Unified Fall Protection Construction

Requirements – Module 1

General Requirements

December 2020
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 1
 Fall Protection Requirements in Construction
These six modules will cover:
•Fall protection requirements and responsibilities
•Written fall protection plans
•Training requirements
•Types of fall hazards
•Types of fall protection
•Types of work and heights where fall protection is required
•Fall protection systems and methods

Note: Each module has optional short quizzes at the end to check your understanding.

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 Falls on the job – the facts
Falls on-the-job produce injuries and deaths to workers every year. Workers in the
construction industry are at higher risk due to the nature of their work. According
to the National Safety Council, falls to a lower level are the third leading cause of
fatal injuries in all industries. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics - Census of
Fatal Occupational Injuries indicates that falls are the number one cause of
fatalities in the construction industry.

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 Falls in Construction - Facts

Falls are among the top injuries in

the construction industry in
Washington state.

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 Fall Protection – A Shared Responsibility
If you are an employer, you are responsible for anticipating fall hazards at your
work site and for including fall protection measures in your project plans.

If you are an employee, you are responsible for following the policies, procedures,
and training requirements established by your employer.

What fall hazards are my employees

exposed to at this job site?

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 Fall Protection Standards in Construction

These modules will help you understand the fall protection requirements for
the Construction Industry found in the Unified Fall Protection Standard WAC
296-880.
Although fall hazards exist in many industries and work places, workers in the
construction industry, are at higher risk due to the nature of their work.

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 Fall Protection Standards (cont.)

These modules will focus on WAC 296-880, Unified Fall Protection, and refer to other
construction standards that deal with fall protection requirements.

Workers in most industries or work places will also be covered under the Unified Fall
Protection standard as well as other specific rules like Chapter 800 (Core Rules).

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 Fall Protection Standards (cont.)
WAC 296-880 applies to fall hazards at 0ft, 4ft, and 10ft.

Certain activities in construction will require fall protection or guard rails for fall
hazards of less than ten feet. Vertical work such as rebar or forms require fall
protection at 4 feet. Every walking/working surface with unprotected sides or edges
4 feet or more above adjacent flooring or ground level requires guardrails or other
forms of fall protection.
(Note: 880-30035 includes provisions for cranes that include a threshold height of 6 feet)

Fall protection Guardrail

required at 4 ft. required at 4 ft.

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Unified Fall Protection Standard for Construction

Fall Arrest and Restraint WAC 296-880-400

Walking/Working surfaces WAC 296-880-20005
Working on Scaffold 10 feet or more WAC 296-880-30030(1)
Training WAC 296-880-10015
Form and Reinforcing Work WAC 296-880-20005(5)
Specific construction activities WAC 296-880-30005

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 Anticipate and Control Potential Hazards

Careful planning and preparation lays the

groundwork for an accident-free workplace.
Before you begin a project, anticipate fall
hazards to which your employees may be
exposed.

Think about the methods, systems, and

procedures that will eliminate the hazards or
control your employees' exposure to them.

Make a checklist of fall hazards at the job site and the measures you will take to control them.

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 Anticipate and Control Potential Hazards

Also, think ahead and plan for work beyond the

construction project. Effective planning
reduces exposure risks for workers during
a project and for others after the project is
finished.

For example, permanent anchor points installed during

building projects for use by construction workers can also
be used later to protect painters, window cleaners, or
other building maintenance personnel.

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 Anticipate and Control Potential Hazards
Communication and coordination with customers, other contractors, and suppliers
are critical elements of this planning process.

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 Anticipate and Control Potential Hazards
You must have a competent person evaluate the work site and project for fall
hazards.

“Competent person” An individual knowledgeable of fall protection equipment, including the

manufacturer's recommendations and instructions for the proper use, inspection, and maintenance;
and who is capable of identifying existing and potential fall hazards; and who has the authority to take
prompt corrective action to eliminate those hazards; and who is knowledgeable of the requirements
contained in this chapter regarding the installation, use, inspection, and maintenance of fall protection
equipment and systems.
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What is specified for construction in the fall protection
rules?
• Where fall protection is required
• Appropriate fall protection systems and methods
• Proper fall protection construction and installation
procedures
• Safe work procedures for workers who use fall Photo source: Oregon OSHA

protection systems
• Training requirements for workers who use fall
protection systems

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 What Are Employers Required to Do?

