6 m In the event of a slip, trip or fall, the worker is contained within the Safety net. Safety nets system S meets the requirements according to EN 1263-1 and EN 1263-2. Safety nets can be used with a maximum falling height up to 6 m (3 m within 2 m of the edge).

At what height is fall protection required?

What can be done to reduce falls? – Employers must set up the work place to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.

Guard every floor hole into which a worker can accidentally walk (using a railing and toe-board or a floor hole cover). Provide a guard rail and toe-board around every elevated open sided platform, floor or runway. Regardless of height, if a worker can fall into or onto dangerous machines or equipment (such as a vat of acid or a conveyor belt) employers must provide guardrails and toe-boards to prevent workers from falling and getting injured. Other means of fall protection that may be required on certain jobs include safety harness and line, safety nets, stair railings and hand rails.

OSHA requires employers to:

Provide working conditions that are free of known dangers. Keep floors in work areas in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Select and provide required personal protective equipment at no cost to workers. Train workers about job hazards in a language that they can understand.

What is a safety net for work at height?

Buy the Best Safety Nets Online at the Best Price – A safety net is used to protect people from injury after falling from heights by limiting the distance they fall and deflecting to dissipate the impact energy. Industrial safety nets are widely used in construction sites for people working on high rise buildings, building maintenance, or other industries.

What is the standard for safety nets?

1. By Standard Number
2. 1926.105 – Safety nets.

• Part Number: 1926
• Part Number Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
• Subpart: 1926 Subpart E
• Subpart Title: Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
• Standard Number:
• Title: Safety nets.
• GPO Source:

1926.105(a) Safety nets shall be provided when workplaces are more than 25 feet above the ground or water surface, or other surfaces where the use of ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines, or safety belts is impractical.1926.105(b) Where safety net protection is required by this part, operations shall not be undertaken until the net is in place and has been tested.1926.105(c)(1) Nets shall extend 8 feet beyond the edge of the work surface where employees are exposed and shall be installed as close under the work surface as practical but in no case more than 25 feet below such work surface.

1. Nets shall be hung with sufficient clearance to prevent user’s contact with the surfaces or structures below.
2. Such clearances shall be determined by impact load testing.1926.105(c)(2) It is intended that only one level of nets be required for bridge construction.1926.105(d) The mesh size of nets shall not exceed 6 inches by 6 inches.

All new nets shall meet accepted performance standards of 17,500 foot-pounds minimum impact resistance as determined and certified by the manufacturers, and shall bear a label of proof test. Edge ropes shall provide a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.1926.105(e) Forged steel safety hooks or shackles shall be used to fasten the net to its supports.1926.105(f) Connections between net panels shall develop the full strength of the net.

What is the maximum number if feet that a safety net can be placed directly below the working surface?

§ 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 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. ( 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.

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 drop-tested at the jobsite after initial installation and before being used as a fall protection system, whenever relocated, after major repair, and at 6-month 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 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.

1. D ) Personal fall arrest systems.
2. Personal fall arrest systems and their use shall comply with the provisions set forth below.
3. Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system.
4. 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 corrosion-resistant 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 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 (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. ( 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 combined 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.

1. 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.
2. 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 (1 5 ⁄ 8 ) inches (4.1 cm) wide.

1. 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,
2. 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: ( 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.

1. 3 ) Connectors shall be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials.
2. 4 ) Connectors shall have a corrosion-resistant finish, and all surfaces and edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of this system.
3. 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. ( 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.

1. F ) Warning line systems.
2. Warning line systems and their use shall comply with the following provisions: ( 1 ) The warning line shall be erected around all sides of the roof work area.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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, 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 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.

1. 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.
2. 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 high-visibility 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) 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 and 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 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.

1. 4 ) Each employee working in a controlled access zone shall be directed to comply promptly with fall hazard warnings from safety monitors.
2. I ) Covers.
3. 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 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 3 1 ⁄ 2 inches (9 cm) in vertical height from their top edge to the level of the walking/working surface.

1. They shall have not more than 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.6 cm) clearance above the walking/working surface.
2. They shall be solid or have openings not over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in greatest dimension.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.

( 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.

1. 2 ) Any changes to the fall protection plan shall be approved by a qualified person.
2. 3 ) A copy of the fall protection plan with all approved changes shall be maintained at the job site.
3. 4 ) The implementation of the fall protection plan shall be under the supervision of a competent person.
4. 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.

1. 7 ) The fall protection plan shall identify each location where conventional fall protection methods cannot be used.
2. These locations shall then be classified as controlled access zones and the employer must comply with the criteria in paragraph (g) of this section.
3. 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.

What is your safety net?

Word forms: safety nets plural.1. countable noun. A safety net is something that you can rely on to help you if you get into a difficult situation. Welfare is the only real safety net for low-income workers.

When the safety net is installed 5 to 10 feet?

49 CFR § 214.105 – Fall protection systems standards and practices. § 214.105 Fall protection systems standards and practices.

• (a) General requirements. All fall protection systems required by this subpart shall conform to the following:
• (1) Fall protection systems shall be used only for personal fall protection.
• (2) Any fall protection system subjected to impact loading shall be immediately and permanently removed from service unless fully inspected and determined by a to be undamaged and suitable for reuse.
• (3) All fall protection system components shall be protected from abrasions, corrosion, or any other form of deterioration.

(4) All fall protection system components shall be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, corrosion, mildew, and other deterioration. Defective components shall be permanently removed from service.

1. (5) Prior to use and after any component or system is changed, bridge workers shall be trained in the application limits of the equipment, proper hook-up, anchoring and tie-off techniques, methods of use, and proper methods of equipment inspection and storage.
2. (6) The or contractor shall provide for prompt rescue of bridge workers in the event of a fall.
3. (7) Connectors shall have a corrosion-resistant finish, and all surfaces and edges shall be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts of the system.
4. (8) Connectors shall be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of -strength materials.
5. (9) Anchorages, including single- and double-head anchors, shall be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per bridge worker attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used under supervision of a person as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.
6. (b) Personal fall arrest systems. All components of a shall conform to the following standards:
7. (1) and vertical that tie off one bridge worker shall have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.
8. (2) Self-retracting and that automatically limit to two feet or less shall have components capable of sustaining a minimum static tensile load of 3,000 pounds applied to the device with the or in the fully extended position.
9. (3) Self-retracting and that do not limit to two feet or less, ripstitch, and tearing and deformed shall be capable of withstanding 5,000 pounds applied to the device with the or in the fully extended position.
10. (4) Horizontal shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a, as part of a complete that maintains a safety factor of at least two.
11. (5) shall not be made of natural fiber rope.
12. (6) shall not be used as components of personal fall arrest systems.
13. (7) The shall limit the maximum arresting force on a bridge worker to 1,800 pounds when used with a,

(8) The shall bring a bridge worker to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance a bridge worker travels to 3.5 feet.

