OSHA cites four feet as the requirement for fall protection in 1910.21-Walking and Working Surfaces.   Is there any where in 1910 that states specifically when working at elevations of four feet or higher, fall protection is required, (and by fall protection I mean a safety harness)?

 

Thanks

I don't think so.  Typically, the rules simply state that fall protection is required, but it is up to the user to determine what type of fall protection is used.  There are many different types of fall protection options (fall arrest - PFAS, Nets, Catch Platforms, etc., and fall restraint - guardrails, etc) and the rules, to my knowledge, don't specify which must be used in a given situation.  There might be an exception to this (maybe, when the walking/working surface is over hazardous equipment, for example), but that's generally how it works.

I agree with TheFirm.  OSHA does not specify what to be used.  They do not want to take the responsibility and be sued if there is an accident!

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Safety Management '82
Indiana State Univ.

Turbinator,

It is not written in the rules but I pulled this off OSHA's Safety and Health Topics web page "Fall protection must be provided at four feet in general industry, five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. However, regardless of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery." It is also mentioned in an interpretation but I could not find the specific one.

MikeCJ

It is completely up to the employer to provide the Fall protection and select the most appropriate type for the tasks being performed.