FactSheet

Risks While Erecting Exterior and 

Interior Walls

Workers can be exposed to serious fall hazards 

while framing and erecting walls – particularly if the 

structure being built has multiple stories. Openings 

in walls (such as windows and doors) and floor 

openings present potential hazards, as workers can 

fall through them. The use of effective fall protection 

can prevent a serious fall. 

The employer must provide a training program for 

each worker who might be exposed to fall hazards. 

The program must enable each worker to recognize 

fall hazards and each worker must be trained in the 

procedures to follow to minimize these hazards. For 

fall protection training requirements, refer to 29 CFR 

1926.503. In all cases, employers must evaluate the 

hazards and take steps to reduce the risk of falls.

Reducing Risks:

Planning

Planning for the use of fall protection equipment can 

help employers protect workers from falls. Before 

beginning the job, identify fall protection needs. 

Once appropriate fall protection systems have been 

identified, have those systems in place before the 

workers report to the job.

Assembling Walls

Using pre-fabricated wall panels can reduce the 

amount of time workers are exposed to fall hazards 

while working at heights. Many employers build 

walls on site, however. Workers then use the 

installed floor of the structure as a work platform to 

frame the wall sections. In either case, employers 

must determine if fall protection is required and 

then implement procedures to protect workers. This 

requirement applies when erecting both interior 

(e.g., around stairwell openings) and exterior walls.

Reducing Falls during Residential 

Construction: Erecting Exterior and 

Interior Walls

Every year, residential construction workers experience fatal injuries due to falls. 

Erecting walls presents several challenges when it comes to protecting workers from 

falls. This fact sheet highlights some of the hazards of erecting interior and exterior 

walls, and details some practical methods that employers can use to protect workers 

who erect walls. The fall protection methods in this fact sheet may not be suitable in all 

situations. Employers are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable OSHA 

requirements.

Lifting Walls into Place

Employers must protect workers from falling 

while they are raising walls. Once a wall segment 

is framed it can be lifted into place using a lifting 

device such as a forklift or wall jack. If a lifting device 

cannot be used at a particular worksite, steps can 

be taken to address the fall hazards, as well as the 

stress and strain hazards that can be present when 

workers raise walls by hand.

Using the Right Equipment

Employers generally must ensure that workers 

use fall protection meeting OSHA requirements 

whenever they work 6 feet or more above a lower 

level (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)). There are guardrail 

systems and personal fall arrest systems available 

that can provide workers the flexibility they need 

during wall construction. Employers also may 

choose to use scaffolds for wall erection work. 

(Note: OSHA’s fall protection requirements for 

residential construction work performed on scaffolds 

are in Subpart L, not in 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)).
Guardrails

Guardrail systems can protect workers framing 

walls around the perimeter and at floor openings. 

Framed exterior walls typically include openings for 

windows and doors. Workers can apply sheathing 

to the frame, and install guardrails across window 

and door openings, before raising wall sections so 

that the openings are protected when the walls are 

set into place.

OSHA generally requires the top rail height to be 

42 inches + 3 inches above the walking/working 

level. A midrail is also required between the top 

rail and the walking/working surface when there 

is no wall or parapet at least 21 inches high. For 

additional requirements for guardrails, refer to 29 

CFR 1926.502(b). 

During multi-story construction many employers 

provide fall protection by installing guardrails on 

exterior wall sections prior to erecting them into 

place. This ensures perimeter protection before 

workers begin activities on each additional floor. 

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

A PFAS is a tool available to workers who are 

framing and erecting walls. In fact, a PFAS is the 

system of choice for many workers who work at 

heights. However, a malfunction in any component 

of a PFAS could be disastrous for a worker. Always 

follow the manufacturer’s instructions on selecting, 

installing and using PFAS components correctly. 

Certain anchorage assemblies rotate or offer 

extension arms to improve mobility and prevent 

lifelines from contacting the floor surface.

Personal Fall Arrest System

A PFAS is designed to safely stop a fall before the 

worker strikes a lower level. The system includes 

three major components: 

A. An anchorage to which the other components 

of the PFAS are rigged.

B. A full body harness worn by the worker.

C. A connector, such as a lanyard or lifeline, 

linking the harness to the anchorage. A 

rip-stitch lanyard, or deceleration device, is 

typically a part of the system.

For more information on the requirements for a 

PFAS, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(d).

Remember that workers must use full-body 

harnesses in fall arrest systems. Body belts can 

cause serious injury during a fall, and OSHA 

prohibits their use as part of fall arrest systems. 

