OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment Ruling

OSHA issued a new final rule this past November that updates and revises the outdated general industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) standards on slip, trip, and fall hazards, which are a leading cause of worker deaths and lost-workday injuries (29 CFR part 1910, subparts D and I). This rule goes into effect on January 17, 2017 and includes updates and/or changes to the following:

• Fall protection flexibility
• Updated scaffold requirements to match OSHA’s construction scaffold standards
• Phase-in of ladder 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 and retraining as necessary in a manner the worker understands

Falls from heights are among the leading causes of work-related deaths and injuries. OSHA estimates that this new ruling will save 29 lives and eliminate 5,842 lost-workday injuries each year.

Image Credit: Wikimedia CC BY 4.0

How It Affects You

The final rule is easier for employers to follow and provides employers with greater flexibility. For example, the final rule:

• Provides compliance flexibility for employers by increasing the fall protection options employers may use;
• Provides greater consistency between OSHA's general industry and construction standards, which makes compliance easier for employers who perform both general industry and construction activities;
• Incorporates advances in technology, industry best practices, and national consensus standards, which provide employers with effective and cost-efficient measures to protect workers;
• Replaces outdated specification requirements with performance-based language and criteria, which provides greater flexibility and makes the final rule easier for employers and workers to understand and follow.

How We Can Help

At General Safety Services, all fall protection systems are custom-designed to fit the building’s configuration, structural makeup, rooftop machinery, and window placements while taking into consideration the building owner’s budgetary requirements. Whether the structure calls for standard anchors, pier anchors, wall anchors, or a horizontal lifeline system, let our experts design the perfect system to make your building fully compliant. GSS uses a 5-point process to complete your project from initial assessment to certification and testing. For a behind the scenes look at this process, watch as we plan, fabricate, and install our Personal Fall Protection systems in our new YouTube video.

Call For a Quote: (781) 381-2835

Sources and Additional Information OSHA, New Rule FAQs