8/1/17
Quick Tips #398
Falls from heights and on the same level historically are among the leading causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that, on average, approximately 200,000 serious (lost-workday) injuries and 345 fatalities occur annually among workers directly affected by falls from heights and on the same level.
On November 17, 2016, OSHA published a revised Subpart D Walking and Working Surface (WWS) rule for general industry with an effective date of January 17, 2017. The rule updates the general industry WWS standards specific to slip, trip and fall hazards. The main objective of this new rule is to better protect workers in general industry from falls by updating and clarifying standards and adding training and inspection requirements. Many changes in this rule are robust and detailed.
Historically, industries have used the construction fall protection standards (1926 Subparts L and M) as guidance. This new rule harmonizes the general industry standard with the construction standard to make compliance easier for employers who conduct operations in both sectors. Prior to the issuance of the WWS rule, OSHA standards for general industry recognized physical barriers and guardrails as the only means to prevent falls. The new rule recognizes the advantage of adding personal fall protection and arrest systems to protect employees should a fall occur. It also recognizes the updated national consensus standards and industry practices addressing improved technology and extensive testing resulting in advancements in fall protection personal protective equipment (PPE). The final rule uses performance-based language whenever possible to give employers greater compliance flexibility and incorporates plain language to make the rule easier to understand and follow.
Old Rule — Subpart D | New Rule — Subpart D |
---|---|
1910.21 — Definitions | 1910.21 — Scope and Definitions |
1910.22 — General Requirements | 1910.22 — General Requirements |
1910.23 — Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes | 1910.23 — Ladders |
1910.24 — Fixed Industrial Stairs | 1910.24 — Step Bolts and Manhole Steps |
1910.25 — Portable Wood Ladders | 1910.25 — Stairways |
1910.26 — Portable Metal Ladders | 1910.26 — Dockboards |
1910.27 — Fixed Ladders | 1910.27 — Scaffolds and Rope Descent Systems |
1910.28 — Safety Requirements for Scaffolding | 1910.28 — Duty to Have Fall Protection and Falling Object Protection |
1910.29 — Manually Propelled Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (towers) | 1910.29 — Fall Protection Systems and Falling Object Protection – Criteria and Practices |
1910.30 — Other Working Surfaces | 1910.30 — Training Requirements |
Additionally, OSHA amended the following subparts to reflect the changes made in subpart D:
Many changes are introduced in these new standards. For a full understanding of all the changes, the new Subpart D rule should be reviewed in detail. Some of the most notable changes include:
(Source: LJB, Inc.)
This new section was added to establish performance, care and use criteria for PFAS. OSHA felt establishing design and performance criteria was necessary to reduce the risk that a PFAS may fail for a number of reasons. For example:
All PFAS in use in the workplace must comply with the requirements of this section. OSHA believes that employers should not experience significant difficulty complying with these requirements because most of the requirements in the final rule come from OSHA’s existing fall protection standards found in construction, as well as the American National Standards Institute / American Society of Safety Engineers (ANSI/ASSE) Z359 family of national fall protection consensus standards, which have been in place for years and represent industry best practices.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2016 received final ANSI administrative approval on August 15, 2016 and became effective on August 14, 2017. Since the last revision of Z359.1 in 2007, many new voluntary consensus standards were developed within the Z359 series to cover various specific types of fall protection products and processes. Between 2007 and 2016, some manufacturers chose not to follow the equipment specific standards, yet still claimed compliance with the ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007. At the time, those statements were true because Z359.1 did not specifically address the elements covered by the other 11 standards in the Z359 family. The revised ANSI/ASSE Z359.1 – 2016 (The Fall Protection Code) standard references each of the Z359 standards and requires that products meet the current version of the applicable standard when purchased. Products in use when new standards or revisions to existing standards become effective can continue to be used until they are removed from service. For more information on the revised ANSI/ASSE Z359 standard, please see Quick Tip #347 “A New Lift to Fall Protection Standards.”
Q: Who and what does the new final WWS rule cover?
A: The final rule applies to all general industry workplaces and covers all walking-working surfaces, which include horizontal and vertical surfaces such as floors, stairs, roofs, ladders, ramps, scaffolds, elevated walkways and fall protection systems. The final rule covers a wide variety of general industry firms including building management services, utilities, warehousing, retail, window cleaning, chimney sweeping and outdoor advertising.
Q: Do I have to follow the guidelines of ANSI/ASSE Z359?
A: No, like any ANSI/ASSE standard these are voluntary consensus standards used to complement OSHA regulations. The new rule on WWS does not provide specific guidance about the fall protection equipment being used in the market today. Purchasing equipment that meets the ANSI Z359 family of standards ensures that the equipment meets industry standards and safety specifications.
American National Standards Institute / American Society of Safety Engineers (ANSI/ASSE) Z359 family of national fall protection and arrest consensus standards
Buying Fall Protection Equipment in 2017, Occupational Health & Safety, Thomas E. Kramer, January 2017
OSHA Walking and Working Surfaces (WWS) Landing Page
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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