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Regulations(Standards29CFR)TableofContents

PartNumber:
PartTitle:
Subpart:
SubpartTitle:
StandardNumber:
Title:
GPOSource:

1926
SafetyandHealthRegulationsforConstruction
M
FallProtection
1926.500
Scope,application,anddefinitionsapplicabletothissubpart.
eCFR

1926.500(a)

Scopeandapplication.
1926.500(a)(1)

Thissubpartsetsforthrequirementsandcriteriaforfallprotectioninconstructionworkplacescoveredunder29CFRpart1926.Exception:Theprovisionsof
thissubpartdonotapplywhenemployeesaremakinganinspection,investigation,orassessmentofworkplaceconditionspriortotheactualstartof
constructionworkorafterallconstructionworkhasbeencompleted.
1926.500(a)(2)

Section1926.501setsforththoseworkplaces,conditions,operations,andcircumstancesforwhichfallprotectionshallbeprovidedexceptasfollows:
1926.500(a)(2)(i)

RequirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesworkingonscaffoldsareprovidedinsubpartLofthispart.
1926.500(a)(2)(ii)

RequirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesworkingoncranesandderricksareprovidedinsubpartCCofthispart.
1926.500(a)(2)(iii)

Fallprotectionrequirementsforemployeesperformingsteelerectionwork(exceptfortowersandtanks)areprovidedinsubpartRofthispart.
1926.500(a)(2)(iv)

RequirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesworkingoncertaintypesofequipmentusedintunnelingoperationsareprovidedinsubpartSofthis
part.
1926.500(a)(2)(v)

Requirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesengagedintheerectionoftanksandcommunicationandbroadcasttowersareprovidedin1926.105.
1926.500(a)(2)(vi)

SubpartVofthispartprovidesrequirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesworkingfromaerialliftsoronpoles,towers,orsimilarstructureswhile
engagedintheconstructionofelectrictransmissionordistributionlinesorequipment.
1926.500(a)(2)(vii)

RequirementsrelatingtofallprotectionforemployeesworkingonstairwaysandladdersareprovidedinsubpartXofthispart.
1926.500(a)(3)

Section1926.502setsforththerequirementsfortheinstallation,construction,andproperuseoffallprotectionrequiredbypart1926,exceptasfollows:
1926.500(a)(3)(i)

Performancerequirementsforguardrailsystemsusedonscaffoldsandperformancerequirementsforfallingobjectprotectionusedonscaffoldsareprovided
insubpartLofthispart.
1926.500(a)(3)(ii)

Performancerequirementsforstairways,stairrailsystems,andhandrailsareprovidedinsubpartXofthispart.
1926.500(a)(3)(iii)

AdditionalperformancerequirementsforfallarrestandworkpositioningequipmentareprovidedinSubpartVofthispart.
1926.500(a)(3)(iv)

Section1926.502doesnotapplytotheerectionoftanksandcommunicationandbroadcasttowers.(Note:Section1926.104setsthecriteriaforbodybelts,
lanyardsandlifelinesusedforfallprotectionduringtankandcommunicationandbroadcasttowererection.Paragraphs(b),(c)and(f)of1926.107provide
definitionsforthepertinentterms.)
1926.500(a)(3)(v)

Criteriaforsteps,handholds,ladders,andgrabrails/guardrails/railingsrequiredbysubpartCCareprovidedinsubpartCC.Sections1926.502(a),(c)through
(e),and(i)applytoactivitiescoveredundersubpartCCunlessotherwisestatedinsubpartCC.Nootherparagraphsof1926.502applytosubpartCC.
1926.500(a)(4)

Section1926.503setsforthrequirementsfortrainingintheinstallationanduseoffallprotectionsystems,exceptinrelationtosteelerectionactivitiesandthe
useofequipmentcoveredbysubpartCC.
1926.500(b)

