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Dept. of Transportation

DOT Fall Protection

Each state has a fleet of DOT (Department of Transportation) vehicles used to service and maintain streets, roads, highways, and bridges.  Although these trucks are essential to ensuring public safety, their maintenance and repair can expose service personnel to significant fall hazards.   Keeping mechanics safe requires a comprehensive fall prevention strategy, which includes the proper mix of fall protection equipment, personnel training, and partnering with a fall protection company that appreciates the unique nature of the potential fall hazards associated with your market segment.

Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Transportation

We are a complete turnkey provider of fall protection systems designed for DOT vehicles and have years of design and installation experience in this market sector.  Contact us for expert assistance with your fall arrest, fall restraint and fall protection safety requirements.

Design Considerations

Although each state has its own set of DOT regulations and requirements, there are basic guidelines that must be followed in order to ensure compliance.  DOT truck fall protection must not alter the function or safety of any Department of Transportation vehicle.  In addition, fall arrest systems must utilize low profiles to avoid inadvertent contact with bridges, trees, and other structures while the vehicle is in use.   Fall protection permanently attached to DOT vehicles may take the form of horizontal lifeline systems while maintenance bays are usually protected by overhead rigid track or articulating beam systems.

Our years of experience in the DOT truck maintenance industry will help us implement a turnkey fall protection system that keeps your employees safe and your facility and vehicles in compliance with all DOT and OSHA regulations.

OSHA Regulations

  • Personal Fall Arrest Systems
    • 1926.502(d)
      ''Personal fall arrest systems.' Personal fall arrest systems and their use shall comply with the provisions set forth below. Effective January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. Note: The use of a body belt in a positioning device system is acceptable and is regulated under paragraph (e) of this section.
    • 1926.502(d)(16)
      Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, shall:
    • 1926.502(d)(16)(i)
      limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when used with a body belt;
    • 1926.502(d)(16)(ii)
      limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness;
    • 1926.502(d)(16)(iii)
      be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;
    • 1926.502(d)(16)(iv)
      bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 m); and,
    • 1926.502(d)(16)(v)
      have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.

Related Documents

Did You Know?

Rigid rail fall arrest systems are often ideal for applications with low fall clearance distances?