• (9) The shall have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a bridge worker a distance of six feet, or the permitted by the system, whichever is less.
• (10) The shall be arranged so that a bridge worker cannot more than six feet and cannot contact the ground or any lower horizontal surface of the bridge.
• (11) shall be worn with the attachment point of the located in the center of the wearer’s back near shoulder level, or above the wearer’s head.
• (12) When vertical are used, each bridge worker shall be provided with a separate,
• (13) Devices used to connect to a horizontal that may become a vertical shall be capable of locking in either direction.
• (14) Dee-rings and shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation.
• (15) Dee-rings and shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds.
• (16) shall not be connected to each other.
• (17) shall be dimensionally compatible with the member to which they are connected to prevent unintentional disengagement, or shall be a locking designed to prevent unintentional disengagement.
• (18) Unless of a locking type, shall not be engaged:
• (i) Directly, next to a webbing, rope, or wire rope;
• (ii) To each other;
• (iii) To a dee-ring to which another or other connector is attached;
• (iv) To a horizontal ; or
• (v) To any object that is incompatibly shaped or dimensioned in relation to the so that unintentional disengagement could occur.
• (c) Safety net systems. Use of safety net systems shall conform to the following standards and practices:
• (1) Safety nets shall be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working surface on which bridge workers are working, but shall not be installed more than 30 feet below such surface.
• (2) If the distance from the working surface to the net exceeds 30 feet, bridge workers shall be protected by personal fall arrest systems.
• (3) The safety net shall be installed such that any fall from the working surface to the net is unobstructed.

(4) Except as provided in this section, safety nets and net installations shall be drop-tested at the jobsite after initial installation and before being used as a fall protection system, whenever relocated, after major repair, and at six-month intervals if left in one place.

The drop-test shall consist of a 400-pound bag of sand 30 inches, plus or minus two inches, in diameter dropped into the net from the highest (but not less than 3 1/2 feet) working surface on which bridge workers are to be protected. (i) When the or contractor demonstrates that a drop-test is not feasible and, as a result, the test is not performed, the or contractor, or designated, shall certify that the net and its installation are in compliance with the provisions of this section by preparing a certification record prior to use of the net.

(ii) The certification shall include an identification of the net, the date it was determined that the net was in compliance with this section, and the signature of the person making this determination. Such person’s signature shall certify that the net and its installation are in compliance with this section.

1. (5) Safety nets and their installations shall be capable of absorbing an impact force equal to that produced by the drop test specified in this section.
2. (6) The safety net shall be installed such that there is no contact with surfaces or structures below the net when subjected to an impact force equal to the drop test specified in this section.
3. (7) Safety nets shall extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface as follows:
4. (i) When the vertical distance from the working level to the horizontal plane of the net is 5 feet or less, the minimum required horizontal distance of the outer edge of the net beyond the edge of the working surface is 8 feet.
5. (ii) When the vertical distance from the working level to the horizontal plane of the net is 5 feet, but less than 10 feet, the minimum required horizontal distance of the outer edge of the net beyond the edge of the working surface is 10 feet.
6. (iii) When the vertical distance from the working level to the horizontal plane of the net is more than 10 feet, the minimum required horizontal distance of the outer edge of the net beyond the edge of the working surface is 13 feet.

(8) Defective nets shall not be used. Safety nets shall be inspected at least once a week for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration. Defective components shall be removed permanently from service.

• (9) Safety nets shall be inspected after any occurrence that could affect the integrity of the safety net system.
• (10) Tools, scraps, or other materials that have fallen into the safety net shall be removed as soon as possible, and at least before the next work shift.
• (11) Each safety net shall have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

(12) The maximum size of each safety net mesh opening shall not exceed 36 square inches and shall not be longer than 6 inches on any side measured center-to-center of mesh ropes or webbing. All mesh crossing shall be secured to prevent enlargement of the mesh opening.

What is the maximum number of feet that a safety net can be placed directly below the working surface quizlet?

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.

Can safety nets be used as fall protection?

Two main types of safety nets: personnel nets and debris nets – Personnel nets are designed to catch a falling worker to prevent injury to that worker. A personnel net is an example of passive fall protection, meaning they provide protection to workers without any active or conscious effort on their part.

• In contrast, active fall protection systems, such as, require constant awareness and active participation of the worker to make sure the fall system will provide sufficient protection.
• Debris nets are designed to catch construction materials (scraps, nails, tools and falling bricks) to prevent them from potentially injuring workers or pedestrians below.

In cases where personnel nets are used, they shall be lined with debris netting of sufficient strength and size to contain tools and materials capable of causing injury. Safety nets are typically used during steel erection, bridgework, demolition, and maintenance work.

What is the minimum safety standard?

The minimum safety standard (MSS) consists of determining a minimum level of care (influencing the safety probability) with which all sellers should comply in offering their products. The MSS is selected by a regulator seeking to maximize welfare defined by the sum of the sellers’ profits and consumers’ surplus.

What is the minimum height at which you should attach the fall protection equipment to an anchorage point?

The Basics – There are two starting points that once reached, require fall protection. According to OSHA, these heights are:

• General Industry requires fall protection for any worker over 4′.1910.28(b)(1)(i)
• Construction requires fall protection for any worker over 6′.1926.501(b)(1)

This means that at any point your employees are exposed to heights equal to or greater than these, they must have some sort of protection to mitigate the risk of falling from height. If a fall safety solution such as railing is not a realistic option, personal protective equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, and lifelines are required.

Which fall protection system must limit a fall to no more than two feet?

OSHA Laws Fall Protection in Construction -taken from OSHA 3146-05R; 2015 Low Slope Roofing Each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope (slopes 4:12) roofs with unprotected sides (1) and edges 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems or a combination of a warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system.

• On roofs 50 feet (15.24 meters) or less in width, the use of a safety monitoring system without a warning line system is permitted.
• Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices ; Guardrail Systems If the employer chooses to use guardrail systems to protect workers from falls, the systems must meet the following criteria.

Toprails and midrails of guardrail systems must be at least one-quarter inch (0.6 centimeters) nominal diameter or thickness to prevent cuts and lacerations. If wire rope is used for toprails, it must be flagged at not more than 6 feet intervals (1.8 meters) with high-visibility material.

Manila, plastic, or synthetic rope used for toprails or midrails must be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure strength and stability. The top edge height of toprails, or (equivalent) guardrails must be 42 inches (1.1 meters) plus or minus 3 inches (8 centimeters), above the walking/working level.

When workers are using stilts, the top edge height of the top rail, or equivalent member, must be increased an amount equal to the height of the stilts. Screens, midrails, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent intermediate structural members must be installed between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/working surface when there are no walls or parapet walls at least 21 inches(53 centimeters) high.

• When midrails are used, they must be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/working level.
• When screens and mesh are used, they must extend from the top rail to the walking/working level and along the entire opening between top rail supports.
• Intermediate members, such as balusters, when used between posts, shall not be more than 19 inches (48 centimeters) apart.

