Fall Protection

Standards and Policy for Non-Construction Work

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 interpretation (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and national consensus standards related to fall protection.

OSHA

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

1910.23, Ladders
1910.25, Stairways
1910.26, Dockboards
1910.27, Scaffolds and rope descent systems
1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance
- Appendix A, Guidelines (Advisory)
1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms
1910.68, Manlifts
1910.132, General requirements (Personal Protective Equipment) [related topic page]
1910.140, Personal fall protection systems
1910.268, Telecommunications
1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related topic page]

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

1915.71, Scaffolds or staging
1915.72, Ladders
1915.73, Guarding of deck openings and edges
1915.74, Access to vessels
1915.75, Access to and guarding of dry docks and marine railways
1915.76, Access to cargo spaces and confined spaces
1915.77, Working surfaces
1915.158, Lifesaving equipment (life rings and PFDs)
1915.159, Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)
1915.160, Positioning device systems
Subpart I Appendix B, General testing conditions and additional guidelines for personal fall protection systems (Non-mandatory)

Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)

1917.12, Slippery conditions
1917.26, First aid and lifesaving facilities
1917.95, Other protective measures
1917.112, Guarding of edges
1917.115, Platforms and skids
1917.116, Elevators and escalators
1917.117, Manlifts
1917.118, Fixed ladders
1917.119, Portable ladders
1917.120, Fixed stairways
1917.121, Spiral stairways
1917.124, Dockboards (car and bridge plates)
1917.125, Guarding temporary hazards

Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

1918.22, Gangways
1918.23, Jacob's ladders
1918.24, Fixed and portable ladders
1918.25, Bridge plates and ramps (See also 1918.86)
1918.26, Access to barges and river boats
1918.31, Hatch coverings
1918.32, Stowed cargo and temporary landing surfaces
1918.33, Deck loads
1918.34, Other decks
1918.35, Open hatches
1918.36, Weather deck rails
1918.37, Barges
1918.85, Containerized cargo operations
1918.87, Ship's cargo elevators
1918.97, First aid and lifesaving facilities. (See Appendix V of this part)
1918.105, Other protective measures

Construction

For construction-specific information, see the Fall protection - construction standards section.

Federal Register Notices

Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems). Final Rule 81:82494-83006, (November 18, 2016). Final rule revising and updating OSHA's general industry standards on walking-working surfaces to prevent and reduce workplace slips, trips, and falls; adding requirements on the design, performance, and use of personal fall protection systems.
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment. Final Rule 79: 20315-20743, (April 11, 2014).
Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems). Proposed Rules 75:28861-29153, (May 24, 2010).
Safety Standards in Shipyard Employment for Scaffolds; Welding, Cutting, and Heating; Access and Egress; and Fall Protection. Proposed Rules 67:13117, (March 21, 2002). Explanation for withdrawal of proposed rules for scaffold in shipyard employment.

Directives

General Industry

29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart I, Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in General Industry. CPL 02-01-050, (February 10, 2011).

Maritime Industry

Shipyard Employment "Tool Bag" Directive. CPL 02-00-162, (May 22, 2019). Provides OSHA offices, interested industry representatives, State Plan programs and federal agencies with guidance concerning the application of occupational safety and health standards in shipyard employment. Also, this instruction provides current information and ensures the consistent enforcement of OSHA's shipyard employment standards (29 CFR Part 1915).
Longshoring and Marine Terminal "Tool Shed" Directive. CPL 02-00-154, (July 31, 2012). Provides information and instruction relating to the marine cargo handling industry.

Letters of Interpretation

Enforcement Guidance for General Industry Rope Descent System (RDS) Anchorage Requirements (29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)). (November 20, 2017).
Guarding of Access Openings to Fixed Ladders. (September 29, 2009).
Guarding requirements for skylights and "grandfather" provisions for buildings constructed over twenty years ago. (September 28, 2006).
Fall protection for the entertainment industry under the OSH Act of 1970. (Corrected June 2, 2005). Explanation of how fall protection standard applies to riggers and others in the entertainment industry.
Fall protection requirements when working from ladders in the telecommunications industry. (May 23, 2005).
OSHA enforcement of ANSI window cleaning standard; citing federal agencies under the General Duty Clause. (March 28, 2005).
Recommendations for preventing prolonged suspension in personal fall protection systems. (September 8, 2004). Explanation of methods and resources for avoiding injury from engagement of fall protection system.
Rescue of a suspended worker following a fall event. (April 27, 2004). Explanation of fall protection requirements in instances where a worker is performing a self-rescue following a fall.
Maintenance vs. construction; working from fixed ladders. (May 11, 1999; Corrected June 14, 2004). Discusses the differences between "maintenance" and "construction" and the applicable standards.

