One of the most referenced sections of the new ruling is the provision granting employers greater flexibility to determine the fall protection system which is best suited for their application. Unlike the prior, guardrail-centric, Working-Walking Surfaces ruling, OSHA now allows employers to protect workers from falling to lower levels via use of personal fall protection and fall arrest systems, travel restraint, and work positioning systems.
Although recognizing a wider array of viable fall protection solutions is one of the most commonly cited provisions of OSHA’s 588 page ruling, you’ll also find additional requirements impacting your safety program during 2017, and beyond, including:
• The identification and evaluation of slip, trip, and fall hazards and the providing of appropriate personal protective equipment to protect workers from said hazards (Subpart I, Personal Protective Equipment)
• Conducting and documenting regular and periodic inspections and maintenance of all workplace walking-working surfaces
• Providing training to help employees to identify fall hazards and the procedures to be followed to minimize said hazards (e.g., use of personal fall protection, proper ladder climbing techniques, etc.)
Timetable for Compliance
The final rule is effective on January 17, 2017, but some provisions have delayed effective dates, including:
Attempts to revise the Walking-Working Surfaces ruling have been decades in the making, and this initiative is the most sweeping change to General Industry regulations since OSHA’s inception in 1971. What’s more, one post here doesn’t do full justice to all of the changes that are on the horizon as a reult of this new ruling. We’ll break down specific provisions of the new regulations in future Tech Talk posts, so be sure to check back for new articles in the months ahead. In the meantime, if you have questions, or need to speak with us to determine how the new ruling may impact your safety program, contact Diversified Fall Protection for further assistance.
Helpful Links:
Text of OSHA’s Updated Walking-Working Surfaces Ruling
OSHA Walking Working Surfaces Fact Sheet