Other structural members, such as additional midrails and architectural panels, shall be installed so that there are no openings in the guardrail system more than 19 inches (48 centimeters). The guardrail system must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds (890 newtons) applied within 2 inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction.

When the 200 pounds (890 newtons) test is applied in a downward direction, the top edge of the guardrail must not deflect to a height less than 39 inches (1 meter) above the walking/working level. Midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least 150 pounds (667 newtons) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the midrail or other member.

Guardrail systems shall be surfaced to protect workers from punctures or lacerations and to prevent clothing from snagging. The ends of top rails and midrails must not overhang terminal posts, except where such overhand does not constitute a projection hazard.

• When guardrail systems are used at hoisting areas, a chain, gate, or removable guardrail section must be placed across the access opening between guardrail sections when hoisting operations are not taking place.
• At holes, guardrail systems must be set up on all unprotected sides or edges.
• When holes are used for the passage of materials, the hole shall have not more than two sides with removable guardrail sections.

When the hole is not in use, it must be covered or provided with guardrails along all unprotected sides or edges. If guardrail systems are used around holes that are used as access points (such as ladderways), gates must be used or the point of access must be offset to prevent accidental walking into the hole.

• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kilonewtons) when used with a body belt;
• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee of 1,800 pounds (8 kilonewtons) when used with a body harness;
• Be rigged so that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) nor contact any lower level;
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 meters); and
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.

Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear damage, and other deterioration. Defective components must be removed from service. Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons).

Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kilonewtons) without cracking, breaking, or suffering permanent deformation. Snaphooks shall be sized to be compatible with the member to which they will be connected, or shall be of a locking configuration. Unless the snaphook is a locking type and designed for the following connections, they shall not be engaged (a) directly to webbing, rope or wire rope; (b) to each other; (c) to a dee-ring to which another snaphook or other connecter is attached; (d) to a horizontal lifeline; or (e) to any object incompatible in shape or dimension relative to the snaphook, thereby causing the connected object to depress the snaphook keeper and release unintentionally.

OSHA considers a hook to be compatible when the diameter of the dee-ring to which the snaphook is attached is greater than the inside length of the snaphook when measured from the bottom (hinged end) of the snaphook keeper to the inside curve of the top of the snaphook.

Thus, no matter how the dee-ring is positioned or moved (rolls) with the snaphook attached, the dee-ring cannot touch outside the keeper, thus depressing it open. As of January 1, 1998, the use of nonlocking snaphooks will be prohibited. On suspended scaffolds or similar work platforms with horizontal lifelines that may become vertical lifelines, the devices used to connect to a horizontal lifeline shall be capable of locking in both directions on the lifeline.

Horizontal lifelines shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two. Lifelines shall be protected against being cut or abraded.

Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall distance to 2 feet (.61 meters) or less shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kilonewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position. Self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that do not limit free fall distance to 2 feet (0.61 meters) or less, ripstitch lanyards, and tearing and deforming lanyards shall be capable of sustaining a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons) applied to the device with the lifeline or lanyard in the fully extended position.

Ropes and straps (webbing) used in lanyards, lifelines, and strength components of body belts and body harnesses shall be made of synthetic fibers. Anchorages shall be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two, i.e., capable of supporting at least twice the weight expected to be imposed upon it.

Anchorages used to attach personal fall arrest systems shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and must be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons) per person attached. Lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons).

Positioning Device Systems These body belt or body harness systems are to be set up so that a worker can free fall no farther than 2 feet (0.6 meters). They 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 kilonewtons), whichever is greater.

Requirements for snaphooks, dee-rings, and other connectors used with positioning device systems must meet the same criteria as those for personal fall arrest systems. Safety Monitoring Systems When no other alternative fall protection has been implemented, the employer shall implement a safety monitoring system.

Employers must appoint a competent person to monitor the safety of workers and the employer shall ensure that the safety monitor:

• Is competent in the recognition of fall hazards;
• Is capable of warning workers of fall hazard dangers and in detecting unsafe work practices;
• Is operating on the same walking/working surfaces of the workers and can see them;
• Is close enough to work operations to communicate orally with workers and has no other duties to distract from the monitoring function.

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-sloped roofs. No worker, other than one engaged in roofing work (on low-sloped roofs) or one covered by a fall protection plan, shall be allowed in an area where an employee is being protected by a safety monitoring system.

All workers in a controlled access zone shall be instructed to promptly comply with fall hazard warnings issued by the safety monitors. Safety Net Systems Safety nets must be installed as close as practicable under the walking/working surface on which employees are working and never more than 30 feet (9.1 meters) below such levels.

Defective nets shall not be used. Safety nets shall be inspected at least once a week for wear, damage, and other deterioration. The maximum size of each safety net mesh opening shall not exceed 36 square inches (230 square centimeters) nor be longer than 6 inches (15 centimeters) on any side, and the openings, measured center-to-center, of mesh ropes or webbing, shall not exceed 6 inches (15 centimeters).

All mesh crossings shall be secured to prevent enlargement of the mesh opening. Each safety net or section shall have a border rope for webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons). Connections between safety net panels shall be as strong as integral net components and be spaced no more than 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart.

Safety nets shall be installed with sufficient clearance underneath to prevent contact with the surface or structure below. When nets are used on bridges, the potential fall area from the walking/working surface to the net shall be unobstructed. Safety nets must extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface as follows:

Safety nets shall be capable of absorbing an impact force of a drop test consisting of a 400-pound (180 kilograms) bag of sand 30 inches (76 centimeters) in diameter dropped from the highest walking/working surface at which workers are exposed, but not from less than 42 inches (1.1 meters) above that level.

• Flagged at not more than 6 foot (1.8 meters) intervals with high visibility material;
• Rigged and supported so that the lowest point (including sag) is no less than 34 inches (0.9 meters) from the walking/working surface and it highest point is no more than 39 inches (1 meter) from the walking/working surface.
• Stanchions, after being rigged with warning lines, shall be capable of resisting, without tipping over, a force of at least 16 pounds (71 newtons) applied horizontally against the stanchion, 30 inches (0.8 meters) above the walking/working surface, perpendicular to the warning line and in the direction of the floor, roof, or platform edge;
• The rope, wire, or chain shall have a minimum tensile strength of 500 pounds (22.2 kilonewtons) and after being attached to the stanchions, must support without breaking the load applied to the stanchions as prescribed above.
• Shall be attached to 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 the adjacent section before the stanchion tips over.

Warning lines shall be erected around all sides of roof work areas. When mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the roof edge parallel to the direction of mechanical equipment operation, and not less than 10 feet (3 meters) from the roof edge perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation.

• When mechanical equipment is not being used, the warning line must be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the roof edge.
• 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 meters) or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches (1.0 meters) above the walking/working surface must be protected from falling by the use of a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system.

Holes Personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems shall be erected around holes (including skylights) that are more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) above lower levels. Covers Covers must be able to support at least twice the weight of employees, equipment, and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.

