FactSheet

Risk of Falls during Attic Work

Working in a low attic can be difficult. Employees 

moving through these spaces may be exposed to 

fall hazards at the openings between truss chords. 

Exposed nails, cables, wires, low-hanging rafters or 

cross-beams, hot conditions, poor lighting, and truss 

chords hidden by deep insulation, can add to the risk 

of falling. 

The employer must provide a training program for 

each worker who might be exposed to fall hazards. 

The program must train each worker to recognize 

fall hazards and to know 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. Using appropriate fall 

protection measures reduces risks and saves lives.

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. 

Survey the attic to determine what fall protection 

systems can be used. Plan ahead and have those 

systems in place before the workers report to the job.

Determining Structural Integrity of Truss Chords 

or Ceiling Joists

Workers can be injured if they fall through the ceiling 

to a lower level. Employers must determine if the 

walking/working surfaces in attics have the strength 

and structural integrity to support workers safely 

(29 CFR 1926.501(a)(2)). Only after this determination 

has been made should workers be allowed to enter 

those areas. Using a piece of plywood or planking to 

stand on could improve footing.

Reducing Falls during Residential 

Construction: Working in Attics

Protecting workers from falls while working in attics can be challenging for some 

employers. This fact sheet highlights some of the hazards of attic work and details 

some practical methods that employers can use to protect those who work in 

attics. 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.

If the area around the plywood or planking is 

open, and the work area is 6 feet or more above a 

lower level, the employer generally must ensure 

that workers use fall protection meeting OSHA 

requirements (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)). Employers 

also may choose to use scaffolds or ladders for attic 

work. 

(Note: OSHA’s fall protection requirements for 

residential construction work performed on scaffolds 

and ladders are specified in Subpart L and Subpart X, 

respectively, not in 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)).

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

A PFAS is a tool available to workers performing 

attic work. 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. 
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 properlysized nails or screws. Also, employers may find it 

possible to provide safe anchorage down the length 

of an entire attic by properly installing an engineered 

horizontal lifeline.

Pre-installed Anchorage Systems

With advance planning on new construction 

projects, some anchorage systems can be preinstalled before the trusses are lifted into position. 

This method permits workers to attach their lanyards 

to an anchorage immediately upon entering the attic 

space.

Consider leaving anchors in place: Where practical, 

employers should consider leaving anchors in place. 

This can make the current job simpler and reduce 

the burden for attic workers in the future.

A pre-installed attic anchorage system.

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 utilized 

fall restraint system in place of a personal fall arrest 

system when the restraint system is rigged so that 

the worker cannot reach 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.

Safety Net Systems

In some situations, employers may be able to place 

safety nets underneath truss chords to prevent 

workers from falling to the level below. Safety nets 

must be installed to prevent contact with the surface 

or structures below them. For requirements for 

safety nets, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(c)–Safety Net 

Systems.
Scaffolds

Scaffolds, stationary or mobile, can be erected 

below the attic work area. Workers on the scaffold 

can work between truss chords and joists to perform 

some installation activities. For requirements for 

scaffolds, refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds.

Ladders

Like scaffolds, A-frame and platform ladders can 

provide safe platforms from which workers on the 

lower level can perform some tasks in the attic 

above. Consult 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X – Stairways 

and Ladders for ladder safety requirements.

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-3553 05/2012