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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219- 8151.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has issued a new booklet on fall protection in construction.
The booklet explains the revisions made to OSHA
construction industry safety standards on Aug 9, 1994, to prevent employees
from falling and to protect them from falling objects.
Falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities in the
U.S. construction industry. Each year between 150 and 200 workers are killed
and more than 100,000 injured as a result of falls at construction sites.
The booklet is entitled, "Fall Protection in
Construction," (OSHA 3146) 1995. The introduction notes that OSHA recognizes
that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently
involving a variety of factors.
The booklet contains sections on the scope and application
of the standard, provisions of the standard and the employer's duty to have
fall protection at various areas while performing various tasks. These include
protection at excavations, formwork and reinforcing steel, hoist areas, holes,
leading edges, overhand bricklaying and related work, precast concrete erection
and residential construction, ramps, runways and other walkways, roofing,
including low-slope roofs and steep roofs and wall openings.
It also provides information on fall protection systems
criteria and practices including guardrail systems, personal fall arrest
systems, positioning device systems, safety monitoring systems, safety net
systems and warning line systems. There is also information on controlled
access zones where certain types of work may take place without the use of
conventional fall protection systems.
Other sections deal with roadway and vehicular aisle
covers, protection from falling objects, including storage of materials to
prevent their falling and use of canopies and toeboards as protection from
falling objects, and employee training.
A glossary of terms used in the standard also is provided.
Sources of other information -- such as OSHA's recommended
safety and health management guidelines, the free OSHA consultation services,
state plan activities, the OSHA voluntary protection programs (VPP) and OSHA
training and education programs -- also are described. The 30-page booklet
lists OSHA- related publications, states with approved plans, and phone numbers
of OSHA consultation projects in each state and OSHA area offices.
A single free copy of the booklet may be obtained by
sending a self-addressed label to the OSHA Publications Office, Room N-3101,
200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, D.C. or to the nearest OSHA regional or
area office. The booklet also will be available after May 3, 1995, on the
Department of Labor's electronic bulletin board.
OSHA offices are listed in the U.S. Government section of
the telephone directory under U.S. Department of Labor.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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