Steel Erection - OSHA’s
First Negotiated Rule
Subpart R - Steel Erection
• Issued January 18, 2001
• Long overdue updating of the existing standard
• Addresses hazards associated with: double
connections, column stability, falls, hoisting &
rigging, joist installation, engineered metal
buildings, decking, multiple lifts, structural
stability…
• Effective Date: January 18, 2002…
• + Phase-in of “Component” requirements, e.g.,
bolt holes for joist connections, etc. (permit
obtained before, 1/18/01) or steel erection
began before 9/16/01
Layout of Subpart R
• .750 - Scope
• .751 - Definitions
• .752 - Site Layout,
Site-specific Erection
Plan & Construction
Sequencing
• .753 - Hoisting &
Rigging
• .754 - Structural Steel
Assembly
• .755 - Column
Anchorage
• .756 - Beams &
Columns
• .757 - Open Web Steel
Joists
• .758 - Systemsengineered Metal
Buildings
• .759 - Falling Object
Protection
• .760 - Fall Protection
• .761 - Training
• Appendices A - H
Scope of Subpart R
• Subpart R applies to steel erection
activities such as, connecting, bolting,
plumbing & guying, joist installation,
decking, and related work (e.g., hoisting
& rigging) that occurs in tiered and nontiered buildings, bridges, stadiums, and
special structures BUT NOT
communication and broadcast towers or
tanks (e.g., water or fuel tanks)
1926.751 - Definitions
• Connector - means an employee who,
working with hoisting equipment, is placing &
•
connecting structural members
•
and/or components.
•
•
•
Hoisting Equipment means a
crane or a derrick NOT a come-along!
A “come-a-long”
• Mechanical device
usually consisting of a
chain or cable attached
at each end, that is
used to facilitate
movement of materials
through leverage.
• This is not considered
“hoisting equipment.”
“Topping
Out”
Derrick floor: An elevated floor of
a building or structure that has been
designated to receive hoisted pieces of steel
prior to final placement
Opening
• A gap or void 12
inches or more in its
least dimension in a
floor, roof or other
walking/working
surface.
• Skylights and
smoke domes shall
be regarded as
openings.
Project structural engineer of
record
• Registered, licensed
professional engineer
responsible for the
design of structural
steel framing and
whose seal appears on
the structural contract
documents.
Shear connector
• Steel bars, steel
lugs, headed steel
studs, and similar
devices which are
attached to a
structural member
for the purpose of
achieving
composite action
with concrete.
Steel joist
• An open web,
secondary loadcarrying member of
144 feet or less,
designed by the
manufacturer, used for
the support of floors
and roofs.
• This does not include
structural steel trusses
or cold-formed joists.
Steel joist girder
• An open web,
primary loadcarrying member,
designed by a
manufacturer, used
for the support of
floors and roofs.
Systems-engineered metal
building
• Field-assembled
building system
consisting of framing,
roof and wall
coverings.
1926.752
Site layout, site-specific
erection plan and
construction sequence
(a) Approval to begin steel
erection
• ASTM standard test method (concrete
must be 75% of the minimum
compressive design strength): footings,
piers, walls
• Repairs, replacements and modifications
to anchor bolts made in accordance with
1926.755(b)
• (b) Commencement of Steel Erection
– Steel Erector shall not erect steel unless it
has received written notification of the
requirements of (a) have been met
(c) Site layout (controlling
contractor shall provide):
• Adequate access
• A firm, properly graded, drained
area, readily accessible for the
safe storage of materials and the
safe operation of equipment
Adequate space for storage of
materials
1926.753 - Hoisting &
Rigging
• Crane inspections as per ANSI B30.51994
• Qualified operator is in charge of lifts
and has final call
• Qualified rigger
• OK to use man baskets (1926.550(g)(2)
does not apply, rest of .550 does apply)
• Preplan routes to minimize employee
exposure to suspended loads
• Multiple lift rigging procedures….
Critical lift
• A lift that (1) exceeds
75 percent of the
rated capacity of the
crane or derrick, or
(2) requires the use
of more than one
crane or derrick.
