Walking-Working Surfaces Final Rule for General Industry Incorporates Construction Standards
OSHA has incorporated Construction Standards into the General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Systems Standard. Walking-working surfaces can be floors, stairs, ladders, roofs, ramps, scaffolds, elevated walkways or fall protection systems.
Some of tasks required immediately include employee training in slips, trips, falls and fall protection equipment, as well as regular inspections and maintenance of walking-working surfaces. Inspections, maintenance, and replacements (if needed) of fall protection equipment is also required.
The rule allows employers some leeway in choosing the fall protection systems which work best for them, which has been a part of the OSHA 1926 Construction Standard. It also phases in certain protections for fixed ladder systems which extend over 24 feet. For now, cages and wells on existing ladders are ok until the year 2036. However, any new or replacement ladders must have ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems installed on them starting next year.
The new rule incorporates language for those who use rope descent systems, or RDS. No RDS should be used at heights higher than 300 feet above grade, and employers are to have the anchorage points of these RDS systems certified by November 20, 2017. This certification requires inspection, testing, and verification that it’s capable of holding 5,000 lbs. per employee.
With the rule, OSHA has deferred scaffolding requirements to the construction standard.
For more information, check out the Walking-Working Surfaces rule’s frequently asked questions site.
Walking-Working Surfaces Final Rule for General Industry Incorporates Construction Standards
OSHA has incorporated Construction Standards into the General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Systems Standard. Walking-working surfaces can be floors, stairs, ladders, roofs, ramps, scaffolds, elevated walkways or fall protection systems.
Some of tasks required immediately include employee training in slips, trips, falls and fall protection equipment, as well as regular inspections and maintenance of walking-working surfaces. Inspections, maintenance, and replacements (if needed) of fall protection equipment is also required.
The rule allows employers some leeway in choosing the fall protection systems which work best for them, which has been a part of the OSHA 1926 Construction Standard. It also phases in certain protections for fixed ladder systems which extend over 24 feet. For now, cages and wells on existing ladders are ok until the year 2036. However, any new or replacement ladders must have ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems installed on them starting next year.
The new rule incorporates language for those who use rope descent systems, or RDS. No RDS should be used at heights higher than 300 feet above grade, and employers are to have the anchorage points of these RDS systems certified by November 20, 2017. This certification requires inspection, testing, and verification that it’s capable of holding 5,000 lbs. per employee.
With the rule, OSHA has deferred scaffolding requirements to the construction standard.
For more information, check out the Walking-Working Surfaces rule’s frequently asked questions site.