OSHA Updates Steel Erection Standard to Improve Fall Protection

The construction industry is forced to deal with a number of worker safety hazards, but none more severe than that posed by falling.  More construction workers are killed by falls than any by any other danger present on job sites in a given year, with 447 fatal victims in 2007 alone.  As just over 37 percent of construction deaths are related to falls, it is clear that risk managers must keep this safety area first and foremost on their minds when putting together a worker protection policy.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains a Steel Erection Standard aimed at codifying the safety regulations surrounding the use of steel structures when constructing a number of different types of buildings and other structures, such as bridges.  Recently, some important changes have been made to several sections of the Standard in order to improve worker protections.  Specifically, the decision to no longer consider certain safety infractions as de minimis has had definite implications for construction industry risk managers.

Construction sites will now be required to improve their current fall protection with regards to steel erection in structures.  Section 1926.754(b)(3) of the Standard now specifies that a full panel floor or a net must be installed within two stories or 30 feet, depending upon which is achieved first.  The goal of such a regulation is to limit the distance over which a fall can take place, which in turn diminishes the level of injury that can occur.  An installed floor also provides a better platform for mounting any rescue attempts should a fall take place, or should any other workplace injuries that require outside intervention happen on-site.  OSHA also notes that the building of a floor or net provides protection for workers from falling objects, should construction activities be occurring over their heads – thus taking care of two regulatory issues at once.

The Standard has additionally been updated to provide greater protection against trips, which often lead to falls on construction sites.  Shear connectors, used to secure concrete to steel, must be installed so that they do not project out and pose a tripping hazard.  Not only can horizontal or vertical projecting studs catch feet while walking, but they can also cause serious injury if landed on while falling.  Projecting studs are only permissible if a floor or deck has been built so as to reduce falling distance.

None of these regulations can be considered new – however, the consequences of not following through with their implementation have been changed.  Prior to the issuance of the revised Standard, OSHA considered non-compliance to the above-mentioned safety regulations to be a minor infraction as long as personal protective equipment was worn at the worksite.  However, this is no longer the case, and as of September 30, 2009 the new regulations will go into effect on a wide range of structures.  OSHA instruction documentation provides an in-depth explanation of how the new Standard will be implemented.