1. To prevent accidental displacement resulting from wind, equipment, or workers’ activities, all covers must be secured.
2. All covers shall be color coded or bear the markings “HOLE” or “COVER.” Hoist Areas Each employee in a hoist area shall be protected from falling 6 feet (1.8 meters) or more by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems.

If guardrail systems (or chain gate or guardrail) or portions thereof must be removed to facilitate hoisting operations, as during the landing of materials, and a worker must lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening to receive or guide equipment and materials, that employee must be protected by a personal fall arrest system.

• Protection From Falling Objects When guardrail systems are used to prevent materials from falling from one level to another, any openings must be small enough to prevent passage of potential falling objects.
• No materials or equipment shall be stored within 4 feet (1.2 meters) of working edges.
• Materials and debris shall be kept clear of the working area by removal at regular intervals.

During roofing work, materials and equipment shall not be stored within 6 feet (1.8 meters) of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge, and materials piled, grouped, or stacked near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting. Toeboards When toeboards are used as protection from falling objects, they must be erected along the edges of the overhead walking/working surface for a distance sufficient to protect persons working below.

Toeboards shall be capable of withstanding a force of at least 50 pounds (222 newtons) applied in any downward or outward direction at any point along the toeboard. Toeboards shall be minimum of 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) tall from their top edge to the level of the walking/working surface, have no more than 0.25 inches (0.6 centimeters) clearance above the walking/working surface, and be solid or have openings no larger than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in size.

Where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toeboard, panelling or screening must 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.

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At what height should fall protection be used if both hands are needed to perform work on a ladder?

January 13, 2000 Mr. Peter G. Chaney Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Inc.1385 Piccard Drive Rockville, MD 20850-4340 RE: Subpart X Dear Mr. Chaney: This is in response to your May 26, 1999, letter in which you ask for clarification of several issues relating to the use of fall protection when working from ladders during construction work.

You specifically ask if OSHA has any requirements for the use of fall protection when working from ladders at heights greater than six feet. We apologize for the lateness of this response. Fixed ladders: fall protection must be provided for employees climbing or working on fixed ladders above 24 feet.29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(19) states that fall protection must be provided whenever the length of climb on a fixed ladder equals or exceeds 24 feet.

A fixed ladder is “a ladder that cannot be readily moved or carried because it is an integral part of a building or structure” (§1926.1050(b)). Also, even if the length of climb is less than 24 feet, under §1926.1053(a)(18), cages, wells, ladder safety devices, or self-retracting lifelines must be provided where the top of the fixed ladder is greater than 24 feet above lower levels.

Portable ladders: fall protection is not required for employees climbing or working on portable ladders. Neither the ladder standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart X) nor the fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart M) requires fall protection for workers while working on portable ladders. You note that a number of general contractors in Georgia “are attempting to require personal fall arrest systems for their subcontractors working on ladders 6 feet or higher.” Although the OSHA standards do not require fall protection for workers on fixed ladders below 24 feet or on portable ladders, we encourage employers to provide additional protection.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems can be set up to limit arrested falls to less then 15 feet. In your letter you assert that personal fall arrest systems will not arrest a fall from an elevation lower than 15 feet. When anchored above the worker, a typical personal fall arrest system will arrest a fall in 6 feet or less.

Using a six foot lanyard, a fall distance as high as approximately 14 feet would result only if the system were anchored at the worker’s feet, as explained below. Several factors must be considered in determining how much distance will be needed for a fall arrest system to work — to prevent the worker from contacting the next lower level.

First, under §1926.502(d)(16)(iii), a personal fall arrest system must prevent the employee from contacting the level below. A 6 foot lanyard that incorporates a shock absorbing system may have a total extension of up to about 9½ feet before a fall is completely arrested.

1. Because the lanyard is attached to the body harness at a point that is more than half-way up the body, an additional distance of about 3-4 feet must be added to assure that no part of the employee’s body makes contact with the surface.
2. Second, under §1926.502(d)(16)(iii), a personal fall arrest system must limit an employee’s free fall to not more than six feet.

“Free fall” is defined in the standard as “the vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee’s, body harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.” If a 6 foot lanyard is rigged to an anchorage at floor level, the total free fall would be the sum of the vertical distance between the attachment point on the body harness and the floor (usually 4 to 4½ feet) plus the length of the lanyard (6 feet in this example), which totals about 10 feet.

That means that the use of a 6 foot lanyard, rigged to an anchorage at the worker’s feet would result in a free fall in excess of the 6 foot limit. That would only be allowed where the employer cannot provide a more suitable anchorage or other form of fall protection. Where a person is standing on the surface to which the arrest system is anchored, if a fall occurred, the person would first fall the distance of the anchor point to the location of the lanyard attachment on the body harness, which is usually approximately 4½ feet (this will vary with the height of the worker).

The worker would then fall the length of the lanyard, which in this example is 6 feet. Finally, assuming a shock absorbing system were incorporated into the lanyard, the worker would fall another 3½ feet if the full length of the shock absorber was used.

The total of these distances is about 14 feet. Remember that in many situations fall distances can be eliminated altogether by using restraint systems, which are set-up to prevent the worker from stepping past the walking/working surface edge. These systems are often attached to catenary lines. In work involving the construction of a “leading edge” (where the work surface itself is being constructed and advances as the work progresses), the catenary line is periodically advanced to keep pace with the advancing work.

Retractable lanyards are another option that can often be used. OSHA’s decision not to require the use of personal fall arrest systems in other situations while working on ladders. Apart from the above requirements, you ask why OSHA did not require the use of personal fall arrest equipment whenever an employee is working 15 feet or higher on a ladder (you do not specify whether you are asking this with respect to fixed or portable ladders or both).

You suggest that this may have been due to fall arrest systems causing a “greater hazard.” The preamble to the standard does not explain why fall arrest equipment was not mandated for situations other than those specified in §1926.1053(a)(18) and 1926.1053(a)(19). However, the use of personal fall protection does not generally result in a greater hazard.

Working without fall protection continues to be one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. OSHA jurisdiction in Georgia You also ask for a statement that Georgia is under the jurisdiction of Federal OSHA; it is. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S.

1. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689.
2. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Sincerely, Russell B. Swanson, Director Directorate of Construction

What are 2 types of falls?

NASD – Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls In 1999, over one million people suffered a slip, trip or falling injury, and over 17,000 Americans died as a result. Of the estimated 3.8 million disabling injuries each year in the work force,15 percent are due to slips, trips, or falls, which account for 12 to 15 percent of all Workers’ Compensation costs.

1. About 5,100 workers died from a fall in 1999.
2. The average direct cost for one disabling injury now approaches $28,000.
3. Conservative estimates of indirect costs are significantly higher at $46,000.
4. In the case of a death on the job, the average cost has recently been estimated at $940,000.
5. Add to these the personal and family costs and trauma, and it is evident that slips, trips and falls should be avoided.

