On Nov. 17, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule to update its existing Walking-Working Surfaces standards relating to slip, trip and fall hazards. Additionally, the revised rule includes a new provision under the general industry Personal Protective Equipment standards that creates employer requirements for personal fall protection systems.
This new rule impacts more than 112 million workers, and goes into effect on Jan. 17, 2017. In total, OSHA expects it to prevent 29 deaths and more than 5,842 injuries per year, making this a huge stride toward increased worksite safety.
About the New OSHA Rule
OSHA’s final rule comes with several major updates, but the most substantial is the ability for employers to choose the best fall protection system for their worksite. Rather than requiring them to use guardrails as the main fall protection method, a variety of approved options will now be made available. The final rule also allows employers to use rope descent systems up to 300 ft. above a lower level, bans body belts as part of a personal fall arrest system and mandates worker training on personal fall protection systems and fall equipment.
In total, the final rule will revise eight current industry standards — including those mentioned above:
- Fall Protection Flexibility
- Updated Scaffold Requirements
- Phase-In of Ladders Safety Systems or Personal Fall Arrest Systems on Fixed Ladders
- Phase-Out of the “Qualified Climber” Exception in Outdoor Advertising
- Rope Descent Systems (RDS) and Certification of Anchorages
- Personal Fall Protection System Performance and Use Requirements
- Inspection of Walking-Working Surfaces
- Training
Start Working Toward Compliance Now
Since the final rule becomes effective Jan. 17, 2017, it’s time to start creating a plan to comply now. OSHA has set the following phased-in compliance timeline for several requirements, so work these into your plan:
- Training workers on fall and equipment hazards — 6 months
- Inspection and certification of permanent building anchorages — 1 year
- Installation of fall protection on existing ladders over 24 ft. currently without fall protection — 2 years
- Installation of ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems on new fixed ladders over 24 ft. and replacement ladders/ladder sections — 2 years
- Installation of ladder safety systems or personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 ft. — 20 years
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