In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that fatal work injuries involving falls decreased 2 percent in 2010 (from 645 in 2009 to 635 in 2010). Overall, fatal falls are down 25 percent from the series high of 847 fatal falls reported in 2007. Since 2007, fatal falls in the private construction industry have decreased by 42 percent. Fatal injuries resulting from being struck by objects or equipment were also lower, down 4 percent in 2010 to 402. [More...]. Identifying fall hazards and deciding how best to protect workers is the first step in reducing or eliminating fall hazards. Occupational fatalities caused by falls remain a serious public health problem. The US Department of Labor (DOL) lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all occupational fatalities from trauma. Any time a worker is at a height of four feet or more, the worker is at risk and needs to be protected. Fall protection must be provided at four feet in general industry, five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. However, regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.

Fall protection is addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, and longshoring industry.

Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), the Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA standards), preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), example cases, and national consensus standards related to fall protection.

OSHA

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.23, Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
  
  
• 1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance
  • Appendix A, Guidelines (Advisory)
  • Appendix C, Personal fall arrest system (Section I - Mandatory; sections II and III - Non-mandatory)
    
    
• 1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms [Aerial lifts]
  
  
• 1910.132, General requirements [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.268, Telecommunications
  
  
• 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related topic page]

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915.159, Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)
  
  
• 1915.160, Positioning device systems
  
  
• Appendix B, General testing conditions and additional guidelines for personal fall protection systems (Non-mandatory)

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)

• 1918.85, Containerized cargo operations. Includes requirements for fall protection.

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart M, Fall protection
  
  For additional information, on the construction standards, see the Fall Protection - Construction page.

Federal Registers

• Walking and Working Surfaces; Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems). Proposed Rules 68:23527-23568, (2003, May 2). OSHA is reopening the rulemaking record on the proposed revisions to Walking and Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) to gather data and information concerning advances in technology and industry practice and updated consensus standards issued since the proposals were published.
  
  
• Safety Standards in Shipyard Employment for Scaffolds; Welding, Cutting, and Heating; Access and Egress; and Fall Protection. Proposed Rules 67:13117, (2002, March 21). OSHA is withdrawing its proposed rules for scaffolds in shipyard employment (1915 Subpart N), welding, cutting and heating in shipyard employment, (1915 Subpart D), access and egress in shipyards (1915 Subpart E), and fall protection for shipyard employment (1915 Subpart M).
  
  
• Search all available Federal Registers.

Regulatory Agenda

• The OSHA Regulatory Agenda contains an entry related to walking/working surfaces and personal fall protection systems.

Preambles to Final Rules

• Fall Protection (1994)
  
  
• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Directives

Maritime Industry

• Shipyard Employment "Tool Bag" Directive. CPL 02-00-142, (2006, August 3). Provides guidance to OSHA for implementing intervention and inspection programs to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards in shipyard employment.
  
  
• Longshoring and Marine Terminal "Tool Shed" Directive. CPL 02-00-139, (2006, May 23). Provides consistent information and ensures consistent enforcement of OSHA's marine cargo handling industry standards.
  
  
• Focused Inspection Program for Intermodal Container Top Fall Protection. CPL 02-01-027 [CPL 2-1.27], (1998, May 12). Provides guidance for enforcing 29 CFR 1918.85.
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Fall protection for the entertainment industry under the OSH Act of 1970. (Corrected 2005, June 2). Concludes that a full body harness would be an appropriate fall protection device for working at 75' to 150'.
  
  
• Recommendations for preventing prolonged suspension in personal fall protection systems. (2004, September 8). Recommends that employers develop a plan that includes implementing procedures to prevent prolonged suspension, identifying signs and symptoms of orthostatic suspension, and performing rescue and treatment as quickly as possible.
  
  
• Rescue of a suspended worker following a fall event. (2004, April 27). Determines that when performing self-rescue after an arrested fall, the employee may rely on the self-rescue device for the period of time it takes to effect the self-rescue and not be required to use additional fall protection.
  
  
• Permissibility of attaching welding leads to an occupied lift bucket and using an external lifeline to anchor fall arrest equipment. (2004, February 23). Determines that limited situations may exist where an adjacent structure poses no reasonably foreseeable risk of failure. However, boom and basket load limits specified by the manufacturer shall not be exceeded.
  
  
• Fall protection requirements for work docks/bridges used during bridge construction. (2004, February 9). Concludes that the use of work docks or work bridges built to help construct the bridge or to load/unload construction materials and equipment onto barges must therefore meet 1926 Subpart L.
  
  
• Fall protection requirements during installation and removal of tarps and sheeting on/from scaffolds; qualifications of person determining safety on scaffold with wind imposed forces. (2003, July 16). Determines that the installation and removal of tarps or other sheeting material is not considered erection or dismantling of a scaffold. The addition of a tarp or other sheeting material would add lateral loads to the scaffold, and would be "an occurrence which could affect a scaffold's structural integrity," requiring a competent person to inspect it and make an assessment of the anticipated wind forces imposed.
  
