General Industry Roof Fall Protection Requirements

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 register notices rules and proposed rules preambles to final rules background to final rules directives instruction to osha staff letters of.

General industry roof fall protection requirements. In addition employers will be able to use non conventional fall protection in certain situations such as designated areas on low slope roofs. Section 1910 28 establishes the requirements that employers must follow on the use of cages and wells as a means of fall protection. 1910 28 b 1 i construction requires fall protection for any worker over 6. As much as possible osha aligned fall protection requirements for general industry with those for construction easing compliance for employers who perform both types of activities.

Osha requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces five feet in shipyards six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations. 1910 22 general requirements 1910 23 ladders 1910 24 step bolts and manhole steps 1910 25 stairways 1910 26 dockboards 1910 27 scaffold and rope decent systems 1910 28 duty to have fall protection and falling object protection 1910 29 fall protection systems and falling object protection criteria and practices. There are two starting points that once reached require fall protection. Two osha standards can apply 29 cfr 1910 which governs general industry safety standards and 29 cfr 1926 which governs construction sites specifically.

When the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible or creates a greater hazard to use guardrail safety net or personal fall protection systems on residential roofs the employer must develop and implement a fall protection plan that meets the requirements of 29 cfr 1926 502 k and training that meets the requirements of 29 cfr 1926 503 a and c. Conventional fall protection guardrail fall restraint or fall arrest system is required. General industry requires fall protection for any worker over 4. Note to paragraph g.

Figure d 15 example of general construction of cages. According to osha these heights are. Osha estimates the rule will prevent 29 fatalities and 5 842 injuries annually. Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies.

Figure d 14 clearances for fixed ladders in wells.