Can You
Christmas
Tree
Steel?
Multiple lift rigging
(1)
Multiple lift shall only be performed if the following
are met:
multiple lift rigging assembly is used;
maximum members is hoisted of five
per lift;
only structural members are lifted;
and
employees engaged in the lift have
been trained in the procedures in
1926.761 (c)(1)
Construction Safety Council
(4)The multiple lift rigging
assembly shall be rigged with the
members:
rigged from the top down
attached at their center of
gravity and maintained level
Construction Safety Council
rigged at
least 7 feet
apart
(2) Components of the multiple lift rigging assembly
shall be specifically designed and assembled with
a maximum capacity for total assembly and for
each individual attachment point.
Capacity must be certified by the manufacturer or
a qualified rigger and have a 5 to 1 safety factor
Construction Safety Council
(3) The total load shall not
exceed:
• The rated capacity of the
hoisting equipment
• The rigging capacity
(4) The multiple lift rigging
assembly shall be rigged
with the members:
– attached at their
center of gravity and
maintained level;
– rigged from the top
down; and
– rigged at least 7 feet
apart
1926.753(e)
(5) The members on the
multiple lift rigging
assembly shall be set
from the bottom up.
(6) Controlled load
lowering shall be used
whenever the load is over
the connectors.
Typical Multiple
Lift Rigging
Assembly
D
A
What do you
need to know?
•How much does
each piece weigh?
E (shackle)
B
F (hook)
•What size slings?
•What size and type
of hooks?
•What size of
shackles?
G
C
H (shackle)
I (hook)
Another
variation of a
manufactured
multiple lift
rigging
assembly
1926.754 Structural
Steel
Assembly
1926.754(a) -
Structural
stability SHALL
be maintained
at ALL times
during the
erection
process!
1926.754 Structural Steel
Assembly
• (b)(3) - maintain fully planked or decked
floor or net 2 stories or 30 ft. below any
erection work
• (c) Walking/working surfaces - trip
hazards and slip resistance (SR effective
7/18/06)
• (d) Plumbing-up - as per competent
person
• (e) Metal decking - (2)(iii) - metal decking
holes/openings SHALL not be cut until
immediately prior to being filled/used
Plumbing Up!
Metal decking
• Commercially
manufactured, structural
grade, cold rolled metal
panel formed into a series
of parallel ribs; this
includes metal floor, and
roof decks, standing
seam metal roofs, other
metal roof systems and
other products such as
bar gratings, checker
plate, expanded metal
panels.
Decking hole
• A gap or void more
than 2 inches in its
least dimension and
less than 12 inches
in its greatest
dimension in a floor,
roof or other
walking/working
surface.
Framed metal deck
openings
• Must be
turned down
to allow
continuous
deck
installation
except where
not allowed by
structural
design.
•Skylights and smoke
domes shall be regarded
as openings.
1926.755 - Column Anchorage
• (a) General
requirements for
erection stability
– Columns anchored
by a min. of 4 rods
(bolts)
– Each anchor rod,
assembly including
base plate and
foundation, designed
to resist a 300#
eccentric load at 18”
from the column face
1926.755 - Column Anchorage
• (a) (continued)
– Columns set on level
finished floors, pregrouted leveling
plates, leveling nuts,
or shim packs
– All columns shall be
evaluated by a
competent person to
determine whether
guying or bracing is
needed
(b) Repair, Replacement Or
Field Modification
(1) Need approval of the project structural engineer.
(2) Prior to column erection, the controlling contractor shall
provide written notification to the steel erector if there has
been any repair, etc., to the anchor rods (bolts).
Construction Safety Council
Field modification of anchor rods
Shim Packs
How many can you use?
New bolt not
tested!
New bolt not
made!= 2 anchor
bolts
Prevent Steel
Collapse!
• 4 bolts minimum per
column! [.755(a)]
• Repair, replacement
or field modification
of anchor bolts must
be approved by the
structural engineer of
record! [.755(b)]
Construction Safety Council
1926.756 Beams &
Columns
(a)General. Secured with
at least two bolts per
connection. Competent
person to evaluate.
