PREVENTION OF FALL FATALITIES AND

INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION

INSERT SPEAKER NAME, TITLE, AND

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Overview
OSHA Alliance Program
OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable
U.S. Construction Accident and Fall Statistics
Safe Practices
Resources
Summary
*Through the OSHA Alliance Program, this presentation was developed by
members of the Alliance Program Construction Roundtable for informational
purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the
U.S. Department of Labor . (September 2008)

Alliance Program

OSHA and the participating organizations

define, implement, and meet a set of
short- and long-term goals that fall
into three categories:

Training and education

Outreach and communication
Promoting the national dialogue
on safety and health

Sharing technical expertise,

developing and disseminating
compliance assistance products
with participants

Provides OSHA access to millions

of employers and employees

John R. Miller, President, SIA.; Edwin G. Foulke,

Jr., Assistant Secretary, USDOL-OSHA; and
Richard J. Marshall, then-Executive Vice
President, SIA; sign a national Alliance
agreement on February 25, 2008

OSHA Alliance Program

Construction Roundtable
Purpose of Alliance Roundtable
Success of Alliance Program Construction
Roundtable:

Fall Protection Workgroup

Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup

Presentations

OSHA Alliance Program Construction

Roundtable: Members

American Industrial Hygiene Association

American Society of Safety Engineers
Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association
Construction Institute-American Society of Civil Engineers
Independent Electrical Contractors
Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America
National Association of Home Builders
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute
National Safety Council
Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute
Washington Division of URS Corporation

Alliance Program Construction

Roundtable Products
Design for Safety Workgroup

Design for Construction Safety Web site

Introduction to Designing for

Construction Safety presentation
Design for Construction Safety
2 4 Hour Course
Washington Division of URS
Case Study, "Washington Group

International Designs and Builds a

Mixed-Waste Treatment Facility."
February 2007
Fall Protection Workgroup

Safety Tips Sheets

Fall Protection presentation
Toolbox Talks

Picture of Toolbox Talks: Ladder Safety

Design for Construction Safety Web Site

Screen Capture of Design for Construction Safety Web site

Alliance Program Construction Roundtable

Screen Capture of OSHAs Alliance Program

Construction Roundtable Web Page

U.S. Construction Accident Statistics 1

Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,226 deaths each

year

5.5% of workforce but 21.5% of fatalities

Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of any

industry sector

SIGNIFICANCE: NEARLY 100 DEATHS PER MONTH

Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

U.S. Construction Fall Fatality Statistics1

Total Falls
From roof edge
From scaffold, staging
From ladders
To lower level
Through floor opening, floor surface,
ground to lower level
From structural steel
Through skylight
From non-moving vehicle
Through roof surface, roof opening
Bureau of Labor Statistics-2006

433
74
70
68
48
31
24
23
22
20

Fall Speed vs. Reaction Time

In 1 second your body
will fall 16 feet
Good body reaction
time= 0.5 seconds
Travel distance in
0.5 seconds = 4 feet
By the time you react your body will be
4 feet below where you were standing

When Do You Need Fall Protection?

OSHAs Regulation 29 CFR 1926.501 (b) under Subpart M
requires fall protection wherever the potential to fall six feet
or more exists.
Fall protection is required when you are:

Near an unprotected roof edge;

Working in a unguarded mezzanine and balcony edges;

When Do You Need Fall Protection?

Fall protection is also required in the following
locations:
Working off aerial lift;
Unguarded scaffolding 10 feet or higher

Reducing Fall Fatalities and Injuries

Design Professionals Design Professionals need to be

cognizant to design with health and safety in mind. Design
permanent building features so that fall protection is not
needed. This eliminates the chance of an accident if fall
protection is not provided, provided but not used, or not
used properly

Contractors It is the contractors responsibility to enforce

compliance with safety practices with regard to ladders,
scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is necessary

Workers It is the workers responsibility to apply the

safety practices with regard to ladders, scaffolds, and
instances where fall protection is necessary

Types of Fall Prevention and

Protection Systems

Passive Systems prevent falls by placing a

physical barrier between the worker and the
hazard (e.g. guardrails).

Active Systems protect workers by limiting the

fall to a specified distance and also limit the
amount of force the worker is subjected to in the
event of a fall (e.g. personal fall arrest systems).

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

A Personal Fall-Arrest System

is a system used to arrest an
employee in a fall from a
working level.

Any person ordered to work

with at height who has an
increase risk of falling off of
structures/buildings should
wear a personal fall arrest
system.

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems, when

stopping a fall shall be rigged such that
a worker can neither free fall more than
six feet, nor contact any lower level.

Must have a minimum breaking strength

of 5,000 pounds.

Personal Fall-Arrest Systems

A personal fall-arrest system shall consist of the following:

Anchorage points, Full body harness, Shock Absorbing Lanyard,
Lifeline, Rope-grabs, Connectors
All components of the fall arrest system shall be fully compatible.

Full Body Harness

Must be the right size for you.

The attachment point of a body

harness shall be located on the:

Rear D-ring between shoulders when working from a

suspended scaffold or an aerial lift Front D-ring when
working from a bosuns chair.

