General Fall Protection

Workers on a surface with an unprotected edge that is 15 feet or more above a lower level must be protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, personal fall arrest system, positioning device system, or fall restraint system. Each of these systems must meet specific criteria that will be discussed in this section.

When constructing a new floor, having a guardrail or safety net system can be impractical. If so, an unguarded but limited-access CDZ may be established. This zone should be clearly marked, and access must be limited to only those workers working on the leading (unprotected) edge. Workers in the CDZ must be given specific training and provided with fall protection devices if they are working at heights above 30 feet or two stories, whichever is less. The CDZ must be no larger than 3,000 square feet, and must have at least two safety attachments per deck panel. Final deck attachments and shear connector installation cannot be performed in the CDZ due to their higher fall risk.

Once the workers have installed the decking, they must then install safety cables at the final interior and exterior perimeters of each floor. Workers engaged in the connecting activities between 15 feet and 30 feet up must be provided with a personal fall arrest system, positioning system, or fall restraint system. At heights of 30 feet and above, more safety measures may be necessary.

To learn more about Construction Steel Erection visit our Construction Steel Erection Safety Online Training web page.