29 Cfr 1926.502

Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall
arrest system.
(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:
(1) Erect toeboards, screens, or
guardrail systems to prevent objects
from falling from higher levels; or,
(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,
(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.
§ 1926.502 Fall protection systems criteria and practices.
(a) General. (1) Fall protection systems required by this part shall comply
with the applicable provisions of this
section.
(2) Employers shall provide and install all fall protection systems required by this subpart for an employee,
and shall comply with all other pertinent requirements of this subpart before that employee begins the work
that necessitates the fall protection.
(b) Guardrail systems. Guardrail systems and their use shall comply with
the following provisions:
(1) Top edge height of top rails, or
equivalent guardrail system members,
shall be 42 inches (1.1 m) plus or minus
3 inches (8 cm) above the walking/
working level. When conditions warrant, the height of the top edge may
exceed the 45-inch height, provided the
guardrail system meets all other criteria of this paragraph.
NOTE: When employees are using stilts, the
top edge height of the top rail, or equivalent
member, shall be increased an amount equal
to the height of the stilts.

(2) Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent intermediate structural members
shall be installed between the top edge

§ 1926.502

of the guardrail system and the walking/working surface when there is no
wall or parapet wall at least 21 inches
(53 cm) high.
(i) Midrails, when used, shall be installed at a height midway between the
top edge of the guardrail system and
the walking/working level.
(ii) Screens and mesh, when used,
shall extend from the top rail to the
walking/working level and along the
entire opening between top rail supports.
(iii) Intermediate members (such as
balusters), when used between posts,
shall be not more than 19 inches (48
cm) apart.
(iv) Other structural members (such
as additional midrails and architectural panels) shall be installed such
that there are no openings in the
guardrail system that are more than 19
inches (.5 m) wide.
(3) Guardrail systems shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a
force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top
edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top
edge.
(4) When the 200 pound (890 N) test
load specified in paragraph (b)(3) of
this section is applied in a downward
direction, the top edge of the guardrail
shall not deflect to a height less than
39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/
working level. Guardrail system components selected and constructed in accordance with the Appendix B to subpart M of this part will be deemed to
meet this requirement.
(5) Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members
shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least 150
pounds (666 N) applied in any downward
or outward direction at any point
along the midrail or other member.
(6) Guardrail systems shall be so surfaced as to prevent injury to an employee from punctures or lacerations,
and to prevent snagging of clothing.
(7) The ends of all top rails and
midrails shall not overhang the terminal posts, except where such overhang does not constitute a projection
hazard.

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§ 1926.502

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(8) Steel banding and plastic banding
shall not be used as top rails or
midrails.
(9) Top rails and midrails shall be at
least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) nominal
diameter or thickness to prevent cuts
and lacerations. If wire rope is used for
top rails, it shall be flagged at not
more than 6-foot (1.8 m) intervals with
high-visibility material.
(10) When guardrail systems are used
at hoisting areas, a chain, gate or removable guardrail section shall be
placed across the access opening between guardrail sections when hoisting
operations are not taking place.
(11) When guardrail systems are used
at holes, they shall be erected on all
unprotected sides or edges of the hole.
(12) When guardrail systems are used
around holes used for the passage of
materials, the hole shall have not more
than two sides provided with removable guardrail sections to allow the
passage of materials. When the hole is
not in use, it shall be closed over with
a cover, or a guardrail system shall be
provided along all unprotected sides or
edges.
(13) When guardrail systems are used
around holes which are used as points
of access (such as ladderways), they
shall be provided with a gate, or be so
offset that a person cannot walk directly into the hole.
(14) Guardrail systems used on ramps
and runways shall be erected along
each unprotected side or edge.
(15) Manila, plastic or synthetic rope
being used for top rails or midrails
shall be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure that it continues to
meet the strength requirements of
paragraph (b)(3) of this section.
(c) Safety net systems. Safety net systems and their use shall comply with
the following provisions:
(1) Safety nets shall be installed as
close as practicable under the walking/
working surface on which employees
are working, but in no case more than
30 feet (9.1 m) below such level. When
nets are used on bridges, the potential
fall area from the walking/working surface to the net shall be unobstructed.
(2) Safety nets shall extend outward
from the outermost projection of the
work surface as follows:

Vertical distance from working
level to horizontal plane of net

Minimum required horizontal
distance of outer edge of net
from the edge of the working
surface

Up to 5 feet ............................
More than 5 feet up to 10 feet
More than 10 feet ...................

