Inspecting for Fall Protection
The number one scaffold hazard is worker falls. Fall protection consists of either personal fall-arrest systems or guardrail systems, and must be provided on any scaffold 10 feet or more above a lower level. Specific requirements are described below.
Note: Except where indicated, these requirements also apply to manually propelled, pump jack, ladder jack, tube and coupler, and pole scaffolds, as well as the specialty scaffolds.
- Make sure each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level is protected from falling to that lower level.
- Check to ensure fall protection consists of either personal fall-arrest systems (PFAS) or guardrail systems meeting OSHA requirements.
- Ensure that employees performing overhand bricklaying operations from a supported scaffold are protected from falling from all open sides and ends of the scaffold, except at the side next to the wall being laid.
Fall-Arrest Systems
Personal fall arrest systems can be used on scaffolding when there are no guardrail systems. Personal fall-arrest systems used on scaffolds should be attached by lanyard to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline, or scaffold structural member.
- When vertical lifelines are used, check to ensure they are fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage, independent of the scaffold, and are protected from sharp edges and abrasion.
- Check to ensure safe points of anchorage, such as structural members of buildings, are being used.
- Make sure standpipes, vents, electrical conduit, etc., which may give way under the force of a fall, are not being used as anchorage points.
- Make sure two or more vertical lifelines are not attached to each other, or to the same point of anchorage.
- When horizontal lifelines are used, make sure they are being secured to two or more structural members of the scaffold.
Real-life Example
Employee is Pulled off Scaffold, Suffers Injuries-Guardrails May Have Saved Him
While sitting or kneeling on a fixed deck plank attached to a fabricated frame scaffold, a worker was pulling a 16-foot long 2x4 off the bucket of an excavator. There were no guardrails at the working level. When the other end of the 2x4 slipped off the bucket, the employee did not let go of his end, and was pulled off the deck. He fell 16 feet to the ground, sustaining facial fractures and other injuries.
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2-11. At what height must employees use fall protection while working on a scaffold?
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