Definitions.
Anchoragemeansasecurepointofattachmentforlifelines,lanyardsordecelerationdevices.
Bodybelt(safetybelt)meansastrapwithmeansbothforsecuringitaboutthewaistandforattachingittoalanyard,lifeline,ordecelerationdevice.
Bodyharnessmeansstrapswhichmaybesecuredabouttheemployeeinamannerthatwilldistributethefallarrestforcesoveratleastthethighs,pelvis,
waist,chestandshoulderswithmeansforattachingittoothercomponentsofapersonalfallarrestsystem.
Bucklemeansanydeviceforholdingthebodybeltorbodyharnessclosedaroundtheemployee'sbody.
Connectormeansadevicewhichisusedtocouple(connect)partsofthepersonalfallarrestsystemandpositioningdevicesystemstogether.Itmaybean
independentcomponentofthesystem,suchasacarabiner,oritmaybeanintegralcomponentofpartofthesystem(suchasabuckleordeeringsewninto
abodybeltorbodyharness,orasnaphooksplicedorsewntoalanyardorselfretractinglanyard).
Controlledaccesszone(CAZ)meansanareainwhichcertainwork(e.g.,overhandbricklaying)maytakeplacewithouttheuseofguardrailsystems,personal
fallarrestsystems,orsafetynetsystemsandaccesstothezoneiscontrolled.
Dangerousequipmentmeansequipment(suchaspicklingorgalvanizingtanks,degreasingunits,machinery,electricalequipment,andotherunits)which,as
aresultofformorfunction,maybehazardoustoemployeeswhofallontoorintosuchequipment.
Decelerationdevicemeansanymechanism,suchasaropegrab,ripstitchlanyard,speciallywovenlanyard,tearingordeforminglanyards,automaticself
retractinglifelines/lanyards,etc.,whichservestodissipateasubstantialamountofenergyduringafallarrest,orotherwiselimittheenergyimposedonan
employeeduringfallarrest.
Decelerationdistancemeanstheadditionalverticaldistanceafallingemployeetravels,excludinglifelineelongationandfreefalldistance,beforestopping,
fromthepointatwhichthedecelerationdevicebeginstooperate.Itismeasuredasthedistancebetweenthelocationofanemployee'sbodybeltorbody
harnessattachmentpointatthemomentofactivation(attheonsetoffallarrestforces)ofthedecelerationdeviceduringafall,andthelocationofthat
attachmentpointaftertheemployeecomestoafullstop.
Equivalentmeansalternativedesigns,materials,ormethodstoprotectagainstahazardwhichtheemployercandemonstratewillprovideanequalorgreater
degreeofsafetyforemployeesthanthemethods,materialsordesignsspecifiedinthestandard.
Failuremeansloadrefusal,breakage,orseparationofcomponentparts.Loadrefusalisthepointwheretheultimatestrengthisexceeded.
Freefallmeanstheactoffallingbeforeapersonalfallarrestsystembeginstoapplyforcetoarrestthefall.
Freefalldistancemeanstheverticaldisplacementofthefallarrestattachmentpointontheemployee'sbodybeltorbodyharnessbetweenonsetofthefall
andjustbeforethesystembeginstoapplyforcetoarrestthefall.Thisdistanceexcludesdecelerationdistance,andlifeline/lanyardelongation,butincludes
anydecelerationdeviceslidedistanceorselfretractinglifeline/lanyardextensionbeforetheyoperateandfallarrestforcesoccur.
Guardrailsystemmeansabarriererectedtopreventemployeesfromfallingtolowerlevels.
Holemeansagaporvoid2inches(5.1cm)ormoreinitsleastdimension,inafloor,roof,orotherwalking/workingsurface.
Infeasiblemeansthatitisimpossibletoperformtheconstructionworkusingaconventionalfallprotectionsystem(i.e.,guardrailsystem,safetynetsystem,
orpersonalfallarrestsystem)orthatitistechnologicallyimpossibletouseanyoneofthesesystemstoprovidefallprotection.
Lanyardmeansaflexiblelineofrope,wirerope,orstrapwhichgenerallyhasaconnectorateachendforconnectingthebodybeltorbodyharnesstoa
decelerationdevice,lifeline,oranchorage.
Leadingedgemeanstheedgeofafloor,roof,orformworkforafloororotherwalking/workingsurface(suchasthedeck)whichchangeslocationas
additionalfloor,roof,decking,orformworksectionsareplaced,formed,orconstructed.Aleadingedgeisconsideredtobean"unprotectedsideandedge"
duringperiodswhenitisnotactivelyandcontinuouslyunderconstruction.
Lifelinemeansacomponentconsistingofaflexiblelineforconnectiontoananchorageatoneendtohangvertically(verticallifeline),orforconnectionto
anchoragesatbothendstostretchhorizontally(horizontallifeline),andwhichservesasameansforconnectingothercomponentsofapersonalfallarrest
systemtotheanchorage.
Lowsloperoofmeansaroofhavingaslopelessthanorequalto4in12(verticaltohorizontal).
Lowerlevelsmeansthoseareasorsurfacestowhichanemployeecanfall.Suchareasorsurfacesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,groundlevels,floors,
platforms,ramps,runways,excavations,pits,tanks,material,water,equipment,structures,orportionsthereof.
Mechanicalequipmentmeansallmotororhumanpropelledwheeledequipmentusedforroofingwork,exceptwheelbarrowsandmopcarts.
Openingmeansagaporvoid30inches(76cm)ormorehighand18inches(48cm)ormorewide,inawallorpartition,throughwhichemployeescanfallto
alowerlevel.
Overhandbricklayingandrelatedworkmeanstheprocessoflayingbricksandmasonryunitssuchthatthesurfaceofthewalltobejointedisontheopposite
sideofthewallfromthemason,requiringthemasontoleanoverthewalltocompletethework.Relatedworkincludesmasontendingandelectrical
installationincorporatedintothebrickwallduringtheoverhandbricklayingprocess.
Personalfallarrestsystemmeansasystemusedtoarrestanemployeeinafallfromaworkinglevel.Itconsistsofananchorage,connectors,abodybeltor

