Fall Protection
In steel erection, a new, very narrow working surface is constantly being created as skeletal steel is erected at various heights.
Fall Protection
For many steel erectors, the work starts at the top level of the structure. This means that anchor points above foot level are often limited or unavailable.
The special circumstances of steel erection can make conventional fall protection very difficult to deploy below 15 feet. For this reason, the following requirements and exceptions in the steel erection fall protection standard have been made. Information in this section comes primarily from OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.760.
General Requirements
Each employee engaged in a steel erection activity who is on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet (4.6 m) above a lower level must be protected from fall hazards by:
- guardrail systems,
- safety net systems,
- personal fall arrest systems,
- positioning device systems or
- fall restraint systems.
Perimeter safety cables must be installed at the final interior and exterior perimeters of multi-story structures as soon as the decking has been installed.
It's important to remember as far as OSHA is concerned, there is no "safe" distance from an unprotected side or edge that would render fall protection unnecessary.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-1. When must perimeter safety cables be installed at the final interior and exterior perimeters of multi-story structures?
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