On OSHA Worker Fall Protection Guidelines for High Rise Construction | DENENA | POINTS
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On OSHA Worker Fall Protection Guidelines for High Rise Construction

Continued from Part 1. The Texas work accident lawyers at Denena Points, PC mention that 29 CFR 1926.760 gives the following rules designed for worker protection from fall injuries and fatalities while engaged in the construction of tall buildings with steel skeletons:

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General requirements: Workers on a walking/working surface with an unprotected edge more than 15 feet above a lower level must be protected by conventional fall protection [29 CFR 1926.760(a)(1)].

  • Perimeter safety cables must be installed at the final interior and exterior perimeters of multi-story structures as soon as the decking has been installed [29 CFR 1926.760(a)(2)]. Our Texas work accident lawyers remark that the perimeter safety cables help protect the detail crew that follows behind the decking crew.
  • Connectors and workers in controlled decking zones (CDZs) must be protected from fall hazards as provided in 29 CFR 1926.760(a)(3), Connectors and Controlled Decking Zone.
  1. Connectors must be protected by conventional fall protection when working on a surface with an unprotected edge more than two stories or 30 feet above a lower level [29 CFR 1926.760(b)(1)], and they must have completed the connector training described in 29 CFR 1926.761 [29 CFR 1926.760(b)(2)].
  1. While working at heights over 15 and up to 30 feet, connectors must [29 CFR 1926.760(b)(3)]: be provided with a complete personal fall arrest system or other allowable fall protection, and wear the equipment necessary for tying off.
  1. Controlled Decking Zones (CDZs) can be established as a substitute for fall protection where metal decking is initially being installed and forms the leading edge of a work area over 15 and up to 30 feet above a lower level [29 CFR 1926.760(c)].
  1. Leading-edge workers in a CDZ are required to: be protected from fall hazards above 2 stories or 30 feet (whichever is less) [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(1)], and have completed CDZ training in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.761 [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(4)].
  1. Our Texas work accident lawyers emphasize that workers not engaged in leading-edge work and who are not properly trained in the hazards involved are prohibited from entering the CDZ [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(2)] and [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(4)].
  1. The CDZ must be no more than 90 feet wide and 90 feet deep from any leading edge [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(3)], not exceed 3,000 square feet of unsecured decking [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(5)], have designated and clearly marked boundaries with control lines (a highly visible boundary) or the equivalent [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(3)], have safety deck attachments placed from the leading edge back to the control line [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(6)], and have at least two safety deck attachments for each metal decking panel [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(6)].
  1. Final deck attachments and the installation of shear connectors are prohibited from being done in the CDZ. [29 CFR 1926.760(c)(7)]

Criteria for Fall Protection Equipment: Guardrail systems, safety-net systems, personal fall-arrest systems, positioning-device systems and their components must conform to the criteria in 29 CFR 1926.502. (Our Texas work accident lawyers note that further details are available in Appendix G to the rules.) [29 CFR 1926.760(d)(1)];

  • Fall-arrest system components must be used in fall-restraint systems and conform to the criteria in 29 CFR 1926.502. (More details available in Appendix G to the rules.) [29 CFR 1926.760(d)(2)]; and
  • Either body belts or body harnesses may be used in fall restraint systems for steel erection [29 CFR 1926.760(d)(2)].
  • Perimeter safety cables must meet the criteria for guardrail systems in 29 CFR 1926.502. (More information available in Appendix G.) [29 CFR 1926.760(d)(3)].

Custody of fall protection: The steel erector may leave fall protection in place so it may be used by other trades only if the controlling contractor [29 CFR 1926.760(e)] has directed the steel erector to leave the fall protection in place [29 CFR 1926.760(e)(1)], and has inspected and accepted control and responsibility of the fall protection before authorizing other trades to work in the area [29 CFR 1926.760(e)(2)].

Contact the Texas Work Accident Lawyers at Denena Points, PC if you’ve been Seriously Injured or lost a Loved One in a Fall due to Negligence like Inadequate Fall Protection

Not all workers are covered by workers’ compensation for their injuries on the job. And even when they are covered by workers’ comp, the benefits rarely cover the full amount of their expenses and lost wages after the accident. Contact us for a FREE and confidential legal consultation to learn more. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. Our Texas work accident lawyers are available anytime through our online contact form or call us at281-369-4363.