Fall Protection

Wherever there is an exposed vertical drop of six feet or more, OSHA requires that employers provide fall protection in one of three ways:

• Place guardrails around the hazard area
• Use safety nets
• Provide personal fall arrest systems for each employee

The fall protection method used is usually determined by the type of work being done and the location where the work is performed. Construction fall protection requirements are covered in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M.

Fall distance is the vertical distance that a worker will travel in the event of a fall, from the onset of the fall to where the worker is safely suspended from his or her fall arrest system. Fall distance is an important factor to consider when selecting fall protection equipment.

To learn more about Slips, Trips, & Falls visit our Construction Slips, Trips & Falls Online Training web page.