Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
result.in.more.serious.injuries.and.are.one.of.the.leading.causes.of.deaths..Workers.
working.at.heights.often.ind.that.gravity.never.takes.a.day.off..Falls.from.heights.
occur.so.quickly.that.seldom.does.a.worker.or.anyone.have.a.chance.to.react.quickly.
enough.to.prevent.the.fall.or.recover.from.the.loss.of.balance.
Fall.from.heights.occur.because.of.inattention,.slipping,.tripping,.and.loss.of.bal-
ance..These.types.of.falls.often.are.the.result.from.a.ladder,.scaffold,.or.roof..Each.
worker. on. a. walking. working. surface. with. unprotected. sides. or. edges. should. be.
protected.from.falling.to.a.lower.level.by.the.use.of.guardrails,.safety.nets,.personal.
fall.arrest.systems,.or.the.equivalent..Regulations.require.fall.protection.if.a.worker.
is.working.above.certain.heights..The.speciic.regulations.and.their.height.require-
ments.are.as.follows:
•.
29.CFR.1910.General.Industry.
4.feet
•.
29.CFR.1915.Shipyards.
5.feet
•.
29.CFR.1926.Construction.Standards.
6.feet
Falls.in.the.workplace.are.the.leading.cause.of.death.to.workers;.this.also.includes.
workers.within.the.Service.Industry..Thus,.the.need.for.fall.protection.in.workplaces.
when.workers.are.performing.their.jobs.is.deinitely.a.requirement..Fall.protection.
must.be.provided.so.that.workers.can.concentrate.on.the.job.tasks.without.any.fear.
of.falling..Requirements.relating.to.fall.protection,.as.described.in.this.chapter,.do.
not.apply.to.scaffolds,.cranes.and.derricks,.ladders.and.stairways,.or.electrical.power.
transmission. and. distribution,. each. of. which. has. its. own. requirements.. The. major.
components. of. fall. protection,. described. herein,. are. for. installation,. construction,.
and.proper.use.of.body.harnesses.and.belts,.lanyards,.and.lifelines,.and.the.require-
ments.for.the.training.of.fall.protection.
It.is.the.employer's.responsibility.to.determine.if.the.walking.or.working.surfaces.
on.which.his.or.her.employees.are.to.work.have.the.strength.and.structural.integrity.
to.support.employees.safely..Employees.are.allowed.to.work.on.those.surfaces.only.
when. the. surfaces. have. the. requisite. strength. and. structural. integrity.. Any. time. a.
worker.is.on.a.walking.or.working.surface.(horizontal.and.vertical.surface),.or.an.
edge.with.an.unprotected.side.or.edge.that.is.4.feet.or.more.above.a.lower.level,.that.
worker. must. be. protected. from. falling. by. using. guardrail. systems,. safety. net. sys-
tems,.or.personal.fall.arrest.systems..If.the.employer.can.demonstrate.that.it.is.not.
feasible.or.creates.a.greater.hazard.to.use.these.systems,.the.employer.shall.develop.
and.implement.a.fall.protection.plan.to.protect.the.worker.
Each.worker.on.a.walking.or.working.surface.4.feet.or.more.above.a.lower.level.
where.edges.exist.must.be.protected.from.falling.by.using.a.guardrail.system,.safety.
net.system,.or.personal.fall.arrest.system..If.a.guardrail.system.is.chosen.to.provide.
the.fall.protection,.and.a.controlled.access.zone.for.the.edge.work,.the.control.line.
may.be.used.in.lieu.of.a.guardrail.along.the.edge.that.parallels.the.leading.edge.
Workers. in. a. hoist. area. must. be. protected. from. falling. 4. feet. or. more. to. lower.
levels.by.using.guardrail.systems.or.personal.fall.arrest.systems..If.guardrail.systems.
(chains,.gates,.or.guardrails),.or.portions.thereof,.are.removed.to.facilitate.the.hoist-
ing.operation.(e.g.,.during.landing.of.materials),.and.the.worker.must.lean.through.
the.access.opening.or.out.over.the.edge.of.the.access.opening.(to.receive.or.guide.