A thorough analysis of falls in Florida agriculture was conducted in 1991, based on an analysis of Workers’ Compensation records. Falls accounted for nearly 25 percent of all serious disabling work injuries: 17 percent were elevated falls, 8 percent were same-level falls.

Elevated falls accounted for 26 percent of the injuries in fruit and vegetable production occupations. Same-level falls accounted for 12 percent in both livestock and horticultural production occupations. In addition, 32 percent of all elevated falls in Florida agriculture were from ladders, while 25 percent were from vehicles and other mobile equipment.

Same-level falls were on walking or working surfaces in 76 percent of the incidents. The back was the most frequently injured part of the body in falls: 37 percent of the injuries were from elevated falls, while 29 percent were from same-level falls. The joints – wrist, elbow and shoulder, or the ankle, knee and hip – accounted for 32 percent of elevated falls and 47 percent of same-level falls.

1. Most injuries are sprains and strains: 52 percent from elevated falls, 46 percent from same-level falls.
2. Fractures are the result of 19 percent of elevated falls and 10 percent of same-level falls.
3. Bruises and contusions account for most of the remaining injuries.
4. Falls are of two basic types: elevated falls and same-level falls.

Same-level falls are most frequent, but elevated falls are more severe.

Same-Level Falls: high frequency-low severity Elevated Falls: lower frequency-high severity

Same-level falls are generally slips or trips. Injury results when the individual hits a walking or working surface or strikes some other object during the fall. Over 60 percent of elevated falls are from less than 10 feet. Examples of same-level falls are described below.

Slip and Fall Slips are primarily caused by a slippery surface and compounded by wearing the wrong footwear. In normal walking, two types of slips occur. The first of these occurs as the heel of the forward foot contacts the walking surface. Then, the front foot slips forward, and the person falls backward.

The second type of fall occurs when the rear foot slips backward. The force to move forward is on the sole of the rear foot. As the rear heal is lifted and the force moves forward to the front of the sole, the foot slips back and the person falls. The force that allows you to walk without slipping is commonly referred to as “traction.” Common experience shows that dry concrete sidewalks have good traction, while icy surfaces or freshly waxed floors can have low traction.

1. Technically, traction is measured as the “coefficient of friction.” A higher coefficient of friction means more friction, and therefore more traction.
2. The coefficient of friction depends on two things: the quality of both the walking surface and the soles of your shoes.
3. To prevent slips and falls, a high coefficient of friction (COF) between the shoe and walking surface is needed ( ).

On icy, wet, and oily surfaces, the COF can be as low as 0.10 with shoes that are not slip resistant. A COF of 0.40 to 0.50 or more is needed for excellent traction. To put these figures in perspective, a brushed concrete surface and a rubber heel will often show a COF greater than 1.0.

Providing dry walking and working surfaces and slip-resistant footwear is the answer to slips and their resultant falls and injuries. Obviously, high heels, with minimal heel-to-surface contact, taps on heels, and shoes with leather or other hard, smooth-surfaced soles lead to slips, falls, and injuries.

1. Shoes with rubber-cleated, soft soles and heels provide a high COF and are recommended for most agricultural work.
2. In work areas where the walking and working surface is likely to be slippery, non-skid strips or floor coatings should be used.
3. Since a COF of 0.40 to 0.50 is preferred for walking and working surfaces, we should strive for a surface which provides a minimum of 50 percent of this friction.

If the working surface is very slippery, no footwear will provide a safe COF. Trip and Fall Trips occur when the front foot strikes an object and is suddenly stopped. The upper body is then thrown forward, and a fall occurs. As little as a 3/8″ rise in a walkway can cause a person to “stub” his toe resulting in a trip and fall.

• The same thing can happen going up a flight of stairs: only a slight difference in the height of subsequent steps and a person can trip and fall.
• Step and Fall Another type of working and walking surface fall is the “step and fall.” This occurs when the front foot lands on a surface lower than expected, such as when unexpectedly stepping off a curb in the dark.

In this type of fall, the person normally falls forward. A second type of step and fall occurs when one steps forward or down, and either the inside or outside of the foot lands on an object higher than the other side. The ankle turns, and one tends to fall forward and sideways.

• Proper housekeeping in work and walking areas can contribute to safety and the prevention of falls.
• Not only is it important to maintain a safe working environment and walking surface, these areas must also be kept free of obstacles which can cause slips and trips.
• One method which promotes good housekeeping in work environments is the painting of yellow lines to identify working and walking areas.

These areas should never be obstructed by objects of any kind. Adequate lighting to ensure proper vision is also important in the prevention of slips and falls. Moving from light to dark areas, or vice versa, can cause temporary vision problems that might be just enough to cause a person to slip on an oil spill or trip over a misplaced object.

Carrying an oversized object can also obstruct one’s vision and result in a slip or a trip. This is a particularly serious problem on stairs. In addition to wearing the wrong footwear, there are specific behaviors which can lead to slips, trips, and falls. Walking too fast or running can cause major problems.

In normal walking, the most force is exerted when the heel strikes the ground, but in fast walking or running, one lands harder on the heel of the front foot and pushes harder off the sole of the rear foot; thus, a greater COF is required to prevent slips and falls.

• Rapid changes in direction create a similar problem.
• Other problems that can lead to slips, trips and falls are: distractions; not watching where one is going; carrying materials which obstruct view; wearing sunglasses in low-light areas; and failure to use handrails.
• These and other behaviors, caused by lack of knowledge, impatience, or bad habits developed from past experiences, can lead to falls, injuries, or even death.

Generally, elevated falls are less frequent but more severe than same-level falls in the workplace. In Florida agriculture, 17 percent of all serious injuries are from elevated levels and eight percent are from same-level falls. Falls from ladders while harvesting oranges and grapefruit are the major cause of elevated falls in Florida agriculture, but there are also significant numbers of falls from vehicles and equipment, loading docks, buildings and other structures.

1. Falls from Ladders Ladders may be fixed or portable.
2. They may be straight- extension- or step-ladders and may be manufactured from wood, metal, plastic, or fiberglass.
3. They can be light-, medium-, heavy-, or extra-heavy-duty.
4. They can be two feet high (step-stools), 18 feet for extra-heavy-duty step-ladders, and 40 feet or longer for extension-type ladders.

The materials from which ladders are constructed have advantages and disadvantages in weight, durability, flexibility, conductivity, and strength. The intended use of the ladder should determine the type purchased, and only American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved ladders should be used.

1. One major caution is that metal ladders should never be used in locations in which the ladder or its user could come into contact with electricity.
2. A ladder should be long enough so that when it rests against the upper support the user can work with waist no higher than the top rung of the ladder or above the rung at which the siderails are resting against the upper support.

This means that the top three rungs of a straight ladder, or the top two steps of a step-ladder, should never be used for the feet. The lower ends of the siderails should be equipped with slip-resistant pads, particularly if the ladder is to be used on hard surfaces.

