OSHA - Occupational Safety & Health Act
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, commonly known as OSHA, publiSHEs what are know as "Standards". These Standards outline what the legal responsibility of the Manufacture, the Employer and the worker are. The Standards are Law. Failure to follow these Standards may result in OSHA citations and fines.
- 1910.269 Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
- (g) (2) Fall protection
- (i) Personal fall arrest equipment shall meet the requirements of subpart M of part 1926.
- Subpart M of Part 1926 - Fall Protection
- 1926.500 Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart (subpart M)
- 1926.501 Duty to have Fall Protection
- 1926.502 Fall Protection System Criteria & Practices
- 1926.503 Training Requirements
- Appendix to Subpart M
- App A Determine Roof Widths
- App B Guardrail Systems
- App C Personal Fall Arrest Systems
- App D Positioning Device Systems
- App E Sample Fall Protection Plans
- 1926-500 Scope & Application
(A) (1) This subpart sets forth requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces. It does not apply to employees making an inspection or assessment of the workplace prior to work starting or after construction has been completed. - 1926-501 Duty to have Fall Protection
This section sets forth requirements for the employer to provide fall protection for the employee. Employees working 6' or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of a fall arrest system, safety nets, or a personal fall arrest system.- (2) Sets forth those workplaces, conditions, operations, and circumstances for which fall protection shall be provided except as follows:
- (1) employees working on scaffolds that are covered under subpart L
- (11) employees working on cranes that are covered under subpart N
- (111) employees performing steel erection work that are covered under subpart R
- (1V) employees working on equipment in tunneling operations that are covered under subpart S
- (V) employees working in electrical transition and distribution as covered under subpart V
- (V1) employees working on ladders and stairways which are covered under subpart X
- 1926-502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria & Practices
Sets forth the requirements for installation, construction, and proper use of fall protection as outlined in Subpart M.- (2) Employers shall provide and install all fall protection systems required by this subpart for the employee, with all other pertinent requirements met prior to the work beginning that necessitates the fall protection.
- (20) The employer shall provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or shall assure that the employees can rescue themselves.
- 1926-502 Fall Protection Systems Criteria & Practices
- (A) (1) The employer shall provide training for each employee exposed to a fall hazard.
- (A) (2) The employer shall assure that each employee has been trained by a competent person.
- (B) (1) The employer shall verify training by maintaining a written certification record of training for each employee.
Find more information on OSHA Standards here: www.osha.gov
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1918 which facilitates development of voluntary standards. These standards are not law.
- Z359-1 ANSI Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components
- 1. Scope, Purpose, Application, Exceptions
- 1.1 Scope - This standard establishes requirements for the performance, design, marking, qualifications, instructions, 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.
- 1.2 Purpose & Application
- 1.2.1 This standard addresses only personal fall arrest systems incorporating full body harnesses.
- 1.2.2 This standard addresses equipment for personal protection against falls from heights and applies to the manufacturers, distributors, purchasers, and users of such equipment.
- 1.2.3 Body belts, window cleaner belts, chest waist harnesses and chest harnesses when used for body support or work positioning are not addressed by this standard.
- 1.2.4 Before any equipment shall bear the mark Z359-1 all requirements of this standard must be met.
- 1.3 Exceptions
- 1.3.1 The requirements of this standard do not address the Construction Industry (SIC Division C), Window Cleaning Belts, & Sports-related Activities.
- 1. Scope, Purpose, Application, Exceptions
- A10-14 ANSI Safety Requirements for Construction and Demolition Operations
- 1. Scope & Purpose
- 1.1 Scope - This standard establishes performance criteria for the manufacturer and use of body belts, harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, rope grabs, and shock absorbers for construction and demolition. It does not include lineman body belts and pole straps, window washers belts, or safety ladder belts.
- 1.2 Purpose - This standard details fall arrest/restraint systems, equipment and methods that shall be used when an employee is exposed to a fall hazard.
- 1. Scope & Purpose