fast facts 

Working From Heights: Fall Protection December 2010 

Office of Compliance 

advancing safety, health, and workplace rights in the legislative branch 

www.compliance.gov 

Why it Matters

Falls from heights involving scaffolding, rooftops and ledges are a leading cause of workplace fatalities. Falls that do not result in death are 

often disabling. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 700 fatal injuries involving falls occurred in 2008. The numbers for 2009 

have that number at over 600 with expectations that it will rise in coming years. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

standards 29 CFR§§ 1910.23 and .24(h) require employers in general industry to take specific precautions to protect employees who work 

from heights of four feet or greater. 

Hazard Assessment 

Every employer is responsible for conducting hazard assessments. Assessments identify potential hazards that workers are facing and help 

prepare for adequate fall protection. Things to assess include the following: 

 Are stairs, ladders, scaffolding, lifts or baskets needed to access the work area? 

 Is there potential for a fall when working at heights of four feet or greater? 

 How are workers and others protected from fall hazards and falling objects? 

 Does the employee have the proper training needed for the job? 

 How much experience does the employee(s) have working from heights using fall protection measures? 

 Is the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available and has it been inspected before the job? 

Fall Protection Training 

29 CFR§ 1910.23(c) requires employers to provide protection systems in the event a fall could occur while working from heights – specifically, when working from any elevated platform. Whenever work from a height of greater than four feet is being conducted, fall protection 

needs to be addressed first. Fall protection must be incorporated into employer safety programs. A fall protection program should be set up 

to assist in the protection of employees with a designated, competent person as the primary trainer. This person should train all employees in 

the following areas if the employees work from heights greater than four feet: 

Training records should be maintained for each employee with dates of training and signatures, to include the person who conducted the training. Retraining should be conducted if changes in the fall protection policies or procedures occur, or the person trained has demonstrated 

unsafe practices involving fall protection. 

A “safety talk” before each job is a great way to get everyone “thinking safety” and preventing injuries. 

Guardrails Are Required 

The employer must install guardrail systems where feasible and when fall arrest systems, fall restraint 

systems, or safety nets are not in place (Fig 1). Guardrails are a first line of defense for fall protection. 

According to OSHA, the top edge of the guardrails must be between 39 and 45 inches above the walking 

area, taking into account all circumstances. For example, if an employee is using a step ladder near the 

railing, the top rail will need to be raised or other fall protection means used while the step ladder is in 

place. Guardrail systems must be able to withstand a force of 200 pounds without failure. A guardrail 

system is not required if alternatives such as personal fall restraint systems, fall arrest systems, or safety 

nets are in place. 

 Recognition of fall hazards in the work area. 

 Role of employees in fall protection control measures. 

 Overview of the OSHA fall protection standards. 

 Inspecting fall protection systems before and after each use. 

 Use and operation of fall protection systems. 

 Rescue procedures to follow in case of a fall. 

 Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining and 

disassembling fall protection. 

Fig. 1: Guardrails along roof edge 
Fall Protection Systems – Fall protection systems protect personnel from the risk of falls to a lower level when working at 

elevated heights. These specific systems should prevent or eliminate falls or control fall hazards to avoid serious injury. 

Personal fall arrest system, a system such as a full 

body harness, attaches to a lanyard then to a lifeline that 

is connected to a secure anchor point (Fig. 2). Fall arrest 

devices are designed to stop a fall within a few feet of 

where the fall starts. Fall arrests with shock absorbers 

are designed so that if someone does fall, they will not 

sustain a serious injury as a result of stopping or arresting the fall (Fig. 3).

 Positioning system is a system of equipment and 

 connectors that when used with a body harness, allows 

an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical 

 surface, e.g., a wall or windowsill, keeping both hands 

 free for window cleaners. 

 Personal fall restraint systems are designed to keep the worker from 

 reaching a fall point, e.g., a roof edge or elevated surface. Anchor points 

 (Fig. 4) attach to a travel restraint (Fig. 5). Employees are able to attach 

 a lifeline to the harness and anchor using locking snap hooks, locking “D” 

 clips or a locking carabineer clip. This device is designed to allow the 

 employee to reach the work area freely without falling over the 

 edge. Several of these anchor points can be affixed along roofs 

 or ledges allowing easy access to any job. Travel restraints 

 consist of a full body harness, lanyard or tether. The lanyard or tether 

attaches to the anchor point (Fig. 4). 