8 feet.
10 feet.
13 feet.

(3) Safety nets shall be installed with
sufficient clearance under them to prevent contact with the surface or structures below when subjected to an impact force equal to the drop test specified in paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(4) Safety nets and their installations
shall be capable of absorbing an impact
force equal to that produced by the
drop test specified in paragraph (c)(4)(i)
of this section.
(i) Except as provided in paragraph
(c)(4)(ii) of this section, safety nets and
safety net installations shall be droptested at the jobsite after initial installation and before being used as a
fall protection system, whenever relocated, after major repair, and at 6month intervals if left in one place.
The drop-test shall consist of a 400
pound (180 kg) bag of sand 30 ±2 inches
(76 ±5 cm) in diameter dropped into the
net from the highest walking/working
surface at which employees are exposed
to fall hazards, but not from less than
42 inches (1.1 m) above that level.
(ii) When the employer can demonstrate that it is unreasonable to perform the drop-test required by paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this section, the employer (or a designated competent person) shall certify that the net and net
installation is in compliance with the
provisions of paragraphs (c)(3) and
(c)(4)(i) of this section by preparing a
certification record prior to the net
being used as a fall protection system.
The certification record must include
an identification of the net and net installation for which the certification
record is being prepared; the date that
it was determined that the identified
net and net installation were in compliance with paragraph (c)(3) of this
section and the signature of the person
making the determination and certification. The most recent certification
record for each net and net installation
shall be available at the jobsite for inspection.
(5) Defective nets shall not be used.
Safety nets shall be inspected at least

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
once a week for wear, damage, and
other deterioration. Defective components shall be removed from service.
Safety nets shall also be inspected
after any occurrence which could affect
the integrity of the safety net system.
(6) Materials, scrap pieces, equipment, and tools which have fallen into
the safety net shall be removed as soon
as possible from the net and at least
before the next work shift.
(7) The maximum size of each safety
net mesh opening shall not exceed 36
square inches (230 cm 2) nor be longer
than 6 inches (15 cm) on any side, and
the opening, measured center-to-center
of mesh ropes or webbing, shall not be
longer than 6 inches (15 cm). All mesh
crossings shall be secured to prevent
enlargement of the mesh opening.
(8) Each safety net (or section of it)
shall have a border rope for webbing
with a minimum breaking strength of
5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
(9) Connections between safety net
panels shall be as strong as integral
net components and shall be spaced not
more than 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
(d) Personal fall arrest systems. Personal fall arrest systems and their use
shall comply with the provisions set
forth below. Effective January 1, 1998,
body belts are not acceptable as part of
a personal fall arrest system. Note: The
use of a body belt in a positioning device system is acceptable and is regulated under paragraph (e) of this section.
(1) Connectors shall be drop forged,
pressed or formed steel, or made of
equivalent materials.
(2) Connectors shall have a corrosionresistant finish, and all surfaces and
edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of the system.
(3) Dee-rings and snaphooks shall
have a minimum tensile strength of
5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
(4) Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be
proof-tested to a minimum tensile load
of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation.
(5) Snaphooks shall be sized to be
compatible with the member to which
they are connected to prevent unintentional disengagement of the snaphook
by depression of the snaphook keeper
by the connected member, or shall be a

§ 1926.502

locking type snaphook designed and
used to prevent disengagement of the
snaphook by the contact of the
snaphook keeper by the connected
member. Effective January 1, 1998, only
locking type snaphooks shall be used.
(6) Unless the snaphook is a locking
type and designed for the following
connections, snaphooks shall not be engaged:
(i) directly to webbing, rope or wire
rope;
(ii) to each other;
(iii) to a Dee-ring to which another
snaphook or other connector is attached;
(iv) to a horizontal lifeline; or
(v) to any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the snaphook such that unintentional disengagement could occur
by the connected object being able to
depress the snaphook keeper and release itself.
(7) On suspended scaffolds or similar
work platforms with horizontal lifelines which may become vertical lifelines, the devices used to connect to a
horizontal lifeline shall be capable of
locking in both directions on the lifeline.
(8) Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used, under the
supervision of a qualified person, as
part of a complete personal fall arrest
system, which maintains a safety factor of at least two.
(9) Lanyards and vertical lifelines
shall have a minimum breaking
strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).
(10) (i) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(10)(ii) of this section, when
vertical lifelines are used, each employee shall be attached to a separate
lifeline.
(ii) During the construction of elevator shafts, two employees may be attached to the same lifeline in the
hoistway, provided both employees are
working atop a false car that is
equipped with guardrails; the strength
of the lifeline is 10,000 pounds [5,000
pounds per employee attached] (44.4
kN); and all other criteria specified in
this paragraph for lifelines have been
met.
(11) Lifelines shall be protected
against being cut or abraded.

