Fall protection devices: what they are, when OSHA requires them, and how to choose

Last updated 2026-07-09

What counts as a fall protection device under OSHA rules?

A fall protection device is any equipment or engineered system that keeps a worker from reaching a fall hazard, stops a fall in progress, or limits how far a worker drops before arrest. OSHA sorts these into two families. Passive systems (guardrails, safety nets) protect without any action from the worker. Active systems (personal fall arrest, fall restraint, positioning) only work if the worker connects and adjusts the equipment correctly before each use.

The legal framework sits in two main standards. For general industry, 29 CFR 1910.28 sets the employer's duty to provide fall protection and 29 CFR 1910.29 spells out the performance requirements for each device type ^[1]. For construction, 29 CFR 1926.502 covers the performance criteria for fall protection systems on job sites ^[2]. There is also a residential construction subpart under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13) that has created decades of compliance headaches and a stack of its own interpretation letters.

Fall protection leads OSHA's top-ten most cited standards list, and it has for years. In fiscal year 2023, "Fall Protection, General Requirements" (1926.501) was the single most-cited standard with 7,762 violations, and "Fall Protection, Training Requirements" (1926.503) ranked ninth ^[3]. That pattern has held for more than a decade, which tells you how hard this is to get right across a whole crew.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 865 fatal falls, slips, and trips in U.S. workplaces in 2022, the highest annual count in the series going back to 2011 ^[4]. Roughly 400 of those deaths each year happen in construction. Better device selection and use would prevent a large share of them. Nobody has clean data on exactly what share, because incident reports rarely record whether a device was on site but unused versus missing entirely.

What are the main types of fall protection devices?

Six device categories show up across the OSHA standards. Each one has its own mechanics, its own cost range, and its own list of jobs where it makes sense.

Guardrail systems. A passive barrier at the edge of a walking-working surface, elevated platform, or floor opening. Under 29 CFR 1910.29, a guardrail must stand 42 inches tall (plus or minus 3 inches), hold 200 pounds of force applied in any outward or downward direction, and carry a midrail rated for 150 pounds ^[1]. Guardrails are the cheapest long-term fix for fixed edges because they need no daily inspection, no harness fitting, and no decision-making at the edge. The catch: they only cover predictable, fixed hazard locations.

Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). The harness-and-lanyard rig most people picture. A PFAS has three parts: a full-body harness, a connecting subsystem (shock-absorbing lanyard, self-retracting lifeline, or rope grab), and an anchorage rated for 5,000 pounds per attached worker, or designed by a qualified person to a safety factor of at least two times the maximum arrest force ^[2]. OSHA requires that a PFAS stop a fall within 3.5 feet, hold arrest force to 1,800 pounds, and allow no more than 6 feet of free fall ^[2]. The total fall clearance math (free fall + deceleration distance + harness stretch + worker height) almost always runs 18 feet or more. That number surprises owners who assume a 6-foot lanyard means 6 feet of clearance below.

Self-retracting lifelines (SRLs). A subset of the PFAS connecting subsystem. An SRL feeds out line as the worker moves and locks within inches when a fall starts. It cuts free fall way down compared with a 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyard, which makes it the right pick on roofs and elevated platforms where clearance below is tight. SRLs rated for leading-edge work are a separate product. A standard SRL used on a leading edge can fail because the line cuts across the edge during a fall.

Fall restraint systems. Restraint uses a lanyard or line short enough to keep the worker from ever reaching the unprotected edge. It does not arrest a fall. It prevents one by capping travel distance. This is the simple answer people forget. Set the anchor far enough from the edge, get the lanyard length right, and the worker physically cannot reach the hazard. Restraint lanyards do not have to meet the PFAS arrest-force criteria, but the anchorage still has to handle 5,000 pounds in construction ^[2].

Positioning device systems. Used on steep roofs, reinforcing ironwork, or formwork where the worker needs both hands free. A positioning device holds the worker against a work surface (a wall or steep slope) and must limit any free fall to 2 feet ^[1]. Lineman's belts and boatswain's chairs are the classic examples. These hold the worker in place; they do not arrest. If the worker disconnects or the anchor fails, they fall.

Safety nets. Required under 29 CFR 1926.502(c) when other systems are infeasible or create a greater hazard, and often used to back up other systems on bridge work and similar jobs ^[2]. Nets go as close as practical below the work surface, no more than 30 feet below it, and extend 8 to 13 feet past the edge depending on how high the work surface sits above the net. Nets cost real money to rig, inspect, and maintain. Most small businesses never touch them. They come up mainly on large-scale construction.