Harness must be adjusted snugly starting

with leg straps, then waist, shoulders and
chest.

Lanyards

Used to connect a body harness

to a lifeline, rope-grab, or
anchorage point.

Shall be the appropriate length:

Bosuns chair 2 feet or less

Suspended scaffold 3 to 4 feet
Aerial lift 4 to 6 feet

Attach to:

Rear D-ring on harness between shoulders

when working on suspended scaffolds and
aerial lifts.
Front D-ring when working from a bosuns chair.

Be protected against being cut or abraded.

Lifelines

Vertical - connected to an anchorage at one end to hang

vertically.
Horizontal - connected to anchorages at both ends to
stretch horizontally.

Lifelines

Are used as a means of connecting other components of

a Personal Fall-Arrest System.

Shall be protected from contact with any surface that

may abrade, weaken, damage or sever it.

Shall be removed from service as recommended by the

manufacturer.

Falls From Roof Edge

Falls From Roof Edge-Specify Parapets

IBC paragraph 704.11.1

requires that a parapet wall be
at least 30 inches high
OSHA 1926 Subpart M requires
a 39-45 inch guardrail or other
fall protection
If the design professional
specifies a 39-45 inch high
parapet wall, fall protection
would not be required

Falls From Roof Edge

Other features that Design Professionals should
consider:
Locate mechanical equipment away from the roof edge
or on the ground

Design Permanent Anchorage Points

Design Professionals can
design fixed anchorage points
so that workers will have a
convenient, safe point to tie off
when personal fall arrest
systems are needed.

Design of Anchorage Points

An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines

lanyards or deceleration devices;

Must be independent of any anchorage being used for

equipment tiebacks;

Must be independent of the means of

supporting or suspending the worker;

Must be capable of supporting at

least 5,000 pounds per worker;

Sound anchorages include certified

roof anchors as well as structural

members.

Design Permanent Anchorage Points:

Residential Fall Protection

Falls From Scaffolds/Staging

Falls From Scaffolds/Staging

Scaffolds shall be fully

planked

Scaffolds shall have

guardrails or personal fall
arrest systems

Scaffolds shall have a safe

means of access

Falls From Aerial Lifting Devices

Falls From Ladders

Falls From Ladders-Specify Fixed

Ladders or Stairways
Specify fixed ladders or
stairways whenever possible

Falls From Ladders

Position portable ladders to the side

rails to extend at least 3 feet above
the landing
Secure side rails at top or use a
grab device when 3 foot extension
is not possible
Use 3-point contact rule
Position base of ladder one foot
away from wall for every four feet of
ladder length

Falls
From Height
Roofs

If you work on roofs and can fall

more than 6 feet, you must be protected

Falls From Height-Specify 39-45

Inch High Window Sills

Falls From Height-Specify Pre-Fabrication

Building Components

Concrete Wall
Panels
Concrete Segmented Bridge
Steel Stairs

Falls From Height-Specify

Pre-Fabricated Steelwork1

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Falls From Height-Specify

Pre-Fabricated Service Risers1

www.safetyindesign.org

FallsFloor
from Floor
Openings
Holes

Improperly
Covered

Cover completely and securely

Falls From Floor Openings-Guardrails

Perimeter guarding shall consist of a mid-rail, top rail, toeboard system. The top edge height of the rail shall be
42+/-3 inches and the mid-rail should be between the top
and the walking/working level.

Falls From Floor Openings-Specify

Cast-in Sockets For Railings1

www.safetyindesign.org

Falls From Floor Openings

Contractor can:

Install temporary guardrails for temporary

floor openings

Install a cover for temporary floor

openings and holes

Falls From Structural Steel

Falls From Structural Steel

Avoid hanging connections;

design to bear on columns
instead using safety seats

Require holes in columns for tie

lines 21 and 42 above each
floor slab

Specify shop welded connections

instead of bolts or field welds to
avoid dangerous positions during
erection

Consider approximate
dimensions of connection tools to
prevent pinches or awkward
assemblies

National Institute of Steel Detailing and Steel Erectors

Association of America. Detailing Guide for the
Enhancement of Erection Safety. 2001

Falls Through Skylights

Sky Lights and Other Openings

Holes more than 6 feet high must be protected

This opening could be made safe by using a

Falls Through Skylights-Specify Guards

Falls Through Roof Surface/Roof Opening

Provide Dedicated Walkways to Access

Equipment on Roof

Design roof structure so that it can carry

stacks of roofing materials

Highlight hazardous and no-walk areas with

red highlighting paint or other visual
warnings.

Falls From Non-Moving Vehicles

Falls From Non-Moving VehiclesTrailer Access Platform

1 www.safetyindesign.org

Fall Prevention Resources

OSHA

Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Web Page

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/roundtables/roundtablesconstruction.html

Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics Page

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html

OSHAs Construction Pocket Guide

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3252/3252.html

Other

Design for Construction Safety Web Site

http://www.designforconstructionsafety.org

NIOSH Prevention Through Design Web Page

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PTD

Safety in Design
www.safetyindesign.org

Picture of OSHA's
Construction Pocket Guide