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§ 1926.502

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(12) Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards which automatically limit free
fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 m) or less
shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds (13.3
kN) applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended
position.
(13) Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards which do not limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 m) or less, ripstitch
lanyards, and tearing and deforming
lanyards shall be capable of sustaining
a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds
(22.2 kN) applied to the device with the
lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended
position.
(14) Ropes and straps (webbing) used
in lanyards, lifelines, and strength
components of body belts and body harnesses shall be made from synthetic fibers.
(15) Anchorages used for attachment
of personal fall arrest equipment shall
be independent of any anchorage being
used to support or suspend platforms
and capable of supporting at least 5,000
pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed,
and used as follows:
(i) as part of a complete personal fall
arrest system which maintains a safety
factor of at least two; and
(ii) under the supervision of a qualified person.
(16) Personal fall arrest systems,
when stopping a fall, shall:
(i) limit maximum arresting force on
an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when
used with a body belt;
(ii) limit maximum arresting force
on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN)
when used with a body harness;
(iii) be rigged such that an employee
can neither free fall more than 6 feet
(1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;
(iv) bring an employee to a complete
stop and limit maximum deceleration
distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet
(1.07 m); and,
(v) have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall
distance permitted by the system,
whichever is less.
NOTE: If the personal fall arrest system
meets the criteria and protocols contained in
Appendix C to subpart M, and if the system
is being used by an employee having a com-

bined person and tool weight of less than 310
pounds (140 kg), the system will be considered to be in compliance with the provisions
of paragraph (d)(16) of this section. If the
system is used by an employee having a combined tool and body weight of 310 pounds (140
kg) or more, then the employer must appropriately modify the criteria and protocols of
the Appendix to provide proper protection
for such heavier weights, or the system will
not be deemed to be in compliance with the
requirements of paragraph (d)(16) of this section.

(17) The attachment point of the
body belt shall be located in the center
of the wearer’s back. The attachment
point of the body harness shall be located in the center of the wearer’s back
near shoulder level, or above the wearer’s head.
(18) Body belts, harnesses, and components shall be used only for employee protection (as part of a personal
fall arrest system or positioning device
system) and not to hoist materials.
(19) Personal fall arrest systems and
components subjected to impact loading shall be immediately removed from
service and shall not be used again for
employee protection until inspected
and determined by a competent person
to be undamaged and suitable for
reuse.
(20) The employer shall provide for
prompt rescue of employees in the
event of a fall or shall assure that employees are able to rescue themselves.
(21) Personal fall arrest systems shall
be inspected prior to each use for wear,
damage and other deterioration, and
defective components shall be removed
from service.
(22) Body belts shall be at least one
and five-eighths (15⁄8) inches (4.1 cm)
wide.
(23) Personal fall arrest systems shall
not be attached to guardrail systems,
nor shall they be attached to hoists except as specified in other subparts of
this part.
(24) When a personal fall arrest system is used at hoist areas, it shall be
rigged to allow the movement of the
employee only as far as the edge of the
walking/working surface.
(e) Positioning device systems. Positioning device systems and their use
shall conform to the following provisions:

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
(1) Positioning devices shall be rigged
such that an employee cannot free fall
more than 2 feet (.6 m).
(2) Positioning devices shall be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an employee’s fall or 3,000
pounds (13.3 kN), whichever is greater.
(3) Connectors shall be drop forged,
pressed or formed steel, or made of
equivalent materials.
(4) Connectors shall have a corrosionresistant finish, and all surfaces and
edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of this system.
(5) Connecting assemblies shall have
a minimum tensile strength of 5,000
pounds (22.2 kN)
(6) Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be
proof-tested to a minimum tensile load
of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation.
(7) Snaphooks shall be sized to be
compatible with the member to which
they are connected to prevent unintentional disengagement of the snaphook
by depression of the snaphook keeper
by the connected member, or shall be a
locking type snaphook designed and
used to prevent disengagement of the
snaphook by the contact of the
snaphook keeper by the connected
member. As of January 1, 1998, only
locking type snaphooks shall be used.
(8) Unless the snaphook is a locking
type and designed for the following
connections, snaphooks shall not be engaged:
(i) directly to webbing, rope or wire
rope;
(ii) to each other;
(iii) to a Dee-ring to which another
snaphook or other connector is attached;
(iv) to a horizontal lifeline; or
(v) to any object which is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the snaphook such that unintentional disengagement could occur
by the connected object being able to
depress the snaphook keeper and release itself.
(9) Positioning device systems shall
be inspected prior to each use for wear,
damage, and other deterioration, and
defective components shall be removed
from service.

§ 1926.502

(10) Body belts, harnesses, and components shall be used only for employee protection (as part of a personal
fall arrest system or positioning device
system) and not to hoist materials.
(f) Warning line systems. Warning line
systems [See § 1926.501(b)(10)] and their
use shall comply with the following
provisions:
(1) The warning line shall be erected
around all sides of the roof work area.
(i) When mechanical equipment is
not being used, the warning line shall
be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m)
from the roof edge.
(ii) When mechanical equipment is
being used, the warning line shall be
erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from
the roof edge which is parallel to the
direction of mechanical equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet (3.1
m) from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction of mechanical
equipment operation.
(iii) Points of access, materials handling areas, storage areas, and hoisting
areas shall be connected to the work
area by an access path formed by two
warning lines.
(iv) When the path to a point of access is not in use, a rope, wire, chain,
or other barricade, equivalent in
strength and height to the warning
line, shall be placed across the path at
the point where the path intersects the
warning line erected around the work
area, or the path shall be offset such
that a person cannot walk directly into
the work area.
(2) Warning lines shall consist of
ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting
stanchions erected as follows:
(i) The rope, wire, or chain shall be
flagged at not more than 6-foot (1.8 m)
intervals with high-visibility material;
(ii) The rope, wire, or chain shall be
rigged and supported in such a way
that its lowest point (including sag) is
no less than 34 inches (.9 m) from the
walking/working surface and its highest point is no more than 39 inches (1.0
m) from the walking/working surface;
(iii) After being erected, with the
rope, wire, or chain attached, stanchions shall be capable of resisting,
without tipping over, a force of at least
16 pounds (71 N) applied horizontally
against the stanchion, 30 inches (.8 m)
above the walking/working surface,

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§ 1926.502

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

perpendicular to the warning line, and
in the direction of the floor, roof, or
platform edge;
(iv) The rope, wire, or chain shall
have a minimum tensile strength of 500
pounds (2.22 kN), and after being attached to the stanchions, shall be capable of supporting, without breaking,
the loads applied to the stanchions as
prescribed in paragraph (f)(2)(iii) of
this section; and
(v) The line shall be attached at each
stanchion in such a way that pulling on
one section of the line between stanchions will not result in slack being
taken up in adjacent sections before
the stanchion tips over.
(3) No employee shall be allowed in
the area between a roof edge and a
warning line unless the employee is
performing roofing work in that area.
(4) Mechanical equipment on roofs
shall be used or stored only in areas
where employees are protected by a
warning line system, guardrail system,
or personal fall arrest system.
(g) Controlled access zones. Controlled
access zones [See § 1926.501(b)(9) and
§ 1926.502(k)] and their use shall conform to the following provisions.
(1) When used to control access to
areas where leading edge and other operations are taking place the controlled access zone shall be defined by
a control line or by any other means
that restricts access.
(i) When control lines are used, they
shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8
m) nor more than 25 feet (7.7 m) from
the unprotected or leading edge, except
when erecting precast concrete members.
(ii) When erecting precast concrete
members, the control line shall be
erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor
more than 60 feet (18 m) or half the
length of the member being erected,
whichever is less, from the leading
edge.
(iii) The control line shall extend
along the entire length of the unprotected or leading edge and shall be approximately parallel to the unprotected or leading edge.
(iv) The control line shall be connected on each side to a guardrail system or wall.