What height triggers mandatory fall protection?

The trigger height depends on which OSHA standard governs your industry. General industry starts at 4 feet. Construction starts at 6 feet. Scaffolding sits at 10 feet in both.

Industry / Work type	Trigger height	OSHA standard
General industry (walking-working surfaces)	4 feet	29 CFR 1910.28
General industry (scaffolds)	10 feet	29 CFR 1910.28(b)(9)
Construction	6 feet	29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1)
Construction (scaffolding)	10 feet	29 CFR 1926.451
Construction (leading edges)	6 feet	29 CFR 1926.501(b)(2)
Longshoring (shipyards)	5 feet	29 CFR 1917.45
Agriculture	No fixed trigger; specific tasks trigger protection	29 CFR 1928

Here is the part that trips up employers: the 4-foot and 6-foot rules apply whether the surface below is soft grass or bare concrete. OSHA gives no credit for a forgiving landing. The trigger is height above the lower level, and that is the whole test ^[1].

Openings have their own trigger. In general industry, any hole a person can fall through requires either a cover rated to support twice the maximum intended load or a guardrail with a toe board ^[1]. "Hole" means an opening 1 inch or more in its least dimension in a floor, roof, or walking-working surface.

How do you choose the right fall protection device for a specific job?

Work down the hierarchy. First ask whether you can wipe out the fall hazard through engineering: move the work to grade level, use a lower platform, install permanent guardrails. If you cannot eliminate it, passive systems (guardrails, covers) beat active systems (harnesses) because they do not ride on worker behavior. If a passive system will not fit the job, then match an active system to the geometry.

For a fixed elevated platform or mezzanine, permanent guardrails are almost always the answer. The upfront cost runs higher than a box of harnesses, but there is no daily don-and-doff time, no per-use inspection burden, and no open question about whether the worker actually clipped in.

For roofing, pitch and duration decide it. Flat and low-slope roofs (under 4:12 pitch) can use a warning line 6 feet from the edge with a safety monitor under specific OSHA allowances for residential work, but OSHA's preferred path for general contractors is a PFAS or a guardrail at the edge ^[2]. Steep-slope roofing (4:12 and up) almost always needs a PFAS on a ridge anchor, a positioning system, or a guardrail on the eave.

For steel erection and leading-edge work, a leading-edge-rated SRL is the practical standard. These units test to a higher bar than conventional SRLs because the lifeline has to survive bearing against a steel edge during a fall.

For aerial and scissor lifts, OSHA's position (stated in a 1999 letter of interpretation) is that workers in aerial work platforms wear a PFAS clipped to the manufacturer's anchor point, never to the basket guardrail ^[5]. Workers in scissor lifts are covered by the platform guardrail unless the manufacturer requires a harness.

Ladders are different. Fall protection devices do not apply to portable ladder use the way they apply to elevated surfaces. Fixed ladders over 24 feet need a ladder safety system or a personal fall arrest system under the 2017 update to 29 CFR 1910.28 ^[1]. Cages count only as legacy equipment. No new fixed ladder can use a cage as primary fall protection after November 19, 2018.

What are the inspection requirements for fall protection devices?

Inspection splits into two jobs: a pre-use check by the worker before each use, and a periodic inspection by a competent person. Both matter, and skipping the second one is a common citation.

OSHA requires the pre-use inspection for PFAS components. Before each use, the worker checks the harness, lanyard, and connecting hardware for cuts, abrasion, burns, chemical exposure, UV degradation, corrosion, deformed hardware, and damaged stitching or webbing ^[1]. This is not paperwork. It takes about 90 seconds and should happen every single shift.

A "competent person" (someone who can spot the hazards and has the authority to fix them) inspects all fall protection equipment periodically. OSHA does not name a specific interval in days or months for most PFAS components, which leaves real ambiguity. Most manufacturers call for annual inspection by a qualified person plus a replace-after-fall policy. Following the manufacturer's guidance is the safest ground, because OSHA can cite a general duty clause violation when you ignore it.

The remove-from-service rule is absolute. Any PFAS component that has arrested a fall comes out of service immediately, even with no visible damage ^[1]. The energy dumped into webbing and hardware during a fall does not always leave a mark. Tag it, bag it, and send it to the manufacturer for evaluation or destroy it.