 Have a written fall protection plan for falls

10 feet or more
 Provide and document training to workers
who use fall protection systems
 Provide and implement fall restraint, fall
arrest or positioning device systems
 Inspect fall protection devices and systems

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 Develop A Written Fall Protection Work Plan
At ten feet or more, a written fall protection work plan must be developed and
implemented, maintained on the job site, and made available for inspection by
DOSH safety and health inspectors.

The employer must develop and implement a

written fall protection work plan including each
area of the work place where the employees
are assigned and where fall hazards of ten feet
or more exist.

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 Develop and implement a Written
Fall Protection Work Plan
Seven primary elements must be included in the plan:
 1. Identify all fall hazards in the work area

 2. Describe the method of fall arrest or fall restraint to be provided for

each job and task that is ten feet or higher
 3. Describe the procedures for assembly, maintenance, inspection, and
disassembly of the fall protection system to be used
 4. Describe the correct procedures for handling, storage and security of
tools and materials
 5. Describe the method of providing overhead protection for workers who
Sample may be in, or pass through the area below the work site
Fall Prote  6. Describe the method for prompt, safe removal of injured worker
ction Wor
k Plan  7. Be available on-site for inspection by the department

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 Training Requirements
Before allowing any workers into areas where fall hazards exist, employers must
make sure that:
• Each affected worker is trained by a competent person
• Each worker can demonstrate an understanding of training provided
• Each worker can demonstrate the ability to use fall protection properly
• The training of workers is documented

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 Training Requirements (cont.)
• Retrain employees who use fall protection, if necessary. Retrain
an employee when the employer has reason to believe the
understanding, motivation, and skills required to use fall protection
has not been retained. Circumstances where retraining is required
include:
− Changes in the workplace that make previous training out of date

− Changes in the types of fall protection to be used that makes previous

training out of date

− Work habits or demonstrated knowledge indicate that the employee has

not retained the necessary understanding, skill, or motivation to use fall
protection

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More Information on Fall Protection Training

DOSH Video Library – fall protection training videos

Gravitec Systems Inc.

D2000 Safety

Oregon OSHA – Fall Protection for the Construction Industry

WorkSafe BC – online Fall Protection video

General Information on fall protection – DOSH Falls from Heights

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 Fall Protection Requirements

Question 1

Falls are the number one cause of worker deaths in the

construction industry.

 True

 False

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 1 - ANSWER

Falls are the number one cause of worker deaths in the

construction industry.

 True

 False

Workers in the construction industry in particular are at

higher risk due to the nature of their work.

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 2

A written fall protection work plan is required when fall

hazards exist at or greater than:

 Zero (0) feet

 Four (4) feet

 Six (6) feet

 Ten (10) feet

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 2 - ANSWER

A written fall protection work plan is required when fall

hazards exist at or more than:

 Zero (0) feet

 Four (4) feet

 Six (6) feet

 Ten (10) feet

A written plan is required for fall hazards 10 feet or more.

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 3
Before allowing any workers into areas where fall hazards
exist, employers must make sure that :
 Each worker is trained on the fall hazards in the work area
 Each worker is trained on the correct procedures for the safe and proper
use of the selected method of fall protection
 Each worker is retrained as necessary when changes in the types of fall
protection systems or equipment to be used make previous training
obsolete.
 All of the above

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 3 - ANSWER
Before allowing any workers into areas where fall hazards
exist, employers must make sure that :
 Each worker is trained on the fall hazards in the work area
 Each worker is trained on the correct procedures for the safe and proper
use of the selected method of fall protection
 Each worker is retrained as necessary when changes in the types of fall
protection systems or equipment to be used make previous training
obsolete.
 All of the above

All of the above are required before any worker exposed to falls can
enter a work area.
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 Fall Protection Requirements

Question 4

A competent person:
 Can identify fall hazard conditions and actions
 Can provide, install and implement fall
protection systems
 Has the authority to take action to stop the work
and correct the hazard
 Knows the standards
 All of the above

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 Fall Protection Requirements
Question 4 - ANSWER

A competent person:
 Can identify existing and potential fall hazards
 Knowledgeable of requirements regarding
installation, use, inspection and maintenance of
fall protection equipment and systems.
 Has the authority to take prompt corrective
action to stop the work and correct the hazards
 Knows the standards
 All of the above

A person must have all these abilities in order to be designated

as a competent person
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