OSHA 29 CFR 1926 - Subpart M

1. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 - Subpart M Safety Standards for Fall Protection in the Construction Industry Effective: February 6, 1995

2. Total Construction Fatalities1985-1993 Other 10% Shock 17% Falls From Elevation 33% Struck By 22% Caught In/Between 18%

3. Falls From Elevation - Breakdown Open Sided Floor 4% Suspended Platform/ Vehicle 3% Scaffold 17% Concrete Erection 3% Ladder 8% Aerial Lift Basket 3% Other 16% Steel Erection 10% Floor Opening 7% Roof 27%

4. Number of Construction Fatalities Due to Falls 1985-1993

5. Analysis of Heights For Construction Fatalities Caused by Falls 1985-1993

6. Construction Activity% of Total Fatalities 1985 - 1993 Painting, Paper Hanging and Decorations - 63% Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning - 31% Heavy Construction, except Highway & Street - 15% Highway and Street, except Elevated Highways - 2% Building Construction - Nonresidential - 50% Building Construction - Residential - 29%

7. Construction Activity (Cont’d)% of Total Fatalities 1985 - 1993 Miscellaneous Special Trade Contractors 47% Concrete Work 30% Roofing, Siding and Sheet-Metal Work 73% Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting and Plastering 62% Carpentry and Floorwork 63% Electrical Work 24%

8. 1926.500(a)(1) Scope and Application

9. Who’s Affected by Subpart M? EVERYONEEXCEPT: • Employees making an inspection. • Employees working on scaffolds. (Subpart L) • Employees working on stairways and ladders. (Subpart X) • Employees working on equipment used in tunneling operations. (Subpart S)

10. Who’s Affected by Subpart M? EVERYONEEXCEPT: • Employees engaged in the construction of electric transmission, distribution lines, and equipment. (Subpart V) • Employees working on cranes and derricks. (Subpart N) • Employees performing steel erection work in buildings. (Subpart R)

11. 1926.500(b) Definitions

12. 1926.501(b)(1) Unprotected Sides and Edges

13. 1926.501(b)(2) Leading Edges

14. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan.

15. Definition Infeasible - means that it is impossible to perform the construction work using a conventional fall protection system (i.e., guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system) or that it is technologically impossible to use any of these systems to provide fall protection.

16. 1926.501(b)(3) Hoist Areas

17. 1926.501(b)(4) Holes

18. 1926.501(b)(5) Formwork and Reinforcing Steel

19. 1926.501(b)(6) Ramps, Runways, and Other Walkways

20. 1926.501(b)(7) Excavations

21. 1926.501(b)(8) Dangerous Equipment

22. 1926.501(b)(9) Overhand Bricklaying and Related Work

23. 1926.501(b)(10) Roofing Work On Low-Slope Roofs

24. 1926.501(b)(11) Steep Roofs

25. 1926.501(b)(12) Precast Concrete Erection

26. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan.

27. 1926.501(b)(13) Residential Construction

28. Exception: When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use these systems, the employer shall develop and implement a fall protection plan.

29. 1926.501(b)(14) Wall Openings

30. 1926.501(b)(15) Walking/Working Surfaces Not Otherwise Addressed

31. 1926.501(c)(1) Protection From Falling Objects • Erect toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects from falling.

32. 1926.501(c)(2) Protection From Falling Objects • Canopy Structure • Barricade

33. 1926.502(b) GuardrailSystems

34. 1926.502 (b)(1), (2) &(14) • Top edge height shall be 42” +/- 3” from walking/working level, and able to withstand 200 lbs. of force. • Midrails shall be installed at a height midway between top edge and walking/working level, and able to withstand 150 lbs. of force.

35. 1926.502(b)(9) Guardrail Systems • Top rails and midrails shall be at least 1/4 inch nominal diameter. • Top rail shall be flagged at not more than 6-foot intervals with high-visibility material.

36. 1926.502 (b)(13) • Guardrails at points of access shall be provided with gates or offset to that a person cannot walk directly into the hole.

37. 1926.502(c) Safety Net Systems

38. 1926.502(c)(1) Safety Net Systems • Install as close as practicable under the walking/working surface on which employees are working, but in no case more than 30 feet below such level.

39. 1926.502(c)(2) Safety Net Systems Net Extension < 5 feet 8 feet > 5 feet and 10 feet <10 feet >10 feet 13 feet

40. 1926.502(c)(3) Safety Net Systems • Install with sufficient clearance to prevent contact with any surfaces or structures below.

41. 1926.502(c)(4) Safety Net Systems When the employer can demonstrate that a drop test is unreasonable, the employer shall certify that the net and installation can meet an impact force equivalent to the impact forces of a drop test.

42. Definition Competent Person- means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

43. 1926.502(c)(5)&(6) Safety Net Systems • Inspect nets weekly for wear, damage, and other deterioration. • Remove any materials, scrap, equipment, and tools, that have fallen into net.

44. 1926.501(c)(7) Safety Net Systems • Maximum mesh opening shall not exceed 36 sq. inches nor longer than 6 inches on any side. • Mesh crossings shall be secured to prevent enlargement of mesh opening.

45. 1926.501(c)(8)&(9) Safety Net Systems • Minimum breaking strength for border rope webbing is 5,000 lbs. • Connections shall be as strong as net components. • Connections shall be spaced not more than 6 inches apart.

46. 1926.502(d) Personal FallArrest Systems

47. 1926.502(d) Personal Fall Arrest Systems Connector means a device which is used to couple (connect) parts of the personal fall arrest system and positioning device systems together. It may be an independent component of the system, such as a carabiner, or it may be an integral component of part of the system (such as a buckle or dee-ring sewn into a body belt or body harness, or a snap-hook spliced or sewn to a lanyard or self-retracting lanyard.)

48. 1926.502(d)(8) Personal Fall Arrest Systems • 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.

49. Definition - from 1926.32(l) Qualified Person- means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

50. 1926.502(d) Personal Fall Arrest Systems • Rope Grab means a deceleration device which travels on a lifeline and automatically, by friction, engages the lifeline and locks so as to arrest the fall of an employee. • Lanyards and vertical lifelines shall have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs. • Each employee shall be attached to a separate lifeline.