. Fixed Ladders
Federal: 29 CFR 1910.176
A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toeboard or a floor hole cover).
- Provide a guardrail and toeboard around every elevated open sided platform, floor, or runway.
- Provide guardrails and toeboards, regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt).
- Provide other means of fall protection, depending on the job to be performed, including personal fall arrest systems, safety nets, stair railings, and handrails.
- Provide working conditions that are free of known dangers.
- Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition.
- Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers.
- Train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.
- Building Requirements:
- Guardrails must be provided on all open sides of unenclosed elevated work locations, such as: roof openings, open and glazed sides of landings, balconies or porches, platforms, runways, ramps, or working levels more than 30 inches above the floor, ground, or other working areas of a building.
- Where overhead clearance prohibits installation of a 42-inch guardrail, a lower rail or rails must be installed.
- A toeboard must also be provided where the platform, runway, or ramp is six feet or more above places where employees normally work or pass and the lack of a toeboard could create a hazard from falling tools, material, or equipment.
- Where guardrails are impracticable on other elevated locations due to machinery requirements or work processes, an alternate means of protecting employees from falling, such as personal fall protection systems, must be used.
- Exceptions apply; see 3210 for more detail.
- Other Elevated Location Requirements:
- For unprotected sides of elevated work locations that are not buildings or building structure, guardrails must be provided where an employee is exposed to a fall of 4 feet or more.
- Where overhead clearance prohibits installation of a 42-inch guardrail, a lower rail or rails must be installed.
- A toeboard must also be provided where the platform, runway, or ramp is six feet or more above places where employees normally work or pass and the lack of a toeboard could create a hazard from falling tools, material, or equipment.
- Where guardrails are impracticable on other elevated locations due to machinery requirements or work processes, an alternate means of protecting employees from falling, such as personal fall protection systems, must be used.
- Exceptions apply; see 3210 for more detail.
- Floor and Roof Openings:
- Every floor and roof opening must be guarded by a cover, guardrail, or equivalent on all open sides.
- While the cover is not in place, the openings must be constantly attended by someone or protected by guardrails.
- Toeboards must also be installed around the edges at openings where persons may pass below the opening.
- One exception applies; see 3212 for more detail.
- Cal/OSHA addresses the different types of floor and roof openings in further detail in 3212.
- Wall openings:
- An opening in a wall or partition, not provided with a glazed sash and having a height of at least 30 inches with a width of at least 18 inches, must be protected by a guardrail or other barrier capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds applied horizontally at any point on the near side of the guardrail or barrier.
- Barriers may be of solid construction, grillwork with openings not more than 8 inches long, or of slat work with openings not more than 4 inches wide with unrestricted length.
- Access:
- Access to every permanent elevated work location must be by either fixed ladders, permanent ramps, or stairways.
- Every permanent elevated work location, where there is machinery, equipment, or material which is customarily operated or frequently repaired, serviced, adjusted, or otherwise handled and every other permanent elevated work location, must have a safe platform or maintenance runway.
- Access must also be provided to all equipment and appliances except those located on roofs of dwellings and their accessory buildings.
- For mobile vehicles and equipment where the design or work processes make guardrails impracticable, the use of sufficient steps and attached handholds or structural members which allow the user to have a secure hand grasp will be permitted.
- Every permanent pit, sump, or other sunken location 30 inches or more in depth, or from which, machinery, equipment, or materials are customarily operated or frequently repaired, serviced, adjusted, or otherwise handled must be provided with a safe means of access consisting of either portable or fixed ladders or permanent stairways.
- Access to electrical equipment must not be less than that required by the Electrical Safety Orders.