Employer Requirements to Protect Workers from Fall Hazards

Provide Fall Protection

OSHA standards require employers to provide fall protection for workers when they are exposed to fall hazards. Employers must follow OSHA criteria and practices for fall protection systems.

Employers are required to assess the workplace to determine whether walking and working surfaces have the strength and structural integrity to safely support workers. You are not permitted to work on those surfaces until they are determined to have the strength and structural integrity to support all workers.

Once employers have determined that the surface is safe for workers, the employer must select one of the permitted types of fall protection if a fall hazard is present. For example, if you are exposed to falling six feet or more from an unprotected side or edge, the employer must select a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system to protect you.

If personal fall protection systems are used, employers must pay particular attention to identifying proper attachment points and to ensuring that workers know how to properly inspect and wear the equipment.

Your employer should take the following steps to prevent fall hazards at your worksite:

1. Develop a written fall protection plan.
2. Identify potential fall hazards prior to each project and during daily walk-arounds. This includes paying attention to hazards associated with routine and non-routine tasks.
3. Eliminate the need for fall protection where possible by rescheduling, isolating, or changing the task.
4. Ensure that fall protection equipment is appropriate to the task, in good condition, and used properly.
5. Conduct fall prevention training on a regular basis.
6. Train workers on the specific fall hazards identified and on the required personal protective equipment.
7. Conduct regular inspections of fall protection equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and OSHA's requirements.
8. Explain to workers the fall hazards unique to the site, such as open floor holes or shafts, riser penetrations, and skylights.
9. Keep worksites free of clutter and other hazards that can cause slips, trips, and falls.
10. Inspect ladders, scaffolds, and fall protection equipment, and keep them in good working condition.

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