Subpart M— Fall Protection

Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings must be provided with guardrail systems. Guardrail systems must meet the criteria in Subpart M — Fall protection ( 1926.502(b)) — Guardrail systems ( 1926.10 (c)(12)). 

Note The fall protection requirements for employees installing suspension scaffold support systems on floors, roofs, and other elevated surfaces are set forth in Subpart M — Fall protection, of 29 CFR 1926. 

Employers will also want to be familiar with the applicable fall protection requirements ( 1926, Subpart M—Fall Protection) if they are going to have employees use fall protection. 

The construction standards in 29 CFR 1926 apply specific rules to employers in the construction industry, although the general industry rules in Part 1910 remain in effect. The regulations in Part 1926 cover personal protective and life saving equipment (Subpart E), fire protection and prevention (Subpart F), fall protection (Subpart M), commercial diving (Subpart Y), and cranes and derricks (Subparts CC and DD). 

The new standards will still require employers to follow the original fall protection guidelines from 1995, known as subpart M (Reference OSHA 1926.500 -. 503). 

The general construction fall protection rule (29 CFR 1926, Subpart M) covers most construction workers except those inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work is done. 

On the other hand, when employees move from the basket to the elevated surface, the requirements in 1926 Subpart M apply. In particular, 1926.501(b)(l) requires fall protection at 6 feet above a lower level. 

Ramps and walkways, (i) Ramps and walkways 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall have guardrail systems which comply with subpart M of this part—Fall Protection ... 

Appendix E to Subpart M of Part 1926— Sample fall protection plan non-mandatory... 

APPENDIX E TO SUBPART M OF PART 1926-SAMPLE FALL PROTECTION PLAN NONMANDATORY GUIDELINES FOR COMPLYING WITH 1926.502(K)... 

B) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3)(iii)(C) of this section, each employee in elevated locations more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground on poles, towers, or similar structures shall use a personal fall arrest system, work-positioning equipment, or fall restraint system, as appropriate, if the employer has not provided other fall protection meeting Subpart M of this part. 

These paragraphs apply to structures that support overhead electric power transmission and distribution lines and equipment. They do not apply to portions of buildings, such as loading docks, or to electric equipment, such as transformers and capacitors. Subpart M of this part contains the duty to provide fall protection associated with... 

Except when portable ladders are used to gain access to fixed ladders (such as those on utility towers, billboards, and other structures where the bottom of the fixed ladder is elevated to limit access), when two or more separate ladders are used to reach an elevated work area, the ladders shall be offset with a platform or landing between the ladders. (The requirements to have guardrail systems with toeboards for falling object and overhead protection on platforms and landings are set forth in subpart M of this part.)... 

Each employee required to perform duties on the horizontal boom of hammerhead tower cranes shall be protected against falling by guardrails or by a personal fall arrest system in conformance with subpart M of this part. 

Other fall protection meeting Subpart D of OSHA s general industry standards or Subpart M of OSHA s construction standards, as applicable. A guardrail system meeting one of those standards is an example. 

Fall protection for various lift-devices restraint, positioning, fall arrest, and rescue requirements — 1926, Subpart L Subpart M — Aug. 14, 2000... 

A. No. Section 1926.453(b)(2)(v) requires that employees working from aerial lifts be tied-off. On the other hand, when employees move from the basket to the elevated surface, the requirements in 1926 Subpart M apply. In particular, 1926.501 (b)(1) requires fall protection at six feet above a lower level. A worker may enter or exit an aerial lift (at heights above six feet) provided that fall protection such as guardrails or a fall arrest system is used while the worker moves between the lift and the working surface. During entry to and egress from the lift, a worker may tie-off to the lift (if the lift is designed to withstand the vertical and lateral loads imposed by the employee s movement itself or by an arrested fall) or to an appropriate nearby structure. 

Who Personal protective equipment and personal fall arrest systems must meet the requirements of Part 1926 Subpart E ( 1926.95 to. 107) and Subpart M ( 1926.500 to. 503 and Appendices), respectively. Therefore, please refer to the training requirements for those subparts, specified elsewhere in this Construction Training Requirements At-A-Glance information. For the purpose of paragraphs 1926.954(b)(3)(iii)(B) to (C), qualified employees must be proficient in climbing and the use of fall protection under 1926.950(b)(7). 

The fan protection standard, at 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, details training and equipment requirements that employers must use to protect workers from falls. 

OSHA allows employees to tie-off if there is no way to install guardrails. The key here is to protect employees from fall hazards. Remember though, that fall protection harnesses have to fit properly and a suitable anchorage point (meeting the OSHA requirements of Subpart M of 1926) must be tied off to. When using a personal fall arrest system, a full body harness is required. Body belts have not been permissible for many years as part of a personal fall arrest system. 

In construction work, the fall protection requirements in Subpart M of the construction standards do not apply to vehicles such as trucks. The definition at 29 CFR 1926.500(b) of a walking/working surface excludes ladders, vehicles, or trailers on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties. There could, however, be hazardous situations where general standard for personal protective equipment, 1926.95(a) or the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 USC 654(a)(l), could apply. 

Neither the ladder standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart X) nor the fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart M) requires fall protection for workers while working on portable ladders. 

There is no provision in Subpart X that requires fall protection for an employee while working from a portable stepladder. However, if the employee will be on a surface prior to ascending or upon exiting the ladder for which another Subpart in 1926 requires fall protection, then fall protection would be required at such times. General requirements for fall protection can be found at Subpart M of 29 CFR Part 1926, while requirements specific to a particular activity or equipment can be found at its applicable Subpart in 29 CFR Part 1926. 

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