• The same is true for the upper ends of the siderails if they are to rest against a surface.
• Ladders should be set at, or as near, a 4:1 angle as possible (See ).
• That is, for each three or four feet of rise from the base to the upper resting edge of the ladder, the base should be one foot out from a vertical line from the upper resting edge of the ladder to the working surface.

As an example, if a ladder is leaning against a ledge that 20 feet off the ground, the base of the ladder should be five feet back from the Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips, and Falls 4 wall. The base of the ladder must be firmly set so that there is no possibility of slippage or settling into soft ground.

• The resting edge of the ladder should have both siderails in contact with the object (building or tree) it is against.
• When setting a ladder against a tree, set the ladder in the crotch of two limbs so that it cannot slide in either direction.
• Whenever there is any question as to the stability of the ladder, additional effort should be made to stabilize the ladder as it is being climbed.

Tying the top of the ladder to the supporting structure can also keep the ladder from slipping or sliding.

Ladders should be inspected before use: check for cracks, loose rungs, slivers, and sharp edges. Never paint ladders, as the paint can hide potentially dangerous conditions. Wooden ladders can be coated with linseed oil or an oil-based wood preservative to keep them from drying out and cracking.

Allow ladders to dry thoroughly before using them or the rungs will be slippery. The rungs and siderails of ladders must be kept free of oil, grease, and mud; they should be kept dry. Since the shoe has limited contact with the rung or step of a ladder, it is very important that both rungs and shoes have a high COF.

Only shoes with heels should be worn when climbing ladders; users should be taught that the rung or step of the ladder should be just in front of the heel, under the arch of the foot. Stepping or standing on a ladder with the front part of the shoe is inviting a slip and fall.

Always face the ladder when climbing or descending. Another frequent cause of ladder-related injuries is attempting to reach too far left or right. When working on a ladder, the person’s belt buckle should never extend beyond the siderails. Reaching further can cause the ladder to slide in the opposite direction.

Tying the ladder to the structure supporting it can prevent this and is a recommended practice. Workers should have both hands free to hold the ladder’s siderails, not the rungs, when climbing or descending. Small tools may be carried in a tool belt, not in the hands; but a better choice is to raise tools and supplies with a rope.

• Never raise or lower power tools by the cord or while they are plugged into an electrical source.
• Make-shift ladders, chairs, boxes, and barrels should never be used as substitutes for a ladder – the risk is far too great.
• Falls from Vehicles and Equipment Death or serious injury is a frequent result of extra riders falling from tractors, equipment or the bed of a truck.

Unless the operation requires riders, such as on certain planting and harvesting equipment where seats or protected work areas are provided, extra riders should never be permitted. Riding on tractor fenders, draw-bars on equipment, or the bed of a truck is an invitation for a disaster.

• The safe way is “NO RIDERS”,
• Far too many injuries occur in the simple process of getting in and out of trucks, on or off tractors, machinery, wagons, trailers or truck beds.
• When the steps are metal, there is a low COF which becomes even lower if they are wet, muddy or oily.
• Eep the steps clean and dry.

Whenever mounting or climbing on a vehicle or machine, have a good hand-hold before stepping up. Pulling yourself up reduces the force between your shoe and the step and reduces the danger of a slip. As with a ladder, the foot should be placed on the step or rung just in front of your heel, under the arch.

Always face the vehicle or equipment when mounting and dismounting. When stepping down backward, one steps down on the ball of the foot; when stepping down forward, one lands on the heel, thus increasing the chances of falling, twisting an ankle or knee or suffering some other injury. Practice the “Three-Point System.” This system can significantly reduce the chances of injuring yourself through a slip or fall while climbing ladders or while entering or exiting a vehicle.

The Three-Point System means that three of your four limbs are in contact with the ladder or vehicle at all times, either one hand and two feet, or two hands and one foot – only one limb is in motion at any one time. One more tip that will save you from many sprains or worse: When getting off the bed of a truck or wagon or any similar level: Step down backward, never “jump” or “fall” down forward.

Falls from Loading Docks Loading docks and ramps are dangerous areas. They are frequently congested, heavy-traffic areas, and working and walking surfaces are often wet. Metal dock plates can wear smooth and become very slippery; in particular, the edge of a dock plate invites trips and falls. Accidental backward steps can result in a fall from the dock.

Portable railings, which can be easily removed from the edge of the dock, could prevent many dangerous falls. They are removed when a truck or tractor is at the dock, and replaced as soon as the truck or trailer leaves. Proper housekeeping, well-designed traffic patterns and the use of abrasive, skid-resistant surface coatings will reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls.

Ramps and gang-planks have hazards similar to loading docks. The slopes should be as gradual as possible, as wide as possible, and as dry as possible. They should also have skid-resistant surfaces. Falls on Stairs Stairwells should be well-lighted, with sturdy handrails on both sides. Persons using the stairwell should have one hand free to be able to use the handrail.

All the steps should have the same rise and depth, with visible edges. They must be kept free of grease, oil and obstacles which could cause slips and trips. Whenever possible, avoid carrying heavy or bulky objects which obscure your vision and/or require the use of both hands.

• Carry smaller, lighter loads and make more trips, or obtain help with the load.
• Fixed ladders are mounted on buildings, bins and other tall structures which require workers to climb to high levels to perform some functions.
• Such ladders should be securely attached to the structure and be capable of supporting a minimum of 250 pounds,of concentrated live weight.

The rungs should be a minimum of 16 inches wide and a maximum of 12 inches apart. There should be seven inches of toe space between the rung and the structure to which it is attached. Fixed ladders extending more than 20 feet above the ground or floor level should be surrounded by a cage, beginning at 7 to 8 feet above the ground.

If a catwalk or working area is provided at the top of the ladder, it should have a protective railing at least 42 inches high. A toe board, four-inches high, around the edge of the work area should be provided. This reduces the risk of a person stepping off the edge or having tools fall from the work area.

Workers climbing or descending a fixed ladder should have both hands free. Small tools can be carried in a tool belt; other tools and materials should be raised by rope and pulleys or some other mechanical system. Workers at high elevations, such as ladders, platforms, or catwalks, should be protected from falling by some kind of fall protective device.

• This can be a protective cage, a lifeline, lanyard, safety belt or harness; there are numerous devices on the market.
• The system should provide maximum protection, but it also should be reasonably comfortable and not restrict a worker’s necessary work activity.
• Suppliers of safety equipment can provide information on the correct system for your workplace and should provide instruction on its safe use.

Abrasive coatings can be applied to concrete, metal and wood surfaces to increase the COF and reduce the risks of slips and falls. Many of these products can be applied like paint; others can be troweled on in a thin coat. These coatings are formulated to resist grease, oil, water and a wide range of chemicals.

Most paint and building supply companies handle these materials. It is important, however, to purchase the correct product for your particular problem, since some are enamels or epoxies which contain a rough, hard, gritty material with a high COF. There are also a number of skid-resistant products that can be purchased in strips or rolls.