(2) When used to control access to
areas where overhand bricklaying and
related work are taking place:
(i) The controlled access zone shall
be defined by a control line erected not
less than 10 feet (3.1 m) nor more than
15 feet (4.5 m) from the working edge.
(ii) The control line shall extend for
a distance sufficient for the controlled
access zone to enclose all employees
performing overhand bricklaying and
related work at the working edge and
shall be approximately parallel to the
working edge.
(iii) Additional control lines shall be
erected at each end to enclose the controlled access zone.
(iv) Only employees engaged in
overhand bricklaying or related work
shall be permitted in the controlled access zone.
(3) Control lines shall consist of
ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials, and supporting stanchions as follows:
(i) Each line shall be flagged or otherwise clearly marked at not more
than 6-foot (1.8 m) intervals with highvisibility material.
(ii) Each line shall be rigged and supported in such a way that its lowest
point (including sag) is not less than 39
inches (1 m) from the walking/working
surface and its highest point is not
more than 45 inches (1.3 m) [50 inches
(1.3 m) when overhand bricklaying operations are being performed] from the
walking/working surface.
(iii) Each line shall have a minimum
breaking strength of 200 pounds (.88
kN).
(4) On floors and roofs where guardrail systems are not in place prior to
the beginning of overhand bricklaying
operations, controlled access zones
shall be enlarged, as necessary, to enclose all points of access, material handling areas, and storage areas.
(5) On floors and roofs where guardrail systems are in place, but need to
be removed to allow overhand bricklaying work or leading edge work to
take place, only that portion of the
guardrail necessary to accomplish that
day’s work shall be removed.
(h) Safety monitoring systems. Safety
monitoring
systems
[See
§§ 1926.501(b)(10) and 1926.502(k)] and

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Occupational Safety and Health Admin., Labor
their use shall comply with the following provisions:
(1) The employer shall designate a
competent person to monitor the safety of other employees and the employer shall ensure that the safety
monitor complies with the following
requirements:
(i) The safety monitor shall be competent to recognize fall hazards;
(ii) The safety monitor shall warn
the employee when it appears that the
employee is unaware of a fall hazard or
is acting in an unsafe manner;
(iii) The safety monitor shall be on
the same walking/working surface and
within visual sighting distance of the
employee being monitored;
(iv) The safety monitor shall be close
enough to communicate orally with
the employee; and
(v) The safety monitor shall not have
other responsibilities which could take
the monitor’s attention from the monitoring function.
(2) Mechanical equipment shall not
be used or stored in areas where safety
monitoring systems are being used to
monitor employees engaged in roofing
operations on low-slope roofs.
(3) No employee, other than an employee engaged in roofing work [on
low-sloped roofs] or an employee covered by a fall protection plan, shall be
allowed in an area where an employee
is being protected by a safety monitoring system.
(4) Each employee working in a controlled access zone shall be directed to
comply promptly with fall hazard
warnings from safety monitors.
(i) Covers. Covers for holes in floors,
roofs, and other walking/working surfaces shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Covers located in roadways and
vehicular aisles shall be capable of supporting, without failure, at least twice
the maximum axle load of the largest
vehicle expected to cross over the
cover.
(2) All other covers shall be capable
of supporting, without failure, at least
twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
(3) All covers shall be secured when
installed so as to prevent accidental

§ 1926.502

displacement by the wind, equipment,
or employees.
(4) All covers shall be color coded or
they shall be marked with the word
‘‘HOLE’’ or ‘‘COVER’’ to provide warning of the hazard.
NOTE: This provision does not apply to cast
iron manhole covers or steel grates used on
streets or roadways.

