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3.9: Other Hazards that Require Fall Protection

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    63431
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    A construction environment poses many hazards requiring protection. Below are some fall hazards that cannot be overlooked.

    Hoist Areas: Each worker in a hoist area must be protected from falling 6 feet or more by guardrail systems or personal fall arrest systems. There may be times when the guardrail systems (or chain, gate, or guardrail) must be removed in whole or part to facilitate hoisting operations. For example, during the landing of materials, a worker may need to lean through the access opening or out over the edge of the access opening to receive or guide equipment and materials. At such times a personal fall arrest system must be used to protect the worker from falling through the unprotected opening.

    Holes: Each worker on walking or working surfaces must be protected from falling through holes (including skylights) that are more than 6 feet above lower levels, by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around such holes. Each worker on a walking or working surface must be protected from tripping in or stepping into or through holes (including skylights) by covers.

    Ramps, Runways, and Other Walkways: Each worker on a ramp, runway, or other walkway must be protected by guardrail systems against falling 6 feet or more.

    Excavations: Each worker at the edge of an excavation 6 feet or more deep must be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, or barricades when the excavation cannot be readily seen because of plant growth or other visual barrier. Each worker at the edge of a well, pit, shaft, and similar excavation 6 feet or more deep must be protected from falling by guardrail systems, fences, or barricades, or covers.

    Dangerous Equipment: When working 6 feet or more above dangerous equipment, each worker must be protected by guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. When working less than 6 feet above dangerous equipment, each worker must be protected from falling into or onto the dangerous equipment by a guardrail system or equipment guards.

    Wall Openings: Each worker working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached), where the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is 6 feet or more above lower levels and the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the walking or working surface, must be protected with a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system.


    This page titled 3.9: Other Hazards that Require Fall Protection was last modified on Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:59:21 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jenny Huang.