For guardrails, look for loose or missing fasteners, corrosion, impact damage, and any modification that lowered the original load rating. Walk temporary guardrails on construction sites daily, because material handling beats them up fast.

On documentation: OSHA's PFAS rules (part of the 29 CFR 1910.132 PPE standard and the walking-working surfaces rule) do not mandate a specific inspection log form. Keep one anyway. It builds a defensible record if an incident turns into an OSHA investigation. Date, inspector name, equipment ID, and pass/fail notes is enough.

What training does OSHA require for fall protection devices?

OSHA requires training under two separate rules for most workplaces. In general industry, 29 CFR 1910.30 requires employers to train each worker who might face a fall hazard before that worker starts work in the exposed area ^[8]. Training has to cover the nature of the fall hazards, the correct way to erect and use the equipment, and the equipment's limits. There is no minimum hour count. OSHA measures competency, not clock time.

In construction, 29 CFR 1926.503 requires training that lets workers recognize fall hazards and use the right procedures to reduce them ^[9]. A qualified person (someone with a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing in the field) has to conduct it. Workers who lack the required skills must be retrained.

Plain version: you need site-specific training, more than a generic video. A worker who watched a 30-minute harness video but has never practiced clipping an SRL to the actual anchor on your roof does not meet the standard, and OSHA inspectors go looking for that exact gap.

If you are building the written program side of this, the OSHA training requirements page covers the broader competency framework. For supervisors who want a credential that shows fall protection knowledge across construction topics, the OSHA 30 course includes a fall protection module. Finishing it does not by itself satisfy the site-specific training required under 1926.503.

What does a fall protection written program need to include?

OSHA requires a written fall protection plan only in specific cases, mainly when conventional fall protection is infeasible or creates a greater hazard in construction (29 CFR 1926.502(k)) ^[2]. Even when a written plan is not required on paper, having one is standard practice and it protects you in an inspection.

A working written fall protection program covers:

1. Scope. Which work areas and job tasks are covered, by name and location. 2. Hazard identification. A list of the surfaces, openings, and tasks that trip the height thresholds. 3. Device selection matrix. Which device (guardrail, PFAS, restraint) is assigned to each hazard, and why the alternatives are out. 4. Anchorage requirements. Approved anchor points, how they were rated, and by whom. 5. Equipment assignment and storage. How gear is assigned to individual workers, where it lives, and who owns its condition. 6. Inspection procedures. Pre-use checklist steps, the periodic inspection schedule, and remove-from-service criteria. 7. Training record. Proof each worker was trained on the specific equipment and hazards in their area. 8. Rescue plan. Most small businesses miss this one. OSHA requires a procedure to rescue a worker who has arrested a fall and is hanging in a harness. Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance from prolonged harness suspension) can turn life-threatening within minutes.

If drafting all this from scratch sounds like a lost weekend, tools like SafetyFolio's safety program generator can produce a jurisdiction-specific written fall protection program in a fraction of the time it takes to write one by hand. That is genuinely useful when you are a 12-person roofing company and not a safety department.

For the broader OSHA compliance context that a fall protection program sits inside, including the hierarchy of controls and how fall protection meets lockout tagout when you work near energy sources at height, your written program should cross-reference those procedures by name.

What are the anchorage requirements for personal fall arrest systems?

Anchorage is the most misunderstood piece of a PFAS. An anchor is only as strong as the structure it connects to, and OSHA sets the bar high on purpose.

For construction, each anchorage used with a personal fall arrest system has to support at least 5,000 pounds per attached employee, or be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person as part of a complete system that keeps a safety factor of at least two ^[2]. "Per attached employee" is the trap. Tie two workers to one anchor point, and that point has to handle 10,000 pounds.

For general industry, 29 CFR 1910.29 uses the same 5,000-pound language and adds that anchorages must stay independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms ^[1].

In the real world, a 2x6 roof rafter is almost never an adequate anchor on its own. Ridge anchors engineered for roofing (products that span several rafters and carry a stated load rating) are the right tool. Structural steel beams, concrete columns, and purpose-built anchor sockets installed to manufacturer instructions usually meet the standard. A worker tying off to a rooftop HVAC unit, a pipe, or a duct without checking the load rating is taking a safety and compliance risk that is hard to defend after the fact.

