Things you don’t know about OSHA Fall Protection Standard 1910
Did you know that falls at work are the leading cause of death in construction? In fact, according to OSHA fall protection standard 1910, falls from heights account for a staggering amount of 400 deaths each year. What’s more, falls are also the third leading cause of fatal injuries in the general industry. With this staggering number of fall-related accidents, employers must take all possible measures to keep their workers safe from falls at work.
One of the most competent ways to protect workers from falls is implementing an OSHA-compliant fall protection system. OSHA’s fall protection standard 1910 offers a variety of guidelines and regulations that employers must follow to give their workers secure working conditions. This article will take a detailed view of what employers need to know about this standard 1910.
What is OSHA’s Fall Protection Standard 1910?
It is a set of guidelines and regulations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect workers from fall-related accidents. The standard covers various topics, including the training and certification requirements for fall protection systems and the equipment workers need. The rooftop workplace is a perfect example of where the standard 1910 would apply. For employers to comply with the standard, they must ensure that their workers have the proper equipment and training to prevent falls from heights.
What does the standard cover?
The standard covers a variety of topics, including:
– Training and certification requirements for fall protection systems, such as guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest systems, etc.
– The equipment that workers must have access to prevent falls, such as safety harnesses and lanyards, guardrails, safety nets, and more.
The fall protection requirements for rooftop work include guardrails or personal fall arrest systems.
As you can see, the standard 1910 is a comprehensive set of guidelines that employers need to be aware of to keep their workers safe from falls.
What are the consequences of non-compliance?
If an employer fails to meet the standard, they may face several penalties, including:
– Fines: Employers who do not comply with the standard 1910 will be subject to hefty fines, ranging from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars.
– Criminal charges: In some cases, employers may even face criminal charges for failing to comply with the standard. For example, an employer who knowingly allows their workers to be exposed to fall hazards without the proper safety equipment may be charged with a misdemeanor.
– Lawsuits: Workers injured in a fall-related accident may also file a lawsuit against the employer if they feel that the employer failed to provide them with a safe working environment.
OSHA maintains general industry (1910) regulations based on various distances for roof protection from falls for work on low-slope and pitched roofs.
– Low-slope roofs have a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal).
– Pitched roofs have a slope greater than 4 in 12.
In addition to the standard 1910, other standards may be applicable depending on the type of work. For example, construction work has a separate set of fall protection regulations (29 CFR 1926).
As you can see, there are severe consequences for employers who fail to comply with the standard 1910. They can be subject to criminal charges and fines, but injured workers may also sue them in a fall-related accident.
Plenty of fall protection solutions allows for safe working at heights, including customizable safety railing solutions to stop falls from a rooftop. You need to find out some reputed providers of fall protection systems to make sure that your workplace is safe for the workers.