Electric Power Industry

OSHA's requirements for locking type snaphooks on pole strap systems. (March 13, 1996). Provides explanations for multiple questions, including requirements for fall protection during specific work scenarios.
Fall Protection in the power distribution industry. (September 1, 1995). Provides an interpretation of the OSHA standards addressing fall protection in the electric power distribution industry, (29 CFR 1910.269 and 29 CFR 1926.502).

State Standards

There are twenty-eight OSHA-approved State Plans, operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.

Consensus Standards and Recommendations from other Professional Organizations

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2007, Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access; Workplace Floor, Wall and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrail Systems. Sets forth safety requirements for areas where danger exists of persons or objects falling through floor or wall openings, platforms, runways, ramps, and fixed stairs, in normal, temporary, and emergency conditions. This standard applies to industrial and workplace situations and is not intended to apply to construction, residential, or commercial occupancies except where necessary maintenance or work station access may be required.
ANSI/IWCA 1-14.1-2001, Window Cleaning Safety. International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA). Serves as a guide for window cleaners, regulatory agencies, manufacturers, architects, consultants, designers and building owners. Part A focuses on safety guidelines for the use of window cleaning access equipment. Part B is geared toward those who manufacture, distribute, design, install or maintain the equipment.
ANSI/ASSE A10.8, Scaffolding Safety Requirements
ANSI ASC A14.1, American National Standards for Ladders - Wood Safety Requirements
ANSI ASC A14.2, American National Standards for Ladders - Portable Metal- Safety Requirements
ANSI ASC A14.3, American National Standards for Ladders - Fixed - Safety Requirements
ANSI ASC A14.4, American National Standards Safety Requirements for Job Made Wooden Ladders
ANSI ASC A14.5, American National Standards for Ladders - Portable Reinforced Plastic Safety Requirements
ANSI ASC A14.7, American National Standard for Mobile Ladder Stands and Mobile Ladder Stand Platforms
ANSl/SAIA A92.2, American National Standard for Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
ANSI/SAIA A92.3, American National Standard for Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial Platforms
ANSI/SAIA A92.5, American National Standard Boom-Supported Elevating Work Platforms
ANSI/SAIA A92.6, Self-Propelled Elevating Work Platforms
ANSl/SIA A92.8, Vehicle-Mounted Bridge Inspection and Maintenance Devices
ANSl/SAIA A92.10, Transport Platforms
ANSI/ITSDF B56.1, Safety Standard for Low Lift and High Lift Trucks
ANSI/ASSE Z359.0, Definition and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Component. Establishes requirements for the performance, design, marking, qualification, instruction, training, inspection, use, maintenance, and removal from service of connectors, full body harnesses, lanyards, energy absorbers, anchorage connectors, fall arresters, vertical lifelines, and self-retracting lanyards comprising personal fall arrest systems for users within the capacity range of 130 to 310 pounds (59 to 140 kg).
ANSI/ASSE Z359.2, Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program
ANSl/ASSE Z359.3, Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems
ANSI/ASSE Z359.4, Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components
ANSl/ASSE Z359.6, Specifications and Design Requirements for Active Fall Protection SystemsANSI/ASSE Z359.7-2011, Qualification and Verification Testing of Fall Protection Products
ANSI/ASSE Z359.12, Connecting Components for Personal Fall Arrest System
ANSI/ASSE Z359.13, Personal Energy Absorbers and Energy Absorbing Lanyards
ANSI/ASSE Z359.14, Self-Retracting Devices for Fall Arrest and Rescue Systems
ANSI/ASSE Z359.15, Safety Requirements for Single Anchor Lifelines and Fall Arresters for Personal Fall Arrest and Rescue Systems
CSA Z259.14, Fall Restrict Equipment for Wood Pole Climbing
ASTM F887-11, Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment

Highlights

Engulfment in a Sugar Hopper. OSHA Fatal Facts No. 10, (2015).
Protecting Roofing Workers. OSHA Publication 3755, (2015).
Fall Protection in Construction. OSHA Publication 3146, (2015).
Narrow Frame Scaffolds. OSHA Fact Sheet (Publication 3722), (April 2014).
Material Hoist Collapse. OSHA Fatal Facts No. 8, (2014).
Falling Off Ladders Can Kill: Use Them Safely | Las caídas desde escaleras pueden ser mortales: Úselas de forma segura (EPUB| MOBI). OSHA Publication 3625, (2013).
Prevention Videos (v-Tools): Construction Hazards. OSHA.
Fall Protection in Residential Construction (PDF). OSHA Guidance Document. Also available in Spanish.
Fall Protection in Residential Construction. OSHA, (2011). Provides links to OSHA tools and resources (Regulations, Directives, Letters of Interpretation, Compliance Assistance materials) to help prevent falls in residential construction.
Fall Protection Safety for Commercial Fishing. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2011).
Fall Protection in General Industry. OSHA QuickCard™ (Publication 3257), (2010).
Fall Prevention/Protection. OSHA Publications. Contains fall prevention materials in English and Spanish.

Related Topics