The qualified-person design path is the useful exception. It does not require the anchor itself to test to 5,000 pounds. It requires the whole system (anchor, connectors, harness, and the dynamic forces during arrest) to keep a factor of safety of two. A structural engineer can run that calculation for a specific anchor and certify it. That is how older industrial buildings with lower-rated connection points get brought into compliance.

How much do fall protection devices cost?

Prices swing wide by system type and quality tier. These are approximate retail ranges for 2024 to 2025. Distributor pricing and bulk orders bring them down.

Device	Approximate cost range
Full-body harness (Class II)	$50 to $250
Shock-absorbing lanyard (6 ft)	$30 to $100
Self-retracting lifeline (30 ft, standard)	$200 to $600
Self-retracting lifeline (leading edge rated)	$400 to $1,200
Roof anchor (single rafter, temporary)	$15 to $60
Roof anchor (ridge anchor, multi-rafter)	$75 to $250
Aluminum pipe guardrail system (per 4-ft section)	$80 to $200
Safety net system (installation, varies widely)	$2,000 to $15,000+

A complete harness kit (harness, 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyard, snap hook connectors, and a basic storage bag) from a reputable maker runs about $150 to $350. That is cheap insurance next to an OSHA citation, which carries a maximum penalty of $16,131 per serious violation in 2024, with repeat violations running up to $161,323 ^[3].

The real hidden cost is not the gear. It is productivity. Workers on a PFAS take longer to move between anchor points, and some surfaces need pre-installation work that eats into job time. Guardrails erase that daily productivity tax for fixed work areas, which is why safety professionals push passive systems for any work that happens in the same spot again and again.

What are the most common fall protection violations OSHA cites?

OSHA's inspection data and published citations point to the same short list of failures ^[3]. The top one is having no fall protection at all.

Most common: no fall protection. Workers at 6 feet or more on a construction site with nothing between them and the ground. That lands as a willful or serious citation depending on whether the employer knew the hazard was there.

Second: improper anchorage. A harness is on, but it is tied to a railing, a conduit, or an unrated structural member. It looks compliant from across the site and fails the 5,000-pound test up close.

Third: not enough fall clearance. A 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyard used where there is only 8 feet below the anchor. During a fall, free fall plus deceleration plus harness stretch puts the worker into the lower level. Do the math before work starts, not after.

Fourth: no inspection. Gear that already arrested a fall, or is visibly torn, stays in rotation because nobody runs a formal inspection protocol.

Fifth: no rescue plan. An inspector finds a crew on a roof with PFAS and asks how they would retrieve a suspended worker. Blank stares. That is a citation under 29 CFR 1910.140(c)(21) in general industry.

If you have taken an OSHA citation for fall protection, the incident report process and the abatement documentation that comes with contesting or resolving a citation both deserve careful attention, because how you respond matters as much as what you fix.

Are there fall protection rules specific to certain industries?

Yes, and the differences are big enough that applying the wrong standard creates both a safety problem and a compliance problem.

Construction (Subpart M, 29 CFR 1926.500 to 1926.503). The 6-foot trigger, the leading-edge provisions, the residential construction alternative compliance methods, and the steel erection rules under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart R all live here ^[2]. Steel erection carries its own trigger at 15 feet for connectors and 30 feet under certain conditions, plus a controlled decking zone provision that allows limited work without PFAS during initial steel placement.

General industry (Walking-Working Surfaces, 29 CFR 1910.21 to 1910.30). The 2017 update was a big one. It modernized the fixed ladder rule (no new cages after 2018), added requirements for designated areas for rope descent systems (window washing, tower work), and clarified when a PFAS is required on powered platforms ^[1].

Shipyards (29 CFR 1917). The trigger drops to 5 feet for certain operations. Shipyard work often stacks confined and elevated spaces at the same time, which layers the hazards.

Longshoring (29 CFR 1918). Open hatches and cargo holds create fall hazards handled under a separate standard with its own device specifications.

Telecommunications. Tower climbing runs partly under 29 CFR 1910.268 and partly under 1926.502. Industry practice has moved toward 100 percent tie-off (no unprotected exposure at any height) well past OSHA minimums, because tower falls are so often fatal.

If your workers cross classifications in a single day (a maintenance tech doing general industry work in the morning and climbing a construction scaffold in the afternoon), the stricter standard applies to each task.

What should a fall rescue plan include?

This is the section most written programs skip. OSHA requires a rescue plan as part of a complete fall protection program under 29 CFR 1910.140(c)(21) for general industry, and expects it as part of any construction fall protection plan under 1926.502(k) ^[12][2].