(j) Protection from falling objects. Falling object protection shall comply with
the following provisions:
(1) Toeboards, when used as falling
object protection, shall be erected
along the edge of the overhead walking/
working surface for a distance sufficient to protect employees below.
(2) Toeboards shall be capable of
withstanding, without failure, a force
of at least 50 pounds (222 N) applied in
any downward or outward direction at
any point along the toeboard.
(3) Toeboards shall be a minimum of
31⁄2 inches (9 cm) in vertical height
from their top edge to the level of the
walking/working surface. They shall
have not more than 1⁄4 inch (0.6 cm)
clearance above the walking/working
surface. They shall be solid or have
openings not over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in
greatest dimension.
(4) Where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge
of a toeboard, paneling or screening
shall be erected from the walking/
working surface or toeboard to the top
of a guardrail system’s top rail or
midrail, for a distance sufficient to
protect employees below.
(5) Guardrail systems, when used as
falling object protection, shall have all
openings small enough to prevent passage of potential falling objects.
(6) During the performance of
overhand bricklaying and related work:
(i) No materials or equipment except
masonry and mortar shall be stored
within 4 feet (1.2 m) of the working
edge.
(ii) Excess mortar, broken or scattered masonry units, and all other materials and debris shall be kept clear
from the work area by removal at regular intervals.
(7) During the performance of roofing
work:
(i) Materials and equipment shall not
be stored within 6 feet (1.8 m) of a roof
edge unless guardrails are erected at
the edge.

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§ 1926.503

29 CFR Ch. XVII (7–1–06 Edition)

(ii) Materials which are piled,
grouped, or stacked near a roof edge
shall be stable and self-supporting.
(8) Canopies, when used as falling object protection, shall be strong enough
to prevent collapse and to prevent penetration by any objects which may fall
onto the canopy.
(k) Fall protection plan. This option is
available only to employees engaged in
leading edge work, precast concrete
erection work, or residential construction work (See § 1926.501(b)(2), (b)(12),
and (b)(13)) who can demonstrate that
it is infeasible or it creates a greater
hazard to use conventional fall protection equipment. The fall protection
plan must conform to the following
provisions.
(1) The fall protection plan shall be
prepared by a qualified person and developed specifically for the site where
the leading edge work, precast concrete
work, or residential construction work
is being performed and the plan must
be maintained up to date.
(2) Any changes to the fall protection
plan shall be approved by a qualified
person.
(3) A copy of the fall protection plan
with all approved changes shall be
maintained at the job site.
(4) The implementation of the fall
protection plan shall be under the supervision of a competent person.
(5) The fall protection plan shall document the reasons why the use of conventional fall protection systems
(guardrail systems, personal fall arrest
systems, or safety nets systems) are infeasible or why their use would create
a greater hazard.
(6) The fall protection plan shall include a written discussion of other
measures that will be taken to reduce
or eliminate the fall hazard for workers
who cannot be provided with protection from the conventional fall protection systems. For example, the employer shall discuss the extent to
which scaffolds, ladders, or vehicle
mounted work platforms can be used to
provide a safer working surface and
thereby reduce the hazard of falling.
(7) The fall protection plan shall
identify each location where conventional fall protection methods cannot
be used. These locations shall then be
classified as controlled access zones

and the employer must comply with
the criteria in paragraph (g) of this section.
(8) Where no other alternative measure has been implemented, the employer shall implement a safety monitoring system in conformance with
§ 1926.502(h).
(9) The fall protection plan must include a statement which provides the
name or other method of identification
for each employee who is designated to
work in controlled access zones. No
other employees may enter controlled
access zones.
(10) In the event an employee falls, or
some other related, serious incident occurs, (e.g., a near miss) the employer
shall investigate the circumstances of
the fall or other incident to determine
if the fall protection plan needs to be
changed (e.g. new practices, procedures, or training) and shall implement
those changes to prevent similar types
of falls or incidents.
§ 1926.503 Training requirements.
The following training provisions
supplement and clarify the requirements of § 1926.21 regarding the hazards
addressed in subpart M of this part.
(a) Training Program. (1) The employer shall provide a training program
for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards. The program
shall enable each employee to recognize the hazards of falling and shall
train each employee in the procedures
to be followed in order to minimize
these hazards.
(2) The employer shall assure that
each employee has been trained, as
necessary, by a competent person
qualified in the following areas:
(i) The nature of fall hazards in the
work area;
(ii) The correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and
inspecting the fall protection systems
to be used;
(iii) The use and operation of guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems, warning line
systems, safety monitoring systems,
controlled access zones, and other protection to be used;
(iv) The role of each employee in the
safety monitoring system when this
system is used;

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