Oregon Administrative Rules › Chapter 437 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES, OREGON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH DIVISION › Division 2 - GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH RULES › Section 437-002-2306 - Personal Protective Equipment

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 7, July 1, 2024
(1) General. For employers engaged in general
			 industry activities, personal protective equipment must meet the requirements
			 of Division 2/I. For employers engaged in construction activities, personal
			 protective equipment must meet the requirements of Division 3/E.
Note 1
: 437-002-0134 (4)  and 437-003-0134 (4)  set
				employer payment obligations for the personal protective equipment required by
				this rule, including, but not limited to, the fall protection equipment
				required by paragraph (2) of this rule, the electrical protective equipment
				required by 437-002-2311(3)  of Division 2/RR, and the flame-resistant and
				arc-rated clothing and other protective equipment required by 437-002-2311(8)
 
				of Division 2/RR.
Note 2
: For general industry activities, refer to
				Division 2/I, 1910.137, for Electrical Protective Equipment requirements. For
				construction activities, refer to Division 3/E, 1926.97, for Electrical
				Protective Equipment requirements.
(2)
			 Fall protection.
(a) For employers engaged in
			 general industry activities, personal fall arrest systems must meet the
			 requirements of Division 2/I For employers engaged in construction activities,
			 personal fall arrest systems must meet the requirements of Division 3/M.
(b) Personal fall arrest equipment
			 used by employees who are exposed to hazards from flames or electric arcs, as
			 determined by the employer under 437-002-2311(8)(a)  of Division 2/RR, must be
			 capable of passing a drop test equivalent to that required by paragraph
			 (2)(c)(L) of this rule after exposure to an electric arc with a heat energy of
			 40±5 cal/cm2.
(c) Body
			 belts and positioning straps for work-positioning equipment must meet the
			 following requirements:
(A) Hardware for body
			 belts and positioning straps must meet the following requirements:
(i) Hardware must be made of drop-forged
			 steel, pressed steel, formed steel, or equivalent material.
(ii) Hardware must have a corrosion-resistant
			 finish.
(iii) Hardware surfaces
			 must be smooth and free of sharp edges.
(B) Buckles must be capable of withstanding
			 an 8.9-kilonewton (2,000-pound-force) tension test with a maximum permanent
			 deformation no greater than 0.4 millimeters (0.0156 inches).
(C) D rings must be capable of withstanding a
			 22-kilonewton (5,000-pound-force) tensile test without cracking or breaking.
(D) Snaphooks must be capable of
			 withstanding a 22-kilonewton (5,000-pound-force) tension test without failure.
Note to paragraph (2)(c)(D) of this rule: Distortion of the
				snaphook sufficient to release the keeper is considered to be tensile failure
				of a snaphook.
(E) Top
			 grain leather or leather substitute may be used in the manufacture of body
			 belts and positioning straps; however, leather and leather substitutes may not
			 be used alone as a load-bearing component of the assembly.
(F) Plied fabric used in positioning straps
			 and in load-bearing parts of body belts must be constructed in such a way that
			 no raw edges are exposed and the plies do not separate.
(G) Positioning straps must be capable of
			 withstanding the following tests:
(i) A
			 dielectric test of 819.7 volts, AC, per centimeter (25,000 volts per foot) for
			 3 minutes without visible deterioration;
(ii) A leakage test of 98.4 volts, AC, per
			 centimeter (3,000 volts per foot) with a leakage current of no more than 1 mA;
Note to paragraphs (2)(c)(G)(i) and (2)(c)(G)(ii): Positioning
				straps that pass direct-current tests at equivalent voltages are considered as
				meeting this requirement.
(iii) Tension tests of 20 kilonewtons (4,500
			 pounds-force) for sections free of buckle holes and of 15 kilonewtons (3,500
			 pounds-force) for sections with buckle holes;
(iv) A buckle-tear test with a load of 4.4
			 kilonewtons (1,000 pounds-force); and
(v) A flammability test in accordance with
			 Table RR-1. Table RR-1 [Table not included. See ED. NOTE]
(H) The cushion part of the body belt must
			 contain no exposed rivets on the inside and must be at least 76 millimeters (3
			 inches) in width
(I) Tool loops
			 must be situated on the body of a body belt so that the 100 millimeters (4
			 inches) of the body belt that is in the center of the back, measuring from D
			 ring to D ring, is free of tool loops and any other attachments.