(b)Diagonal bracing.
With bracing, secured by
at least one bolt per
connection.
(c)Double connections at
columns and/or at beam
webs over a column. At
least one bolt or similar
connection device is
present.
Two bolts per connection
Double connection
• Attachment
method where
the connection
point is intended
for two pieces of
steel which
share common
bolts on either
side of a central
piece.
In order to make the
“double
connection”:
• the connector has
to back out the bolts
• hold the beam in
place with a spud
wrench (fig. 1)
• When second
beam arrives, align
and hold it with a
spud wrench
• push bolts back
through first beam
into second beam
and secure in place.
(old way – no
beam seat,
flanged or
clipped
connection
used)
1926.756 - Beams & Columns (c) Double connections at columns and/or
at beam webs over a column: At least one
bolt or similar connection device must be
present (e.g., a beam seat, etc.)
Clipped
connection
Staggered
connection
Double connection seat
• Structural
attachment that,
during the
installation of a
double connection,
supports the first
member while the
second member is
connected.
Construction Safety Council
(d)Column splices.
Designed to resist a
300# eccentric load
located at 18” from
column face.
(e)Perimeter
columns. Must
extend a min. of 48”
above the finished
floor for safety
cables. Holes or
other attachment
device attached to
perimeter columns
Column splice
Vertical stabilizer plate
Post
Diagonal bracing
• Solid web structural
members used as
diagonal bracing must
be secured by at least
one bolt per
connection drawn up
wrench tight or the
equivalent as specified
by the project
structural engineer of
record.
1926.757 - Open Web Steel
Joists
• Addresses proper joist end attachment,
erection procedures
– erection bridging requirements according to
Tables A & B (similar to SJI Tables)
– Holes in joists/bolting required for joists in
40’+ bays
• Requirements for landing and placing loads on
joists
• Some requirements may be modified through a
site-specific erection plan (tandem setting of
some 60’+ joists and requirements for landing
decking bundles)
Anchored bridging
• Steel joist
bridging is
connected to a
bridging
terminus point.
Bolted diagonal bridging
• Diagonal
bridging that is
bolted to a steel
joist or joists.
Bridging clip
• A device that is
attached to the
steel joist to allow
the bolting of the
bridging to the
steel joist.
Bridging terminus point
• Means a wall,
beam,tandem joists (with
all bridging installed and
horizontal truss in the
plane of the top cord) or
other element at an end
or intermediate point of a
line of bridging that
provides an anchor point
for the steel joist
bridging.
• (Bridging is secured to
the wall or beam)
Steel Erection Operation
An employee was
assigned to connect
the X-braces at the
end of 40-foot long
bar joists. Only one
end of the bar joist he
was working on had
been welded. The
employee was sitting
on the unwelded end
of the bar joist trying
to connect the Xbraces. He lost his
balance, dislodging
the bar joist from its
end support, and fell
approximately 24 feet
to his death.
Five iron workers were
distributing 90-foot-long
open web bar joists on a
building under construction.
The bar joists were
supported by vertical
columns spaced 30 feet
apart. The steel columns
were not framed in at least
two directions and the bar
joists were not field bolted
to the vertical columns to
prevent collapse. The bar
joists shifted, causing the
vertical columns to lean.
This caused entire section
of columns and pen web bar
joists to collapse. Two
employees rode the iron
down. One was fatally
injured and one received
serious injuries.