  
• Clarification of Powered Industrial Truck requirements covering: fall protection and safety platforms, seat belts, LP-gas storage, smoking, and eye wash stations. (2002, March 8). Determines that personal fall protection equipment would not be required when a guardrail system is installed along the open sides of the safety platform on a powered industrial truck. Safety platforms attached to the forks of a forklift are not considered aerial lifts.
  
  
• Maintenance vs. construction; working from fixed ladders. (1999, May 11). Discusses the differences between "maintenance" and "construction" and the applicable standards.
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Electric Power Industry

• OSHA's requirements for locking type snaphooks on pole strap systems. (1996, March 13). Provides an interpretation of fall protection requirements under 29 CFR 1910.269.

Example Cases

• OSHA and Lamar Bridgeport Alliance Working to Improve Safety and Health of the Outdoor Advertising Industry’s Employees. OSHA Region I Success Stories, (2004, November 30). Describes how fall protection has helped to save contractors from harm in billboard-related incidents. Through the Region I and Lamar Alliance, billboard owners are training their contractors on fall protection and fall retrieval.

National Consensus

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

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

• 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.
  
  
• A10.32-2004, Fall Protection Systems for Construction and Demolitions Operations. Establishes performance criteria for personal fall protection equipment and systems in construction and demolition and provides guidelines, recommendations for their use and inspection.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Z359.1-1992 (R1999), 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).

Construction

For information related to construction, see OSHA's Fall Protection - Construction page.

Hazards and Possible Solutions

There are a number of ways to protect workers from falls including conventional systems such as guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall protection systems (fall arrest systems, positioning systems and travel restraint systems) as well as through the use of safe work practices and training. The use of warning lines, designated areas, control zones and similar systems are permitted by OSHA in some situations and can provide protection by limiting the number of workers exposed and instituting safe work methods and procedures. These alternative systems may be more appropriate than conventional fall protection systems when performing certain activities. Whether conducting a hazard assessment or developing a comprehensive fall protection plan, thinking about fall hazards before the work begins will help to manage fall hazards and focus attention on prevention efforts. If personal fall protection systems are used, particular attention should be given to identifying attachment points and to ensuring that employees know how to properly don and inspect the equipment.

The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions in the workplace.

• Fall Protection Safety Tips Sheets for Employers and Employees [26 KB PDF^*, 2 pages]. OSHA and the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Alliance. Describes general safety tips to help prevent fall-related injuries.
  
  
• Stairways and Ladders: A Guide to OSHA Rules. OSHA Publication 3124-12R, (2003). Also available as a 278 KB PDF, 15 pages. Includes fall protection topics for stairways and ladders.
  
  
• Care of Safety Belts, Harnesses, and Lanyards. Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), (1999, May 10). Provides a question and answer document regarding the proper care and use of fall protection equipment.
  
  
• NIOSH Issues Nationwide Alert on Dangers of Tree Trimming. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-122, (1992, December 7). Discusses the dangers of tree trimming.
  
  
• Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-106, (1992, August). Describes eight incidents involving five electrocutions and three fatal falls of tree trimmers.
  
  
• Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls Through Skylights and Roof Openings. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-100, (1989, December). Describes eight deaths resulting from falls that occurred during work around these openings.
  
  
• OSHA and Lamar Bridgeport Alliance Working to Improve Safety and Health of the Outdoor Advertising Industry’s Employees. OSHA Region I Success Stories, (2004, November 30). Describes how fall protection has helped to save contractors from harm in billboard-related incidents. Through the Region I and Lamar Alliance, billboard owners are training their contractors on fall protection and fall retrieval
  
  
• Fall Protection Publications. Oregon OSHA. Includes fall protection publications for the construction industry, for setting and bracing wood trusses and rafters, for setting floor joists, sheathing/decking, and constructing exterior walls, options for specialty contractors, temporary elevated work platforms, and walking working surfaces.
  
  
• For additional information on general health and safety concerns, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Scaffolding
  • Walking/Working Surfaces

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Construction Industry
  


• Electrical
  


• Electrical Contractors Industry
  


• Powered Industrial Trucks
  


• Sealant, Waterproofing, and Restoration Industry

Training

• OSHA Training Institute Course Catalog Search. Searches training and education courses provided by OSHA Training Institute in occupational safety and health for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, other federal agency personnel, and the private sector.
  
  
• Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB PDF, 56 pages. Includes checklists for walkways, elevated surfaces, floor and wall openings, portable ladders, hoist and auxiliary equipment, and industrial trucks - forklifts.
  
  
• Construction Industry Safety and Health Outreach Program. OSHA, (1996, May).
  • Fall Protection. Describes why and how to provide proper fall protection for construction workers.

Other Resources

• Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. (IEC). OSHA Alliance Page.
  
  
• Construction - Pocket Guide. OSHA Publication 3252-05N, (2005). Also available as a 285 KB PDF, 36 pages. Reports that nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries.
  
  
• Fall Protection: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). University of Virginia, Environmental Health & Safety. Provides questions and answers on fall safety issues.
  
  
• Ellis, J.N. "Introduction to Fall Protection." 3rd ed. American Society of Safety Engineers, 2001.
  
  
• Sulowski, Andrew C. and M. Amphoux, eds. "Fundamentals of Fall Protection." Bainbridge Island, WA: International Society for Fall Protection, 1991.

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