(J) Copper, steel, or equivalent liners must
			 be used around the bars of D rings to prevent wear between these members and
			 the leather or fabric enclosing them.
(K) Snaphooks must be of the locking type
			 meeting the following requirements:
(i) The
			 locking mechanism must first be released, or a destructive force must be placed
			 on the keeper, before the keeper will open.
(ii) A force in the range of 6.7 N (1.5 lbf)
			 to 17.8 N (4 lbf) must be required to release the locking mechanism.
(iii) With the locking mechanism released and
			 with a force applied on the keeper against the face of the nose, the keeper may
			 not begin to open with a force of 11.2 N (2.5 lbf) or less and must begin to
			 open with a maximum force of 17.8 N (4 lbf).
(L) Body belts and positioning straps must be
			 capable of withstanding a drop test as follows:
(i) The test mass must be rigidly constructed
			 of steel or equivalent material with a mass of 100 kg (220.5 lbm). For
			 work-positioning equipment used by employees weighing more than 140 kg (310
			 lbm) fully equipped, the test mass must be increased proportionately (that is,
			 the test mass must equal the mass of the equipped worker divided by 1.4).
(ii) For body belts, the body belt
			 must be fitted snugly around the test mass and must be attached to the test
			 structure anchorage point by means of a wire rope.
(iii) For positioning straps, the strap must
			 be adjusted to its shortest length possible to accommodate the test and
			 connected to the test-structure anchorage point at one end and to the test mass
			 on the other end.
(iv) The test
			 mass must be dropped an unobstructed distance of 1 meter (39.4 inches) from a
			 supporting structure that will sustain minimal deflection during the test.
(v) Body belts must successfully
			 arrest the fall of the test mass and must be capable of supporting the mass
			 after the test.
(vi) Positioning
			 straps must successfully arrest the fall of the test mass without breaking, and
			 the arrest force may not exceed 17.8 kilonewtons (4,000 pounds-force).
			 Additionally, snaphooks on positioning straps may not distort to such an extent
			 that the keeper would release.
Note to paragraph (2)(c) of this rule: When used by employees
				weighing no more than 140 kg (310 lbm) fully equipped, body belts and
				positioning straps that conform to American Society of Testing and Materials
				Standard Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment, ASTM F887-12e1, are
				deemed to be in compliance with paragraph (2)(c) of this rule.
(d) The
			 following requirements apply to the care and use of personal fall protection
			 equipment.
(A) Body belts and positioning
			 straps must never be stored with sharp or edged tools.
(B) Small tools carried in the belt must be
			 placed so they present the least danger of coming in accidental contact with
			 energized parts. Sharp or pointed tools must not be carried unless in
			 scabbards, or are otherwise effectively safeguarded.
(C) Work-positioning equipment must be
			 inspected before use each day to determine that the equipment is in safe
			 working condition. Work-positioning equipment that is not in safe working
			 condition may not be used.
Note to paragraph (2)(d)(C): Appendix F to Division 2/RR
				contains guidelines for inspecting work-positioning equipment.
(D) The use of chainsaws is
			 prohibited on all overhead work where workers are supported by a single
			 climbing belt or rope.
(E) Workers
			 must not place positioning straps around the pole above the top crossarm except
			 where adequate protection is taken to prevent it from slipping over the top of
			 the pole. Workers must not allow either end of a strap to hang loose, either in
			 climbing or descending poles or other structures.
(F) Gaffs and Climbers.
(i) Gaffs and climbers must be maintained
			 according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
(ii) Workers must remove climbers before
			 driving any vehicle.
(iii)
			 Climbers must not be worn except when required. Workers must not continue to
			 wear their climbers while working on the ground except for brief periods when a
			 worker is necessarily off the pole.
(iv) While climbers are not being worn, the
			 gaffs must be properly guarded.