These may have a pressure-sensitive backing or be applied with a special glue. They are designed for easy application to stair treads, ramps and other hazardous walking and working surfaces. Another effective skid-resistant material is rubber or rubber-like mats.

• This material is long-wearing and skid-resistant on both the top and bottom sides.
• Hard rubber or hard rubber-like mats are ineffective because they have a low COF when wet.
• Safety signs to remind people of slip, trip and fall hazards are certainly always helpful, particularly where hazards cannot be removed or corrected.

Such signs should be changed frequently. Recent evidence indicates that “humorous” warnings are more effective than simple warning signs. “CAUTION-WET FLOOR” is less effective than “WET FLOOR-SKATE, DON’T SLIP”. Yellow stripping to identify walking and working areas are most effective if their meaning is enforced.

Tuck your chin in, turn your head, and throw an arm up. It is better-to land on your arm than on your head. While falling, twist or roll your body to the side. It is better to land on your buttocks and side than on your back. Keep your wrists, elbows and knees bent. Do not try to break the fall with your hands or elbows. When falling, the objective is to have as many square inches of your body contact the surface as possible, thus, spreading out the impact of the fall.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there are 110,000 injuries each year to the feet and toes of United States workers, representing 19 percent of all disabling work injuries. The most important protection is to wear the proper footwear for your work and environment. In most agricultural occupations the shoes or boots should provide three major types of protection.

The soles and heels should be slip-resistant The toe of the shoe should resist crushing injuries The shoe should support the ankle.

ANSI sets standards for shoes and boots. Never purchase work shoes that do not meet these standards. A typical ANSI rating could be 1-75 C-25. This means the toe will withstand 75 foot pounds of impact and 2,500 pounds of compression. Chevron or cleat-designed soles are definitely the best for slippery situations because of the suction or squeezing action they provide.

The softer soles are better for slippery indoor conditions; the harder, more rugged cleat-type sole is preferred for tough outdoor use. Leather covering the foot and ankle portion of the foot is preferred in most work environments. However, when working in wet environments or around chemicals, oils, greases or pesticides, boots made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a blend of PVC and polyurethane, or neoprene should be used.

Rubber is satisfactory for wet conditions, but not with pesticides or petroleum products. When purchasing work shoes or boots, it is best to purchase them from a reputable dealer who handles quality footwear. A dealer who is informed of your work and work environment will be able to provide the correct footwear for you.

Established policies and practices can be implemented to significantly reduce the number of injuries and deaths due to slips, trips and falls. The following recommendations are provided for your consideration: Owners, managers and supervisors must make a commitment to prevent accidental slips, trips and falls.

Regular frequent inspections of working and walking areas should be conducted to identify environmental and equipment hazards which could cause slips, trips and falls. Special attention should be given to the working and walking surfaces, housekeeping, lighting, vision, stairways and ladders.

1. Immediate corrective action should be taken.
2. Extensive safety training on the prevention of slips, trips and falls should be provided for all new employees.
3. Regular retraining should be provided for all employees.
4. Special attention should be given to proper walking, carrying, climbing and descending stairways, ladders, vehicles and equipment.

Unsafe practices should be corrected immediately. All workers should wear proper footwear for their work and environment whether in the office, shop, plant, feedlot or field. No riders should be permitted on tractors, trucks or other self-powered or towed equipment unless a safe seat or workstation is provided.

1. All slips, trips and falls, with or without injury, should be reported, recorded and thoroughly investigated.
2. Corrective action to prevent such a repeat occurrence should be taken immediately.
3. Slips, trips and falls whether on or off the job are expensive, disruptive, painful, and may be tragic.
4. For more information about agricultural safety, visit the Florida AgSafe Network Web site, at: Injury Facts, 2000 Edition.

National Safety Council. Becker, William J. and Tracy A. Wood. An Analysis of Agricultural Accidents in Florida for 1991. National Agricultural Safety Database, Dutton, Cheryl. “Make Foot Protection a Hit,” Safety and Health, Vol.138, No.5, November, 1988.

• Pp.30-33. Ellis, J.
• Nigel and Howard B. Lewis.
• Introduction to Fall Protection.
• American Society of Safety Engineers, 1988.
• Goldsmith, Aaron.
• Natural Walking, Unnatural Falls,” Safety and Health, Vol.138, No.5, December, 1988. Pp.44-47.
• McElroy, Frank (ed.).
• Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations, 7th ed.

National Safety Council, 1980. Peter, Robert. “Fallsafe: Reducing Injuries From Slips and Falls,” Professional Safety, Vol.30, No.10, October, 1985. Pp.15-18. Peter, Robert. “How to Prevent Falling Injuries,” National Safety and Health News, Vol.132, No.4, October, 1985.

• Pp.87-91. Strachta, Bruce J.
• Eep Fall Costs Down,” Safety and Health, Vol.135, No.4, April, 1987. Pp.30-32.
• Waller, Julian A.
• Injury Control: A Guide to the Causes and Prevention of Trauma.
• Lexington Books.1985.
• This document is Circular 869,one of a series of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.

First published August 1990. Revised October 1992 and February 2001. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu, Carol J. Lehtola, assistant professor and Extension Agricultural Safety Specialist; William J. Becker, professor emeritus; Charles M.

1. Brown, coordinator information/publication services; Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.
2. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity – Affirmative Action Employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.

For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Larry R. Arrington, Interim Dean This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida.

UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.

Disclaimer and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. : NASD – Preventing Injuries from Slips, Trips and Falls

How tall is a 1 second fall?

Example – The first equation shows that, after one second, an object will have fallen a distance of 1/2 × 9.8 × 1 2 = 4.9 m. After two seconds it will have fallen 1/2 × 9.8 × 2 2 = 19.6 m; and so on. The next-to-last equation becomes grossly inaccurate at great distances.

1. If an object fell 10   000 m to Earth, then the results of both equations differ by only 0.08   %; however, if it fell from, which is 42   164 km, then the difference changes to almost 64   %.
2. Based on wind resistance, for example, the terminal velocity of a skydiver in a belly-to-earth (i.e., face down) free-fall position is about 195 km/h (122 mph or 54 m/s).

This velocity is the asymptotic limiting value of the acceleration process, because the effective forces on the body balance each other more and more closely as the terminal velocity is approached. In this example, a speed of 50   % of terminal velocity is reached after only about 3 seconds, while it takes 8 seconds to reach 90   %, 15 seconds to reach 99   % and so on.

• Higher speeds can be attained if the skydiver pulls in his or her limbs (see also ).
• In this case, the terminal velocity increases to about 320 km/h (200 mph or 90 m/s), which is almost the terminal velocity of the diving down on its prey.
• The same terminal velocity is reached for a typical,30-06 bullet dropping downwards—when it is returning to earth having been fired upwards, or dropped from a tower—according to a 1920 U.S.

