PREVENTION OF FALL FATALITIES AND
INJURIES IN CONSTRUCTION
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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
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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:
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Fall Protection Workgroup
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Design for Safety (DfS) Workgroup
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Presentations
OSHA Alliance Program Construction
Roundtable: Members
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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
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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
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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 OSHA’s Alliance Program
Construction Roundtable Web Page
U.S. Construction Accident Statistics1
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Nearly 200,000 serious injuries and 1,226 deaths each
year
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5.5% of workforce but 21.5% of fatalities
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Construction has one of the highest fatality rates of any
industry sector
SIGNIFICANCE: NEARLY 100 DEATHS PER MONTH
1
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
1Bureau
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?
OSHA’s 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:
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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
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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 contractor’s responsibility to
enforce compliance with safety practices with regard to
ladders, scaffolds, and instances where fall protection is
necessary
Workers – It is the worker’s 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
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Passive Systems prevent falls by placing a
physical barrier between the worker and the
hazard (e.g. guardrails).
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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
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A Personal Fall-Arrest System
is a system used to arrest an
employee in a fall from a
working level.
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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
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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.
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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
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Must be the right size for you.
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The attachment point of a body
harness shall be located on the:
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Rear D-ring between shoulders when working from a
suspended scaffold or an aerial lift Front D-ring when working
from a bosun’s chair.
Harness must be adjusted snugly starting
with leg straps, then waist, shoulders and
chest.
Lanyards
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Used to connect a body harness
to a lifeline, rope-grab, or
anchorage point.
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Shall be the appropriate length:
◦ Bosun’s chair – 2 feet or less
◦ Suspended scaffold – 3 to 4 feet
◦ Aerial lift – 4 to 6 feet
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Attach to:
◦ Rear D-ring on harness between shoulders
when working on suspended scaffolds and
aerial lifts.
◦ Front D-ring when working from a bosun’s chair.
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Be protected against being cut or abraded.
Lifelines
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Vertical - connected to an anchorage at one end to hang
vertically.
Horizontal - connected to anchorages at both ends to
stretch horizontally.
Lifelines
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Are used as a means of connecting other components of
a Personal Fall-Arrest System.
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Shall be protected from contact with any surface that
may abrade, weaken, damage or sever it.
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Shall be removed from service as recommended by the
manufacturer.
Falls From Roof Edge
Falls From Roof Edge-Specify Parapets
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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
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Scaffolds shall be fully
planked
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Scaffolds shall have
guardrails or personal fall
arrest systems
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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
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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
1
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
1
www.safetyindesign.org
Falls From Floor Openings
Contractor can:
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Install temporary guardrails for temporary
floor openings
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Install a cover for temporary floor
openings and holes
Falls From Structural Steel
Falls From Structural Steel
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Avoid hanging connections;
design to bear on columns
instead using safety seats
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Require holes in columns for tie
lines 21” and 42” above each
floor slab
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Specify shop welded connections
instead of bolts or field welds to
avoid dangerous positions during
erection
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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
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Provide Dedicated Walkways to Access
Equipment on Roof
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Design roof structure so that it can carry
stacks of roofing materials
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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
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Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Web Page
http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/roundtables/roundtablesconstruction.html
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Fall Protection Safety and Health Topics Page
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html
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OSHA’s Construction Pocket Guide
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3252/3252.html
Other
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Design for Construction Safety Web Site
http://www.designforconstructionsafety.org
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NIOSH Prevention Through Design Web Page
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PTD
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Safety in Design
www.safetyindesign.org
Picture of OSHA's
Construction Pocket Guide