Steel Erection Operation
1926.757 - Open Web Steel
Joists
• When columns not
framed in 2 directions
by beams, Steel joists
shall be field-bolted
at the column
• Hoist cables not
released until joists
are field-bolted and
the bottom chord is
restrained by
stabilizer plate
1926.757 - Open Web Steel
Joists
• (b) Attachment of steel
joists and steel girders:
“K”, “LH” & “DLH”
series joists to be
attached by specific
welds or equivalent
bolts
– except for panels, each
joist shall be attached to
the support structure at
least on one end of both
sides of the seat
immediately upon
placement
1926.757 - Open Web Steel
Joists
• (c) Erection of
steel joists: as per
incorporated SJI
tables
• (d) Erection
bridging
• (e) Landing &
placing loads
Bolted joists
Construction load
1926.758 - Systems-Engineered Metal
Buildings
• Specific requirements for metal buildings (e.g.,
Butler buildings, etc.) including:
–
–
–
–
4 anchor rods/column
rigid frames to have 50% of bolts or mfg spec.
girt connections
joists and purlins
System-Engineered Metal
Buildings
• Rigid frames will have 50
percent of their bolts or
the number of bolts
specified by the
manufacturer (which
ever is greater) installed
and tightened before the
hoisting equipment is
released.
System-Engineered Metal
Buildings
• Minimum of four
(4) anchor rods
(anchor bolts)
per structural
columns
Girt
• Is the “Z” or “C”
shaped member
formed from sheet
steel spanning
between primary
framing and
supporting wall
materials.
• (Engineered metal
buildings)
“Z” shaped girt
Purlin
• In systemsengineered metal
buildings, a “Z” or
“C” shaped member
formed from sheet
steel spanning
between primary
framing and
supporting roof
material.
Girt and eave strut - to – frame
connections
§1926.759 Falling Object Protection
(does not apply to materials being
hoisted)
• Secure loose items aloft
• Controlling contractor to bar
operations below steel erection
unless falling object protection
provided (from objects other than
hoisted materials)
Falling Object Protection
• Secure all
loose items
aloft
§1926.760 Fall Protection
• All must be protected at heights greater than 2
stories or 30 feet, including connectors and
deckers
• Between 15 and 30 feet: Fall protection required
for all with exceptions for:
– Deckers in controlled decking zone (CDZ) and
– Connectors
• Connectors must be provided and wear equipment
necessary to be able to be tied-off, or be provided
with other means of fall protection
Personal fall arrest
system
• Means a system used
to arrest an employee
in a fall from a working
level.
• System consists of an
anchorage, connectors,
a body harness and
may include a lanyard,
deceleration device,
lifeline or suitable
combination of these.
Positioning device
• Means a body belt or body
harness rigged to allow an
employee to be supported
on an elevated, vertical
surface, such as a wall or
column and work with both
hands free while leaning.
Fall Restraint…?
= NO ( I mean ZERO!) Free Fall
1926.760 - Fall protection
1926.760(d)(1)- Fall Protection systems
shall meet the requirements of
1926.502!
Safety Nets
Connecting
Beamer
BEAMER IN USE
Beamer, Glyder, Girder Grip
RETRACTABLE LANYARDS
Roof Eye
Working Fast - Safely
2 Lanyards Minimum for 100%
FP
Uni Strut in Use
Scissors lifts and Man baskets
Horizontal Lifelines
§1926.760 Fall Protection
(cont.)
• Controlled decking zone:
– For leading edge decking work
• limited access
• designated boundaries by control
lines
• Work practices for attaching deck:
–install safety attachments from leading
edge back
–no final attachments allowed in CDZ
–up to 3000 SF of unsecured decking
• specific training requirements
Controlled Deck Zone (CDZ)
?
Safety deck attachment
• An initial attachment
that is used to
secure an initially
placed sheet of
decking to keep
proper alignment
and bearing with
structural support
members.
Warning Line System
CDZs
Controlled
Decking Zones
§1926.760 Fall Protection (cont.)
• Perimeter cables required
– Must be installed “as soon as the metal
decking has been installed”
• Custody of Fall Protection
Equipment:
– Controlling contractor must choose to
either:
• accept responsibility for maintaining fall
protection equipment left by erector,
• OR ensure that it is removed (.760(e))
Column attachments for
safety cable:
1926.761 Training
§1926.761 Training
• Qualified person to train workers
in use & operation of fall
protection equipment
• Qualified person to train workers
engaged in specific activities:
– “christmas-treeing”
– connecting
– CDZ procedures