Suspension trauma (also called harness-induced pathology or orthostatic intolerance) hits when a worker hangs motionless in a harness for even a few minutes. Blood pools in the legs, venous return to the heart drops, and the worker can lose consciousness and suffer serious cardiac effects. Time to symptom onset varies, but field observations and case reports put effects inside 3 to 30 minutes of suspension. OSHA's guidance on suspension trauma cites this range ^[12].

A workable rescue plan covers:

1. Who initiates rescue when a fall happens. 2. Which rescue method applies: self-rescue (the worker can climb back), assisted rescue (a trained colleague on the same level retrieves them), or fire or rescue department response. 3. What equipment is pre-positioned (rope retrieval system, an aerial lift on standby, or other means). 4. What medical response fires immediately, because even a worker who says they feel fine after suspension needs evaluation for suspension trauma. 5. How fast the response has to move. Target retrieval in minutes, not after someone drives across town for a ladder.

For a lone worker on a rooftop with nobody nearby, self-rescue or fire department response may be the only options. That reality should feed straight into the decision about whether a solo worker belongs up there at all.

How do fall protection rules apply to aerial lifts and scissor lifts?

OSHA covers aerial lifts under 29 CFR 1926.453 for construction and 29 CFR 1910.67 for general industry ^[10]. The rule for boom-type aerial work platforms (cherry pickers, articulated booms, telescoping booms) is clear: workers wear a PFAS and clip it to the manufacturer's designated anchor point on the platform or boom, never to nearby structures or the platform guardrail.

Scissor lifts work differently. OSHA's position is that the scissor lift's integral guardrail provides the required fall protection, so a PFAS is not required unless the manufacturer's instructions call for one. But if a worker leans over the rail or sits on it to reach a work point, the analysis changes. Plenty of employers require a PFAS in scissor lifts as policy even where OSHA does not, and that holds up as long as the anchor point is rated for it.

The fall clearance problem shows up hard with aerial lifts. If a worker on a boom lift 20 feet up clips a 6-foot shock-absorbing lanyard to the platform anchor and falls out of the basket, the total arrest distance can drop them to or below basket level. A short SRL (6-foot SRL) is the better call for aerial platform work because it minimizes free fall.

Forklifts touch fall protection when workers ride on elevated forks or work platforms. OSHA requires a proper work platform with guardrails and, in some setups, a PFAS for workers on elevated forklift platforms. If your operation runs forklifts near elevated areas, the forklift certification requirements overlap with fall protection planning in ways that deserve their own attention.

Frequently asked questions

At what height does OSHA require fall protection for general industry?

In general industry, 29 CFR 1910.28 requires fall protection when workers face a fall of 4 feet or more to a lower level. General industry scaffolding triggers at 10 feet. These thresholds apply no matter what the surface below is made of. Concrete and soft soil are treated identically under the standard.

Can a worker use a body belt instead of a full-body harness for fall arrest?

No. OSHA banned body belts as the sole means of fall arrest when 29 CFR 1926.502 took effect in February 1998. Body belts concentrate arrest forces on the abdomen, which risks internal injury. A full-body harness spreads those forces across the thighs, chest, and shoulders. Body belts can still serve as positioning devices, where fall distance is capped at 2 feet, but not for fall arrest.

How often should fall protection harnesses be replaced?

OSHA does not set a fixed replacement interval in years. Manufacturers typically recommend replacement every 5 to 10 years from the date of manufacture, depending on use and exposure. Any harness that has arrested a fall comes out of service immediately, regardless of age. Follow the manufacturer's service life documentation and inspect before each use.

What is the difference between fall arrest and fall restraint?

Fall arrest stops a fall already in progress, using a system rated to hold 1,800 pounds of arrest force with no more than 3.5 feet of deceleration. Fall restraint keeps a worker from ever reaching the edge by capping travel with a short lanyard. Restraint systems have lower anchorage force demands and are simpler, but they only work when the job geometry lets you set the anchor far enough from the edge.

Does OSHA require fall protection on portable ladders?

OSHA does not require a PFAS on portable ladders during the climb itself in construction or general industry. Fall protection on fixed ladders over 24 feet is required under 29 CFR 1910.28, which mandates a ladder safety system or PFAS. Caged fixed ladders installed before November 19, 2018 can stay, but no new fixed ladder can use a cage as the sole fall protection.

What is a competent person for fall protection, and who can fill that role?

