New OSHA Fall Protection Changes for Residential Contractors
Posted on Tue, Jun 14, 2011
OSHA has issued a new Fall Protection standard for residential contractors. They will no longer be able to use the alternative fall protection measures (OSHA Directive 3.1) for protection from fall exposures in residential construction.
29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13) mandates that all residential contractors doing work six feet or more, must adhere to conventional fall protection. The new mandate becomes effective on June 16, 2011.
What It Means
OSHA requires employees subject to falls of 6 feet or more (10 feet on scaffolding), to a lower level on a construction site, be protected from injury through various means such as use of a personal fall arrest system, guard rail system, safety nets or more.
Additional information can be obtained on OSHA’s “Fall Protection in Residential Construction.”