Design of Fall Protection Systems

Select Website Sources for Fall Protection Equipment

The design of fall protection systems is rapidly changing as new equipment and means to provide fall protection enters the market on a regular basis. One might start by consulting the following websites, and further searching using the key words associated with the various forms of fall protection:

• Guardrails and Handrails
• Fall Arrest Systems
• Suspension Systems
• Positioning/Restraint Systems
• Rescue and Escape Systems

Carbis

• http://www.carbis.net/
• http://www.carbis.net/flatbed/flatbed_tarping.html

CAI Safety

• http://caisafety.com/
• http://caisafety.com/truck.html

FPS Fall Protection Systems

• http://fallprotectionsystems.com/
• http://www.fallprotectionsystems.com/trucks_equipment.html
• http://www.fallprotectionsystems.com/PDFS/fall_protection_systems_rail_truck.pdf
• http://www.fpssales.com/
• http://www.fpssales.com/ar-series-kit.html
• http://www.fpssales.com/l-series-kit.html
• http://www.fpssales.com/twin-ar-series-kit.html
• http://www.fpssales.com/possum-series-kit.html

OSHA Regulations

Including Height Above Which Fall Protection Is Required
Guardrail or Personal Fall Arrest System

General Industry

29 CFR 1910 – Occupational Safety and Health Standards

• Based on the requirement to proved fall protection for various walking/working surfaces under 29 CFR 1910.23 titled "Guarding floor and wall openings and holes," when such surfaces are above 4 feet, and as derived from 1910.28 (Safety Requirements for scaffolding) concerning the requirements to provide guardrails on scaffolding more than 10 feet above the ground, the mandatory requirement to proved alternative personal fall arrest systems, under various circumstances, would begin at 4 or 10 feet.

For specific 1910 requirements, among others, consult the following select OSHA regulations:

• Subpart: D – Walking-Working Surfaces

  • 1910.23 – Guarding floor and wall openings and holes

  • 1910.28 – Safety requirements for scaffolding

• Subpart I – Personal Protective Equipment

  • 1910.132 – General requirements

  • Standard Interpretation: 04/16/84 – Fall Protection in General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1), (c)(3), and 29 CFR 1910.132(a)

  • Standard Interpretations: 10/18/96 – Enforcement of Fall Protection on Moving Stock: 1910 Subpart D; 1910.132(d)

• Subpart: F -- Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms

  • 1910.66 - Powered platforms for building maintenance.

  • 1910.66 App C – Personal Fall Arrest System (Section I - Mandatory; Sections II and III - Non-Mandatory)

Construction Industry

29 CFR 1926 – Safety and Health Regulations for Construction

• Based on the requirement to proved fall protection for various walking/working surfaces under 29 CFR 1926.501 titled “Duty to have fall protection,” when various surfaces are above 6 feet, the requirement to proved fall protection, under various circumstances, using various alternative means of fall protection, begins at 6 feet above adjacent lower levels. Exception: 1926.451(g)(1) concerning fall protection from scaffolding states, “each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level shall be protected from falling to that lower level”).

• Subpart: L – Scaffolds

  • 1926.451 – General requirements.

• Subpart: M – Fall Protection

  • 1926.500 – Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart.

  • 1926.501 – Duty to have fall protection.

  • 1926.502 – Fall protection systems criteria and practices.

  • 1926.503 – Training requirements.

  • 1926 Subpart M App A – Determining Roof Widths - Non-mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.501(b)(10)

  • 1926 Subpart M App B – Guardrail Systems - Non-Mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.502(b)

  • 1926 Subpart M App C – Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Non-Mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.502(d)

  • 1926 Subpart M App D – Positioning Device Systems - Non-Mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.502(e)

  • 1926 Subpart M App E – Sample Fall Protection Plan - Non-Mandatory Guidelines for Complying with 1926.502(k)