 Fall Protection Options for Hazardous Exposures 

Hazardous exposures include working over/around 

 dangerous equipment, open pit areas, floor or roof 

 openings, open tanks and vats, overhead work, and roof 

 jobs. Guardrails, safety nets (Fig. 6) or personal fall arrests 

 are some of the systems that should be in place to prevent 

 injury. If roof work is being done, a designated area with a 

 warning line system (Fig. 7) could keep workers away 

from danger. In some cases controlling access to a fall 

hazard by limiting the number of employees around the 

hazard might be the best way to prevent injury. Falls 

through roofs or floor openings can be easily prevented by 

covering holes with clearly marked covers. It is important to 

barricade around holes before removing covers to work. 

Use appropriate fall protection when working near wall or floor 

openings (Fig. 8). Highlight all barricaded hazards with signs.

Figure 2: Fall Arrest System 

Fig. 5: Fall Restraint System 

Fig. 4: Anchor Point 

Fig. 3: Example of a fall arrest system 

Fig. 7: Warning lines keep workers aware of 

and away from roof edges. 

Fig. 6: Netting doesn’t help prevent 

the fall but keeps the fall from causing 

serious injury. 

Fig. 8: Net coverings prevent workers 

from falling to lower level. 
fast stats 

OSHA & ANSI STANDARDS COVERING FALL PROTECTION 

OSHA 29 CFR§ 1910.23 - Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes 

OSHA 29 CFR§ 1910.132 - Personal Protective Equipment General Requirements 

OSHA 29 CFR§ 1926.500-.503 - Fall Protection 

ANSI A1264.1-2007 - Surfaces and their access; Workplace, Floor, Wall and Roof Openings; 

 Stairs and Guardrail systems 

ANSI Z359.0-2009 - Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest 

ANSI Z359.1-2007 - Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components 

ANSI Z359.2-2007 - Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program 

 

 

 

 

This information does not constitute advice or an official ruling of the Office of Comp liance or the Board of Directors and is 

intended for educational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the Congressional Accountability Act (2 U.S.C.

1301 et seq.) and the regulations issued by the Board, or you may contact the Office of Compliance.

The Office of Compliance advances safety, health, and workplace 

rights in the U.S. Congress and the Legislative Branch. Established as an independent agency by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Office educates employees and employing 

offices about their rights and responsibilities under the Act, provides an impartial dispute resolution process, and investigates and 

remedies violations of the Act. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Compliance: 

Room LA 200, John Adams Building 

110 Second Street, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20540 

t/ 202-724-9250 

tdd/ 202-426-1912 

f/ 202-426-1913 

Peter Ames Eveleth 

General Counsel 

Mary-Margaret Smith 

Editor Download the entire Fast Facts suite at http://www.compliance.gov 

Steps to Prevent Falls 

At times there is just no way around working from heights. ALWAYS take the extra time to put fall protection controls in 

place. It could save your life! 

Here are some safe steps that can be taken to help reduce your chances of falling: 

 Plan ahead when working near unguarded edges, sides, or openings in floors, elevated work platforms, ramps, or runways 

where there is no guardrail system in place. Use appropriate fall protection equipment properly. 

 Keep a safe distance from the edge of the building or elevated working surface. 

 Wear a full body harness when required or when working from elevations such as rooftops or elevated platforms greater 

than four feet. 

 If you are using a personal fall arrest system, inspect it regularly. 

 If working in a high traffic area, isolate the work area to prevent potential falling objects from striking people below. 

 Pay attention to work surfaces for mud, sand, water, or ice. 

 Clean up oil, grease, paint, and dirt immediately to prevent slipping. 

 Wear safety shoes with nonslip soles. 

 Cover all floor and wall openings. 

 Always consult a supervisor if you think working from any elevated surface is unsafe.