OSHA scaffold regulations are currently found in the 1926 and 1910 standards. Most scaffolds are governed by 29CFR1926, Subpart L. This standard applies anytime a “construction-type activity” is to performed from the scaffold. This is true even in general industry (1910 type) facilities. The location of the scaffold does not determine the standard applicability, but rather the activity to be performed on the scaffold.

The third annual National Safety Stand-down will take place from May 2-6, 2016. It is to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. is this year’s theme.

Workers need training to understand the rules and how they apply in real life situations. They frequently are simply unaware of dangerous situations such as equipment compatibility problems, the consequences of a sudden free fall or the possibility of impact with a stationary object. Workers must be trained that safety is their responsibility and that taking the time to do a job properly is the safest way to protect themselves and their coworkers. To achieve this, training must provide hands-on opportunities for workers and managers. Workers should also be trained to understand why their work will be observed in the

The Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Canada recently sentenced a roofing company owner to 15 days in jail (in addition to other sanctions) for the fall death of one of his employees. The employee, who was wearing a harness but was not tied-off, was both experienced and recently had undergone fall protection training.

Unless the fall event occurs directly underneath the horizontal lifeline, additional lateral loadings will be produced in the anchorages due to offset from the lifeline centerline. The magnitude of these forces is directly related to the offset distance and should be set equal to the maximum vertical load encountered in the line for the total number of workers on the system. This load shall be applied in either direction at the end anchorage for analysis and design purposes.

The primary rule is to apply fall protection when the height hazard exceeds a reasonable figure of a few feet – or at any height, if continued exposure is not preventable. The responsibility of the equipment vendor to educate an end user is limited by the extent that the customer (i.e., the end user’s employer) has a bona fide no-fall policy rather than a tie-off policy, which is common among employers. It also depends upon the manufacturer’s instructions, labeling, and product literature, and whether the employer and employees follow these items for reasonably foreseeable or permitted uses. Workers must be