- Clarified definitions
- Eliminated overly specific application conditions
- Better organized the requirements
- Simplified general requirements
- Aligned more closely with the construction standard, and
- Gave flexibility to use personal fall protection systems in lieu of guardrail systems.
The fixed ladders provision
That said, one area that was left for later implementation was standards for fixed ladders. Under the revised standard, cages or wells for fall protection on fixed ladders higher than 24 feet are no longer acceptable. However, there are grandfather provisions and a phase-in period for the new provisions:- Fixed ladder systems installed before November 19, 2018 must have a cage, well, ladder safety system or personal fall arrest system
- Fixed ladder systems installed on or after November 19, 2018 must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system (cages or wells for fall protection are no longer acceptable).
- When any portion of a fixed ladder is replaced, the replacement must be equipped with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system.
What’s happening on the ground
OSHA continues to take the risks of slips, trips and falls seriously and continues to focus on some of the most overlooked areas that can contribute to these incidents. The most cited citations in OSHA’s 2017 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2017, were for general requirements violations, including housekeeping violations (291 citations), followed by 122 citations for clean and dry floors and 53 citations for walkways free from hazards. The second-most common citation was for failure to protect against fall hazards along unprotected sides or edges that are at least four feet above a lower level, including:- 205 citations for unprotected sides and edges
- 55 citations for fall protection stairways
- 49 citations for falls – holes
- 26 citations for falls around dangerous equipment
The takeaway
OSHA continues to police slip, trip and fall violations with gusto. Based on the statistics, you should make sure to keep work areas and floors clear of obstructions and slip and fall risks. You should also make sure you have protections in place to avoid any unprotected sides and edges.Related Posts
DOL Issues New Joint Employer Rules to Ease Burden on Businesses
The Department of Labor has proposed a sweeping new rule that will make it much easier for employers to be compliant with laws governing the use of independent contractors, staffing agencies and temp workers. Joint employment liability has become increasingly murky in light of the gig economy and more employers using staffing agencies and outside […]Don’t Overlook Equipment Breakdown Insurance
Imagine it’s a typical July day. You own a 30,000-square-foot office building that is 85% occupied. And the air conditioning and ventilation systems stop working. The outside temperature is in the 90’s and the humidity is high. It doesn’t take long before the tenants start to complain. The contractor you summon determines that an electrical […]Commercial Auto Rates Face New Headwinds
More accidents attributed to smartphone use while driving, coupled with much higher costs of repairs, have led to double-digit increases in commercial auto insurance rates over the past few years. Distracted driving is just one of many factors that have converged on commercial auto insurance claims, resulting in sustained premium increases. Now there are new […]As Health Deductibles Rise, Employees More Likely to File Workers’ Comp Claims: Study
Sometimes, injured employees are afraid to file a workers’ comp claim after being injured at work because they fear the specter of retaliation by their employer. Experts suspect that up to 10% of workplace injuries are never reported because the workers choose to have the injuries covered by their employer-sponsored health plans. Most employers may […]OSHA Not Letting Up on Inspections, Penalties
Despite expectations, Fed-OSHA under the Trump administration has not backed off on enforcing workplace safety regulations. In fact, the agency is as aggressive as ever and citations are higher than ever as well, after fines were increased substantially three years ago. Based on the agency’s own statistics, a company that’s inspected has only a 25% […]
Leave a Reply