(G) Safety lines must be readily available
			 while working aloft to be used for emergency rescue such as lowering a worker
			 to the ground. Such safety lines must be a minimum of one-half-inch diameter
			 and three or four strand first-grade manila or its equivalent in strength
			 (2,650 lb.) and durability.
(H)
			 For employers engaged in general industry activities, personal fall arrest
			 systems must be used in accordance with Division 2/I. For employers engaged in
			 construction activities, personal fall arrest systems must be used in
			 accordance with Division 3/M.
Note to paragraph (2)(d)(H): Fall protection equipment rigged
				to arrest falls is considered a fall arrest system and must meet the applicable
				requirements for the design and use of those systems. Fall protection equipment
				rigged for work positioning is considered work-positioning equipment and must
				meet the applicable requirements for the design and use of that
				equipment.
(I) The employer
			 must ensure that employees use fall protection systems as follows:
(i) Each employee working from an aerial lift
			 must use a travel restraint system or a personal fall arrest system. Paragraph
			 (c)(2)(v) of 1910.67 and paragraph (b)(2)(v) of 1926.453 do not apply.
(ii) Except as provided in
			 paragraph (2)(d)(I)(iii) of this rule, each employee in elevated locations more
			 than 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground on poles, towers, or similar
			 structures must use a personal fall arrest system, work-positioning equipment,
			 or fall restraint system, as appropriate, if the employer has not provided
			 other fall protection meeting Division 2/D, Walking-Working Surfaces; or
			 Division 3/M, Fall Protection.
(iii) Each qualified employee climbing or
			 changing location on poles, towers, or similar structures must use fall
			 protection equipment unless the employer can demonstrate that climbing or
			 changing location with fall protection is infeasible or creates a greater
			 hazard than climbing or changing location without it.
(I) The employer must ensure that employees
			 use fall protection systems as follows:
(i)
			 Each employee working from an aerial lift must use a fall restraint system or a
			 personal fall arrest system. Paragraph (c)(2)(v) of 1910.67 and paragraph
			 (b)(2)(v) of 1926.453 do not apply.
(ii) Except as provided in paragraph
			 (2)(d)(I)(iii) of this rule, each employee in elevated locations more than 1.2
			 meters (4 feet) above the ground on poles, towers, or similar structures must
			 use a personal fall arrest system, work-positioning equipment, or fall
			 restraint system, as appropriate, if the employer has not provided other fall
			 protection meeting Division 2/D, Walking-Working Surfaces; or Division 3/M,
			 Fall Protection.
(iii) Each
			 qualified employee climbing or changing location on poles, towers, or similar
			 structures must use fall protection equipment unless the employer can
			 demonstrate that climbing or changing location with fall protection is
			 infeasible or creates a greater hazard than climbing or changing location
			 without it.
Note 1 to paragraphs (2)(d)(I)(ii) and (2)(d)(I)(iii) of this
				rule: These paragraphs apply to structures that support overhead electric power
				transmission and distribution lines and equipment. They do not apply to
				portions of buildings, such as loading docks, or to electric equipment, such as
				transformers and capacitors. Division 2/D, and Division 3/M contain the duty to
				provide fall protection associated with walking and working surfaces.
(J) Work-positioning equipment must be rigged
			 so that an employee can free fall no more than 0.6 meters (2 feet).
(K) Anchorages for work-positioning equipment
			 must be capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an
			 employee's fall, or 13.3 kilonewtons (3,000 pounds-force), whichever is
			 greater.
Note to paragraph (2)(d)(K): Wood-pole fall-restriction devices
				meeting American Society of Testing and Materials Standard Specifications for
				Personal Climbing Equipment, ASTM F887-12e1, are deemed to meet the
				anchorage-strength requirement when they are used in accordance with
				manufacturers' instructions.
(L) Unless the snaphook is a locking type and
			 designed specifically for the following connections, snaphooks on
			 work-positioning equipment may not be engaged:
(i) Directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope;
(ii) To each other;
(iii) To a D ring to which another snaphook
			 or other connector is attached;
(iv) To a horizontal lifeline; or
(v) To any object that is incompatibly shaped
			 or dimensioned in relation to the snaphook such that accidental disengagement
			 could occur should the connected object sufficiently depress the snaphook
			 keeper to allow release of the object.