Employer Requirements
Provide Fall Protection
OSHA's fall protection standards require employers to provide fall protection for you when you are exposed to a fall hazard. The standards set the criteria and practices for fall protection systems and required training. The standards cover hazard assessment, fall protection and safety monitoring systems. The standards also address controlled access zones, safety nets, and guardrail, personal fall arrest, warning line and positioning device systems.
Your employer is required to assess the workplace to determine if the walking/working surfaces on which you are to work have the strength and structural integrity to safely support workers.
The employer must not permit you to work on those surfaces until it has been determined that the surfaces have the strength and structural integrity to support all workers.
Once your employer has determined that the surface is safe for workers, they must select one of the permitted types of fall protection for the work operation if a fall hazard is present.
For example, if you are exposed to falling six feet or more over an unprotected side or edge, your employer must select a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system to protect you. There are similar requirements for other fall hazards.
If personal fall protection systems are used, your employer must pay particular attention to identifying attachment points and to ensuring workers know how to properly don and inspect the equipment.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. If you are exposed to falling _____ over an unprotected side or edge, your employer must select a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall arrest system to protect you.
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