- Part
Number: 1926
- Part
Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
- Subpart:
M
- Subpart
Title: Fall Protection
- Standard
Number: 1926.501
- Title:
Duty to have fall protection.
1926.501(a)
"General."
1926.501(a)(1)
This
section sets forth requirements for employers to provide fall
protection systems. All fall protection required by this section
shall conform to the criteria set forth in 1926.502 of this
subpart.
1926.501(a)(2)
The
employer shall determine if the walking/working surfaces on
which its employees are to work have the strength and structural
integrity to support employees safely. Employees shall be allowed
to work on those surfaces only when the surfaces have the requisite
strength and structural integrity.
1926.501(b)
1926.501(b)(1)
"Unprotected
sides and edges." Each employee on a walking/working surface
(horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or
edge which is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall
be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety
net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
..1926.501(b)(2)
1926.501(b)(2)
"Leading
edges."
1926.501(b)(2)(i)
Each
employee who is constructing a leading edge 6 feet (1.8 m) or
more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail
systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible
or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer
shall develop and implement a fall protection plan which meets
the requirements of paragraph (k) of 1926.502.
Note:
There is a presumption that it is feasible and will not create
a greater hazard to implement at least one of the above-listed
fall protection systems. Accordingly, the employer has the burden
of establishing that it is appropriate to implement a fall protection
plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a particular workplace
situation, in lieu of implementing any of those systems.
1926.501(b)(2)(ii)
Each
employee on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more
above a lower level where leading edges are under construction,
but who is not engaged in the leading edge work, shall be protected
from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal
fall arrest system. If a guardrail system is chosen to provide
the fall protection, and a controlled access zone has already
been established for leading edge work, the control line may
be used in lieu of a guardrail along the edge that parallels
the leading edge.
1926.501(b)(3)
"Hoist
areas." Each employee in a hoist area shall be protected
from falling 6 feet (1.8 m) or more to lower levels by guardrail
systems or personal fall arrest systems. If guardrail systems,
[or chain, gate, or guardrail] or portions thereof, are removed
to facilitate the hoisting operation (e.g., during landing of
materials), and an employee must lean through the access opening
or out over the edge of the access opening (to receive or guide
equipment and materials, for example), that employee shall be
protected from fall hazards by a personal fall arrest system.
..1926.501(b)(4)
1926.501(b)(4)
"Holes."
1926.501(b)(4)(i)
Each
employee on walking/working surfaces shall be protected from
falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet
(1.8 m) above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems,
covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes.
1926.501(b)(4)(ii)
Each
employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from
tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights)
by covers.
1926.501(b)(4)(iii)
Each
employee on a walking/working surface shall be protected from
objects falling through holes (including skylights) by covers.
1926.501(b)(5)
"Formwork
and reinforcing steel." Each employee on the face of formwork
or reinforcing steel shall be protected from falling 6 feet
(1.8 m) or more to lower levels by personal fall arrest systems,
safety net systems, or positioning device systems.
1926.501(b)(6)
"Ramps,
runways, and other walkways." Each employee on ramps, runways,
and other walkways shall be protected from falling 6 feet (1.8
m) or more to lower levels by guardrail systems.
1926.501(b)(7)
"Excavations."
1926.501(b)(7)(i)
Each
employee at the edge of an excavation 6 feet (1.8 m) or more
in depth shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems,
fences, or barricades when the excavations are not readily seen
because of plant growth or other visual barrier;
..1926.501(b)(7)(ii)
1926.501(b)(7)(ii)
Each
employee at the edge of a well, pit, shaft, and similar excavation
6 feet (1.8 m) or more in depth shall be protected from falling
by guardrail systems, fences, barricades, or covers.
1926.501(b)(8)
"Dangerous
equipment."
1926.501(b)(8)(i)
Each
employee less than 6 feet (1.8 m) above dangerous equipment
shall be protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment
by guardrail systems or by equipment guards.
1926.501(b)(8)(ii)
Each
employee 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above dangerous equipment shall
be protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, personal
fall arrest systems, or safety net systems.
1926.501(b)(9)
"Overhand
bricklaying and related work."
1926.501(b)(9)(i)
Except
as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each
employee performing overhand bricklaying and related work 6
feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels, shall be protected
from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal
fall arrest systems, or shall work in a controlled access zone.
1926.501(b)(9)(ii)
Each
employee reaching more than 10 inches (25 cm) below the level
of the walking/working surface on which they are working, shall
be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net
system, or personal fall arrest system.
Note:
Bricklaying operations performed on scaffolds are regulated
by subpart L - Scaffolds of this part.
..1926.501(b)(10)
1926.501(b)(10)
"Roofing
work on Low-slope roofs." Except as otherwise provided
in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing
activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges
6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected
from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal
fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system
and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system,
or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning
line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet
(15.25 m) or less in width (see Appendix A to subpart M of this
part), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without
the warning line system] is permitted.
1926.501(b)(11)
"Steep
roofs." Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected
sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall
be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toeboards,
safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
1926.501(b)(12)
"Precast
concrete erection." Each employee engaged in the erection
of precast concrete members (including, but not limited to the
erection of wall panels, columns, beams, and floor and roof
"tees") and related operations such as grouting of
precast concrete members, who is 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above
lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems,
safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems, unless
another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides
for an alternative fall protection measure. Exception: When
the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates
a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop
and implement a fall protection plan which meets the requirements
of paragraph (k) of 1926.502.
Note:
There is a presumption that it is feasible and will not create
a greater hazard to implement at least one of the above-listed
fall protection systems. Accordingly, the employer has the burden
of establishing that it is appropriate to implement a fall protection
plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a particular workplace
situation, in lieu of implementing any of those systems.
..1926.501(b)(13)
1926.501(b)(13)
"Residential
construction." Each employee engaged in residential construction
activities 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be
protected by guardrail systems, safety net system, or personal
fall arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b)
of this section provides for an alternative fall protection
measure. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it
is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems,
the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan
which meets the requirements of paragraph (k) of 1926.502.
Note:
There is a presumption that it is feasible and will not create
a greater hazard to implement at least one of the above-listed
fall protection systems. Accordingly, the employer has the burden
of establishing that it is appropriate to implement a fall protection
plan which complies with 1926.502(k) for a particular workplace
situation, in lieu of implementing any of those systems.
1926.501(b)(14)
"Wall
openings." Each employee working on, at, above, or near
wall openings (including those with chutes attached) where the
outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet (1.8 m) or
more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall
opening is less than 39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/working
surface, shall be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail
system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system.
1926.501(b)(15)
"Walking/working
surfaces not otherwise addressed." Except as provided in
1926.500(a)(2) or in 1926.501 (b)(1) through (b)(14), each employee
on a walking/working surface 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower
levels shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system,
safety net system, or personal fall arrest system.
1926.501(c)
"Protection
from falling objects." When an employee is exposed to falling
objects, the employer shall have each employee wear a hard hat
and shall implement one of the following measures:
1926.501(c)(1)
Erect
toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects
from falling from higher levels; or,
..1926.501(c)(2)
1926.501(c)(2)
Erect
a canopy structure and keep potential fall objects far enough
from the edge of the higher level so that those objects would
not go over the edge if they were accidentally displaced; or,
1926.501(c)(3)
Barricade
the area to which objects could fall, prohibit employees from
entering the barricaded area, and keep objects that may fall
far enough away from the edge of a higher level so that those
objects would not go over the edge if they were accidentally
displaced.
[59
FR 40732, Aug. 9, 1994; 60 FR 5131, Jan. 26, 1995]
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