This discussion of fall protection is limited to fall protection as it pertains to construction-related activities and shipyard employment. Fall protection in general industry is discussed on the safety and health topic page for walking and working surfaces.
Fall protection is any equipment, device or system that prevents an employee from falling from an elevation or mitigates the effect of such a fall.
A fall hazard is any condition on a walking-working surface that exposes an employee to a risk of harm from a fall on the same level or to a lower level.
Fall Protection
What are the hazards associated with fall protection?
In the absence of fall protection, employees can become seriously injured resulting in broken bones, strains and sprains, or death.
What can I do to protect myself?
Whenever employees are provided with personal fall protection equipment, they must examine it prior to beginning work from an elevation. Employers are required to ensure that employees have been trained and have the proper equipment to prevent a fall to a lower surface and have implemented a fall protection plan.
What resources are available to assist employers?
Safety and Health Programs
Compliance Documents
- SN 65 - The Use of Warning Lines Alone For Fall Protection on Low Sloped Roofs discusses the conditions in which the use of warning lines on low-slope roofs qualifies as fall protection.
- SN 74 - Fall Protection Requirements for Work Involving Dry Laid Masonry Retaining Walls addresses fall protection requirements when employees are engaged in the installation of dry laid masonry retaining walls.
- STD 03-11-002 - Compliance Guidance for Fall Protection in Residential Construction addresses fall protection requirements when employees are engaged in residential construction.
- Compliance Directive: CPL 02-00-124 - Multi-Employer Citation Policy provides guidance to Compliance Officers regarding the issuance of citations for employers who exercise control in creating, controlling, exposing and correcting hazards for their employees and those of other employers on site.
- OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015) provides technical information about workplace hazards and controls to OSHA’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers.
- CFR 131 - Subpart M; Fall Protection in Construction provides the promulgation of the rule.
Fact Sheets
- NCDOL Investigates: Fall From Ladder provides an overview of the investigation process used for falls from ladders.
- NCDOL Investigates: Fall From Roof provides an overview of the investigation process associated with falls from roofs.
- NCDOL Investigates Fall From Scaffolding provides an overview of the investigation process associated with falls from scaffolding.
Industry Guides
- Industry Guide 48 - OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, provides requirements for standards related to falls in construction.
- Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, provides requirements for standards related to falls in general industry.
- Industry Guide 53 - OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, highlights the requirements of standards related to falls in shipyard employment.
Technical Assistance
- Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.
Which standards apply?
OSH has adopted the following standards which are applicable to fall protection in North Carolina. This is not all inclusive.
Note: Please also check the standards information and activity webpage to see if there has been any recent or upcoming regulatory activity on this topic.
Construction
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M - Fall Protection
- 29 CFR 1926.500 - scope, application and definitions
- 29 CFR 1926.501 - duty to have fall protection
- 29 CFR 1926.502 - fall protection systems criteria and practices
- 29 CFR 1926.503 - training requirements
Other OSH standards that may apply to fall protection in construction include:
- 29 CFR 1926.104 - safety belts, lifelines, and lanyards
- 29 CFR 1904.7 - recordkeeping, general recording criteria
- 29 CFR 1904.39 - recordkeeping, reporting fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye as a result of work-related incidents to OSHA
Maritime, Shipyard Employment
- 29 CFR 1915.159 - personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)
- 29 CFR 1915.160 - positioning device systems
Recordkeeping
- Refer to Recording and Reporting
Other Applicable Standards
The Which OSHA Standards Apply webpage can also help identify other standards that may be applicable to your worksite.
Where can I learn more?
Compliance Documents
- SN 65 - The Use of Warning Lines Alone For Fall Protection on Low Sloped Roofs discusses the conditions in which the use of warning lines on low-slope roofs qualifies as fall protection.
- SN 74 - Fall Protection Requirements for Work Involving Dry Laid Masonry Retaining Walls addresses fall protection requirements when employees are engaged in the installation of dry laid masonry retaining walls.
- STD 03-11-002 - Compliance Guidance for Fall Protection in Residential Construction addresses fall protection requirements when employees are engaged in residential construction.
- Compliance Directive: CPL 02-00-124 - Multi-Employer Citation Policy provides guidance to Compliance Officers regarding the issuance of citations for employers who exercise control in creating, controlling, exposing and correcting hazards for their employees and those of other employers on site.
- OSHA Technical Manual (TED 01-00-015) provides technical information about workplace hazards and controls to OSHA’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers.
- CFR 131 - Subpart M; Fall Protection in Construction provides the promulgation of the rule.
Fact Sheets
- NCDOL Investigates: Fall From Ladder provides an overview of the investigation process used for falls from ladders.
- NCDOL Investigates: Fall From Roof provides an overview of the investigation process associated with falls from roofs.
- NCDOL Investigates Fall From Scaffolding provides an overview of the investigation process associated with falls from scaffolding.
Industry Guides
- Industry Guide 48 - OSHA Construction Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, provides requirements for standards related to falls in construction.
- Industry Guide 49 - OSHA General Industry Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, provides requirements for standards related to falls in general industry.
- Industry Guide 53 - OSHA Shipyard Employment Standards Requiring Programs, Inspections, Procedures, Records and/or Training, highlights the requirements of standards related to falls in shipyard employment.
Technical Assistance
- Inquiries about workplace safety and health requirements can be submitted to Ask OSH online or by phone at 919-707-7876.