FALL PROTECTION

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 INTRODUCTION
This training information has been prepared by the Georgia Tech Safety and Health
Consultation Program with the technical collaboration of Mr. Juán C. Rodriguez and
under the sponsorship of OSHA. Its content may be copied and distributed for free. The
Georgia Tech’s Safety and Health Consultation Program requests it be acknowledged as
the source of this information. The authors believe that all information contained in this
training is accurate; however, this is not an official OSHA publication and has not been
revised or approved by OSHA. The user should be aware that the recommendations
provided in this training do not replace any OSHA standard or regulation.

Georgia Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Georgia Tech Research Institute
260 14th Street, Fourth Floor
Atlanta, GA 30332-0837 
Voice :(404) 407-7431
FAX :(404) 407-8275
Web http://www.oshainfo.gatech.edu

Georgia Tech Safety and Health

Consultation Program
 SUBPART M 1926.500

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Effective Date: February 6th, 1995

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Duty to have fall protection
Protection required when working at 6 feet or
higher

Walking/working surfaces shall be inspected before

employees begin work activities

Employees shall be allowed to work only on those

surfaces which have the requisite strength to withstand
their weight

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Strong enough surfaces GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 SCOPE AND APPLICATION
Subpart M sets forths criteria for all fall
protection hazards, except:
Section L - Scaffolds
Section N – Cranes and derricks
Section R – Steel erection work in buildings
Section S – Tunneling operations
Section V – Electric transmission and distribution lines
Section X – Stairways and ladders

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Fall Protection is required when…
Unprotected (open) sides Working/walking surfaces
and edges Formwork
Leading edge work Excavations and wells
Dangerous equipment Precast concrete erection
Overhand bricklaying Wall openings
Steep-slope roofs Low-steep roofs
Residential construction
Holes

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Sloping roof GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Hole GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Covered Holes GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Sloped Roof GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Protection from falling objects
Each exposed employee shall wear a hard hat

Employers must prevent objects from falling from

higher levels (which could strike employees below)
by using all necessary measures

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Hard hats GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Wearing hard hats GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
 (a) Guardrails

 Top edge height of top rails  The midrail shall withstand a

shall be between 39" and 45" force of at least 150 pounds
 Midrails shall be installed  Wire rope shall be flagged and
between the top edge of the shall not deflect more than 3"
guard rail and the  Frequently inspect wire ropes
walking/working surface
 Openings between rails shall  No rail material smaller than
not be more than 19" apart 1/4" diameter shall be used
 The top rail edge shall
withstand a force of at least 200
pounds

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Guardrails
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Wire Rope
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Flagged Wire Rope GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 2 x 4 Guardrails GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(b) Safety net systems
Shall be installed as close as practicable , but in no case more
than 30' (9. 1 m) below the working surface
Shall be subjected to impact force tests or certified
Without any defects
Shall be inspected weekly and after any occurrence (impact)
Debris that have fallen into the net must be removed before
starting work
Maximum size of each mesh opening shall not be longer than
6” and each opening will not exceed 36” square
All border rope must have a minimum breaking strength of
5000 pounds

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(c) Personal fall arrest systems

Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are authorized

to be used only for positioning
Dee-rings and snaphooks shall have a minimum tensile
strength of 5,000 pounds
Snaphooks shall be of the locking types
Horizontal lifelines shall be installed by a qualified
person and maintain a safety factor of at least 2

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall protection

Chain for
positioning

Body belts only for positioning

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(c) Cont..

Lanyards and vertical lifelines shall have a minimum

breaking strength of 5,000 pounds
A body harness shall withstand a force of 1,800 pounds
 Be mindful of the correct attachment point to the
wearer’s body, plans for prompt rescue of the employee,
and inspections of equipment prior to use

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(d) Positioning device systems
Employee can not free fall more than 2' (0.61 m)
Shall be inspected prior to each use
Body belts and harnesses shall be used only for
employee protection

(e) Warning lines

Shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(e) Cont.

Mechanical equipment shall be placed not less than 6'

(1.8 m) from the roof edge
Access points shall be blocked when there is no work
Warning lines shall be flagged with high-visibility
materials
The lowest point of the warning line is not less than 34"
(0.9 m) and the highest point at not more than 39" (1 m)
GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
(f) Controlled access zones
Used in areas where leading edges change constantly
In areas with overhand bricklaying work at edges
When erecting precast concrete members
Access permitted only to trained and qualified
employees
Written information (signs) at points of access

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Leading edges GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
 Fall Protection Systems:
criteria and practices...
• (g) Safety monitoring systems
Competent person as Only employees engaged in
monitor roofing work allowed
At same visual level of Employees shall follow the
that of employees monitor’s instructions
Close enough to Monitor shall not have other
communicate orally responsibilities or functions
Mechanical equipment
shall not be stored in the
monitoring area

GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program

Monitor GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program
Warning line GA Tech Safety and Health Consultation Program