OSHA defines a competent person as someone who can identify existing and predictable hazards in the work or conditions that are hazardous to employees, and who has the authority to take corrective action. For fall protection, this person has to understand the performance requirements of each device type, spot damaged or inadequate equipment, and hold real authority to stop work.

Is a warning line system enough fall protection for roofing work?

A warning line system alone is allowed only under specific OSHA construction provisions for low-slope roofs (29 CFR 1926.502(f)). The line must sit at least 6 feet from the roof edge, be made from rope, wire, or chain at a specified tension, and pair with a safety monitoring system. It is not allowed near leading edges or on steep-slope roofs, and it does not protect a worker who crosses the line.

What is suspension trauma and why does it matter for fall protection planning?

Suspension trauma (orthostatic intolerance) hits when a worker hangs motionless in a harness after a fall arrest. Blood pools in the legs, cardiac return drops, and unconsciousness or cardiac complications can follow within 3 to 30 minutes. OSHA's guidance requires employers to have a rescue plan that retrieves a suspended worker quickly and to provide medical evaluation even if the worker reports feeling fine.

Do subcontractors have to follow the general contractor's fall protection program?

Yes. OSHA holds both the general contractor (GC) and the subcontractor responsible for fall protection on a construction site. The GC has a duty to keep the overall site compliant and usually must communicate fall protection requirements in the subcontract and through site safety orientation. The sub has an independent duty to protect its own workers. Both can be cited for the same violation.

What is the maximum penalty for an OSHA fall protection violation?

In 2024, OSHA's maximum penalty for a serious violation is $16,131 per violation. Willful or repeat violations carry a maximum of $161,323 each. These amounts adjust every year for inflation. Multi-instance citations (several unprotected workers on the same site) can stack, so a single inspection can hand a small employer a six-figure fine.

Can employees refuse to work without fall protection?

Yes. OSHA's general duty clause and Section 11(c) of the OSH Act protect workers who refuse work they reasonably believe poses imminent danger of death or serious injury, including unprotected fall hazards. The refusal has to be in good faith, the hazard has to be real and not fixable in time through normal channels, and the worker must first ask the employer to correct it.

What records do I need to keep for fall protection equipment?

OSHA does not require a specific form, but keep this: equipment inventory (make, model, serial number, purchase date), pre-use inspection logs, periodic inspection records by a competent person, any remove-from-service documentation, training records for each worker on each device type, and anchor point certifications. Hold these for at least the length of employment plus three years as a practical minimum.

Sources

1. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D (Walking-Working Surfaces) and 1910.29 (Fall Protection Systems): General industry trigger height of 4 feet, guardrail height and load requirements, fixed ladder requirements, remove-from-service after fall arrest
2. OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.502 (Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices): Construction fall protection performance requirements including 5,000 lb anchorage, 1,800 lb maximum arrest force, safety net specifications, and written fall protection plan requirements
3. OSHA, Top 10 Most Cited Standards, Fiscal Year 2023: Fall Protection General Requirements (1926.501) was the most-cited standard in FY2023 with 7,762 violations; maximum serious penalty of $16,131 in 2024
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary 2022: 865 fatal falls, slips, and trips in U.S. workplaces in 2022, the highest annual count in the series
5. OSHA Letter of Interpretation, Aerial Work Platforms and Fall Protection, 1999: Workers in aerial work platforms must be protected by a PFAS attached to the manufacturer's designated anchor point on the platform, not to the basket guardrail
6. OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.501 (Duty to Have Fall Protection): Construction trigger height of 6 feet for general walking-working surfaces, leading edges, and hoist areas
7. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.30 (Training Requirements, Walking-Working Surfaces): General industry training requirement for workers exposed to fall hazards before they start work in areas with those hazards
8. OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.503 (Training Requirements for Fall Protection in Construction): Construction fall protection training must be conducted by a qualified person and must allow workers to recognize fall hazards and use proper procedures
9. OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.453 (Aerial Lifts): Workers in boom-type aerial work platforms must wear a PFAS attached to the manufacturer's anchor point on the boom or platform
10. OSHA, Fall Protection in Construction (OSHA 3146): Overview of fall protection requirements for construction including guardrail, PFAS, safety net systems and their performance criteria
11. OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.140 (Personal Fall Protection Systems): General industry requirement for a prompt, effective rescue procedure for suspended workers under 1910.140(c)(21) and suspension trauma onset range