Update: Fall Protection For Residential Builders.

This article is a follow-up to our original post on 10May:  Fall protection for Residential Builders.  Portions in bold added 11 June 2011,

On Thursday, 9 June 2011, 7 days before enforcement of the new Fall Protection For Residential Builders directive begins, following intense lobbying by the NAHB and lawsuits filed to prevent enforcement, OSHA has issued a Trade Release easing the rules for 90 days. 

Fact is that men are dying from falls off of roofs because they are not protected.  The cost to train workers and provide PFAS (personal fall arrest systems: anchors, lanyards, harnesses) is minimal and sure to save lives.  If you or someone you know is building or remodelling a home, insist they protect their workers with Fall Protection.

The three month phase-in period runs 16 June - 15 September 2011. During this time, if the employer is in full compliance with the old directive (STD 03-00-001), OSHA will not issue citations, but will instead issue a hazard alert letter informing the employer of the feasible methods they can use to comply with OSHA’s fall protection standard or implement a written fall protection plan. If the employer’s practices do not meet the requirements set in the old directive, OSHA will issue appropriate citations.

If an employer fails to implement the fall protection measures outlined in a hazard alert letter, and during a subsequent inspection of one of the employer’s workplaces OSHA finds violations involving the same hazards, the Area Office shall issue appropriate citations.

The new directive, Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction (STD 03-11-002), a detailed description of the phase-in policy, a presentation and other guidance materials about requirements for protecting workers from falls are available at http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_protection.html.

The equipment and training to comply with the directive are suprisingly affordable.  For just a few hundred dollars, reusable equipment can be purchased to fully meet the regulations to protect each worker.  With an extra 90 days, there is not reason to not be in compliance.

SafetyRich can provide Fall Protection training and recommend equipment to help you protect your workers.

See our Web site: SafetyRich