Fall Protection 29 CFR 1910.23 and 1910.66 Appendix I

In 1999, slips, trips, and falls (STFs) occurred to over 1 million workers in the United States and 17,000 died as a result. It is estimated that 3.8 million disabling injuries occur each year in the workforce. About 15 percent if all accidents are STFs. The cost for a disabling injury is approximately 28,000. It appears that 17 percent (969) of deaths come from falls from elevations. 

It is well known that falls to same levels occur most often in industrial settings. These falls to same level result in many injuries, but falls from heights (elevation) 

Falls in the workplace are the leading cause of death to workers this also includes workers within the Service Industry. Thus, the need for fall protection in workplaces when workers are performing their jobs is definitely a requirement. Fall protection must be provided so that workers can concentrate on the job tasks without any fear of falling. Requirements relating to fall protection, as described in this chapter, do not apply to scaffolds, cranes and derricks, ladders and stairways, or electrical power transmission and distribution, each of which has its own requiranents. The major components of fall protection, described herein, are for installation, construction, and proper use of body harnesses and belts, lanyards, and lifelines, and the reqnire-ments for the training of fall protection. 

workers on ramps, runways, and other walkways must be protected from falling 4 feet or more to lower levels by using guardrail systems workers at the edge of an excavation 4 feet or more in depth must be protected from falling by using guardrail systems, fences, or barricades. 

When workers are exposed to falling objects, the employer must have each anployee wear a hard hat and implement one of the following measures  

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