Fall Protection
Falls from dangerous heights can occur when employees work on boom sections during assembly/disassembly, when employees are gaining access to and from their work stations, or at other times when employees are working at elevations, such as tower crane walkways.
Falls in Construction - OSHA
The provisions of section 1423 are designed to protect employees who work on elevated parts of equipment from falling.
Non-Assembly/Disassembly
For non-assembly/disassembly work, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees who are on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 6 feet above a lower level as follows:
- when moving point-to-point
- on non-lattice booms (whether horizontal or not horizontal)
- on lattice booms that are not horizontal
- while at a work station on any part of the equipment (including the boom, of any type), except when the employee is at or near draw-works (when the equipment is running), in the cab, or on the deck
According to OSHA regulations, fall protection is required for employees working on horizontal lattice booms when the potential fall distance is 15 feet or more.
Assembly/Disassembly
During assembly/disassembly work, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees who are on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet above a lower level, except when the employee is at or near draw-works (when the equipment is running), in the cab, or on the deck.
For erecting, climbing, and dismantling work on tower cranes, the employer must provide and ensure the use of fall protection equipment for employees who are on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet above a lower level.
OSHA's general fall protection standard for construction work, 29 CFR 1926 subpart M, only applies to work on cranes when Section 1423 explicitly refers to a provision in that subpart.
Real Life Scenario
Employee #1 was operating a Rubber Tired Grove Crane. The crane was used to hoist purlins onto the walls of a steel building. While on the ground, a hook was attached to the purlin and it was lifted into place using a tagline. After the purlin was placed, the hook was detached and lowered to the ground. During the operation, the tagline became entangled. Employee #1 was instructed to untangle the tagline. The crane hook was lowered and he climbed onto the hoist cable without fall protection. With one foot in the sling, he held the hoist cable above the hook block with both hands. Then he was hoisted 29.5 ft. into the air. As he attempted to untie the tagline from the purlin, he let go of the cable, causing the sling to swing sideways. The movement of the swing resulted in his loss of balance. He fell to the ground, landing on his back and head. He was flown by helicopter to a medical center where he remained in a coma until his death thirteen days later.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. For non-assembly/disassembly work, the employee must use fall protection when a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge is more than _____ feet above a lower level.
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