Army Ordnance study. Competition speed skydivers fly in the head down position and reach even higher speeds. The current world record is 1   357.6 km/h (843.6 mph, 1.25) by, who jumped from 38   969.4 m (127   852.4 ft) above earth on 14 October 2012.

• For, and for short distances of fall at other than “ground” level, g in the above equations may be replaced by G ( M + m ) r 2 }}} where G is the, M is the mass of the astronomical body, m is the mass of the falling body, and r is the radius from the falling object to the center of the astronomical body.
• Removing the simplifying assumption of uniform gravitational acceleration provides more accurate results. We find from the :
• The time t taken for an object to fall from a height r to a height x, measured from the centers of the two bodies, is given by:

t = π 2 − arcsin ⁡ ( x r ) + x r ( 1 − x r ) 2 μ r 3 / 2 }-\arcsin }} + }\ (1- })}}} }}\,r^ } where μ = G ( m 1 + m 2 ) +m_ )} is the sum of the of the two bodies. This equation should be used whenever there is a significant difference in the gravitational acceleration during the fall.

Can you survive a 3 story fall?

According to this study the chances of surviving a fall from 3 stories is very high. Would a fall from a three-story building kill you? At what height is a fall landing on the head to be fatal? Depends from the speed of the fall and your weight and force and how you fall.

At what height do you need fall protection UK?

At What Height Above Ground Are You Required to Wear Fall Protection? – Whilst any height above ground, where there is a risk of falling, is considered working at height, UK law (Work at Height Regulations Act 2005) states that suitable fall protection or PPE must be worn from a height of 2m or above.

Avoid work at height where reasonable able to do soWhere it cannot be avoided, ensure to use the correct safety equipment Do as much work as possible from the groundEnsure that workers can get to and from the height safelyEnsure that any safety equipment is strong, stable, regulated, and checked regularlyDon’t overload or overreachBe aware of falling objects

How high can you go on a ladder without fall protection?

January 13, 2000 Mr. Peter G. Chaney Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Inc.1385 Piccard Drive Rockville, MD 20850-4340 RE: Subpart X Dear Mr. Chaney: This is in response to your May 26, 1999, letter in which you ask for clarification of several issues relating to the use of fall protection when working from ladders during construction work.

You specifically ask if OSHA has any requirements for the use of fall protection when working from ladders at heights greater than six feet. We apologize for the lateness of this response. Fixed ladders: fall protection must be provided for employees climbing or working on fixed ladders above 24 feet.29 CFR 1926.1053(a)(19) states that fall protection must be provided whenever the length of climb on a fixed ladder equals or exceeds 24 feet.

A fixed ladder is “a ladder that cannot be readily moved or carried because it is an integral part of a building or structure” (§1926.1050(b)). Also, even if the length of climb is less than 24 feet, under §1926.1053(a)(18), cages, wells, ladder safety devices, or self-retracting lifelines must be provided where the top of the fixed ladder is greater than 24 feet above lower levels.

Portable ladders: fall protection is not required for employees climbing or working on portable ladders. Neither the ladder standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart X) nor the fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart M) requires fall protection for workers while working on portable ladders. You note that a number of general contractors in Georgia “are attempting to require personal fall arrest systems for their subcontractors working on ladders 6 feet or higher.” Although the OSHA standards do not require fall protection for workers on fixed ladders below 24 feet or on portable ladders, we encourage employers to provide additional protection.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems can be set up to limit arrested falls to less then 15 feet. In your letter you assert that personal fall arrest systems will not arrest a fall from an elevation lower than 15 feet. When anchored above the worker, a typical personal fall arrest system will arrest a fall in 6 feet or less.

Using a six foot lanyard, a fall distance as high as approximately 14 feet would result only if the system were anchored at the worker’s feet, as explained below. Several factors must be considered in determining how much distance will be needed for a fall arrest system to work — to prevent the worker from contacting the next lower level.

First, under §1926.502(d)(16)(iii), a personal fall arrest system must prevent the employee from contacting the level below. A 6 foot lanyard that incorporates a shock absorbing system may have a total extension of up to about 9½ feet before a fall is completely arrested.

1. Because the lanyard is attached to the body harness at a point that is more than half-way up the body, an additional distance of about 3-4 feet must be added to assure that no part of the employee’s body makes contact with the surface.
2. Second, under §1926.502(d)(16)(iii), a personal fall arrest system must limit an employee’s free fall to not more than six feet.

“Free fall” is defined in the standard as “the vertical displacement of the fall arrest attachment point on the employee’s, body harness between onset of the fall and just before the system begins to apply force to arrest the fall.” If a 6 foot lanyard is rigged to an anchorage at floor level, the total free fall would be the sum of the vertical distance between the attachment point on the body harness and the floor (usually 4 to 4½ feet) plus the length of the lanyard (6 feet in this example), which totals about 10 feet.

That means that the use of a 6 foot lanyard, rigged to an anchorage at the worker’s feet would result in a free fall in excess of the 6 foot limit. That would only be allowed where the employer cannot provide a more suitable anchorage or other form of fall protection. Where a person is standing on the surface to which the arrest system is anchored, if a fall occurred, the person would first fall the distance of the anchor point to the location of the lanyard attachment on the body harness, which is usually approximately 4½ feet (this will vary with the height of the worker).

The worker would then fall the length of the lanyard, which in this example is 6 feet. Finally, assuming a shock absorbing system were incorporated into the lanyard, the worker would fall another 3½ feet if the full length of the shock absorber was used.

• The total of these distances is about 14 feet.
• Remember that in many situations fall distances can be eliminated altogether by using restraint systems, which are set-up to prevent the worker from stepping past the walking/working surface edge.
• These systems are often attached to catenary lines.
• In work involving the construction of a “leading edge” (where the work surface itself is being constructed and advances as the work progresses), the catenary line is periodically advanced to keep pace with the advancing work.

Retractable lanyards are another option that can often be used. OSHA’s decision not to require the use of personal fall arrest systems in other situations while working on ladders. Apart from the above requirements, you ask why OSHA did not require the use of personal fall arrest equipment whenever an employee is working 15 feet or higher on a ladder (you do not specify whether you are asking this with respect to fixed or portable ladders or both).

1. You suggest that this may have been due to fall arrest systems causing a “greater hazard.” The preamble to the standard does not explain why fall arrest equipment was not mandated for situations other than those specified in §1926.1053(a)(18) and 1926.1053(a)(19).
2. However, the use of personal fall protection does not generally result in a greater hazard.

Working without fall protection continues to be one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. OSHA jurisdiction in Georgia You also ask for a statement that Georgia is under the jurisdiction of Federal OSHA; it is. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S.

• Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689.
• You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Sincerely, Russell B. Swanson, Director Directorate of Construction

At what slope is fall protection required?

Steep-slope Roofs—1926.501(b)(11) Each worker on a steep-slope roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by either guardrail systems with toeboards, a safety-net system, or a PFA system.

Jack Gloop