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ARTICLE · 24 JULY 2017

OSHA Fall Protection Rule Raises Questions Over ‘Temporary, Relatively Infrequent' Work

Jackson Lewis P.C.
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New questions are emerging about key provisions the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's updated rule to prevent falls.

United StatesEmployment and HR
Carla Gunnin
Carla Gunnin

New questions are emerging about key provisions the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's updated rule to prevent falls.

Effective January 17, 2017, the final rule updating OSHA's general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standards permits certain work near the edge of low-slope roofs without fall protection systems, as long as the work is "temporary, relatively infrequent."

The rule requires conventional means of fall protection for work that is done less than six feet from the edge of a roof. Conventional systems would include a guardrail, personal fall arrest system, or travel restraint systems. For "temporary, relatively infrequent" work done at distances from between six feet and 15 feet, OSHA does not require fall protection.

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