Attaching Anchors

OSHA requires that anchors for a PFAS either be 

able to hold at least 5,000 pounds per worker or 

maintain a safety factor of at least two (twice the 

impact load) and be used under the supervision of a 

qualified person. Always follow the manufacturer’s 

instructions or consult a qualified person when 

installing anchors to ensure that they are strong 

enough to hold the sudden weight of a falling 

worker. There are anchorages available on the 

market that can meet OSHA’s strength requirements 

if they are installed in accord with the manufacturer’s 

instructions, with the right number of properly-sized 

nails or screws.

Fall Restraint

Fall restraint systems prevent falls by keeping 

the worker from reaching a fall hazard. While fall 

restraint systems are not mentioned in OSHA’s fall 

protection rules, OSHA will accept a properly used 

fall restraint system in place of a personal fall arrest 

system when the restraint system is rigged so that 

the worker cannot get to the fall hazard. In effect, 

(if properly used) the system tethers a worker in a 

manner that will not allow a fall of any distance. A 

fall restraint system is comprised of a body belt or 

body harness, an anchorage, connectors, and other 

necessary equipment. Other components typically 

include a lanyard, and may also include a lifeline 

and other devices. Note: A self-retracting lanyard 

is not appropriate for a fall restraint system unless 

the worker cannot reach the fall hazard when the 

lanyard is fully extended.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions 

or consult a qualified person to ensure proper 

installation of anchor points. OSHA recommends 

that fall restraint systems have the capacity to 

withstand 3,000 pounds of force or twice the 

maximum expected force that is needed to restrain 

the worker from exposure to the fall hazard. As a 

result, fall restraint may be a viable way to provide 

fall protection in situations in which the employer 

has concerns about the adequacy of available 

anchorage points for fall arrest equipment.

Scaffolds

When site conditions permit, employers can use 

scaffolds to provide a platform for workers erecting 

and securing walls. Scaffolds can be particularly 

useful for workers sheathing exterior walls in 

situations in which sheathing was not completed 

before the wall was set in place. Always follow the 

manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified 

person to ensure that scaffold systems are used 
safely. The employer must ensure that employees 

on scaffold systems 10 feet or more above a 

lower level are protected from falls. For other 

requirements for scaffolds, refer to 29 CFR 1926 

Subpart L – Scaffolds.

Written Fall Protection Plans

When working at heights of 6 feet or greater, if the 

employer does not use ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts 

or fall restraint systems and can demonstrate that 

it is not feasible or would create a greater hazard 

to use conventional fall protection equipment 

(guardrails, safety nets or a PFAS), the employer 

must develop a written site-specific fall protection 

plan in accord with 29 CFR 1926.502(k). The plan 

must be prepared by a qualified person. This person 

could be the owner, the supervisor, or any other 

worker who has extensive knowledge, training and 

experience with fall protection and is able to solve 

problems relating to fall protection. 

The site-specific fall protection plan must document, 

for each location, why the use of conventional fall 

protection equipment is not feasible or will create 

a greater hazard. The plan must also describe the 

alternative methods that the employer will use so 

that workers are protected from falls. Workers and 

their supervisors must be trained on the proper use 

of those other fall protection methods.

OSHA Standard: 

29 CFR 1926 Subpart M – Fall Protection

Available online at: 

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_ 

document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10922.

OSHA Residential Fall Protection Web Page: 

www.osha.gov/doc/topics/residentialprotection/

index.html.

OSHA Compliance Guidance:

Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction 

– STD 03-11-002 (dated 12/16/2010)

Available online at: 

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_

document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=4755.

State Plan Guidance: Twenty-seven states or 

territories currently operate their own OSHAapproved state plans. State plan workplace 

health and safety standards must be at least as 

effective as comparable Federal OSHA standards. 

State plans have the option of promulgating 

more stringent standards and, therefore, may 

have additional requirements for residential 

construction. For more information on state plans 

and their requirements, please visit: 

www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/statestandards.html. 

Help for Employers: OSHA’s On-site Consultation 

Program offers free and confidential advice to small 

and medium-sized businesses in all states across 

the country, with priority given to high-hazard 

worksites. On-site consultation services are separate 

from enforcement and do not result in penalties 

or citations. Consultants from state agencies 

or universities work with employers to identify 

workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance 

with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing 

safety and health management programs. To 

locate the OSHA Consultation Program nearest 

you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit: 

www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html.

Almost every OSHA area office has a compliance 

assistance specialist to assist employers in 

complying with OSHA standards. To find the 

compliance assistance specialist nearest you, 

call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit: 

www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html.

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. 

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

DOC FS-3554 05/2012