bodyharnessandmayincludealanyard,decelerationdevice,lifeline,orsuitablecombinationsofthese.AsofJanuary1,1998,theuseofabodybeltforfall
arrestisprohibited.
Positioningdevicesystemmeansabodybeltorbodyharnesssystemriggedtoallowanemployeetobesupportedonanelevatedverticalsurface,suchasa
wall,andworkwithbothhandsfreewhileleaning.
Ropegrabmeansadecelerationdevicewhichtravelsonalifelineandautomatically,byfriction,engagesthelifelineandlockssoastoarrestthefallofan
employee.Aropegrabusuallyemploystheprincipleofinertiallocking,cam/levellocking,orboth.
Roofmeanstheexteriorsurfaceonthetopofabuilding.Thisdoesnotincludefloorsorformworkwhich,becauseabuildinghasnotbeencompleted,
temporarilybecomethetopsurfaceofabuilding.
Roofingworkmeansthehoisting,storage,application,andremovalofroofingmaterialsandequipment,includingrelatedinsulation,sheetmetal,andvapor
barrierwork,butnotincludingtheconstructionoftheroofdeck.
Safetymonitoringsystemmeansasafetysysteminwhichacompetentpersonisresponsibleforrecognizingandwarningemployeesoffallhazards.
Selfretractinglifeline/lanyardmeansadecelerationdevicecontainingadrumwoundlinewhichcanbeslowlyextractedfrom,orretractedonto,thedrum
underslighttensionduringnormalemployeemovement,andwhich,afteronsetofafall,automaticallylocksthedrumandarreststhefall.
Snaphookmeansaconnectorcomprisedofahookshapedmemberwithanormallyclosedkeeper,orsimilararrangement,whichmaybeopenedtopermit
thehooktoreceiveanobjectand,whenreleased,automaticallyclosestoretaintheobject.Snaphooksaregenerallyoneoftwotypes:
1926.500(b)(1)

Thelockingtypewithaselfclosing,selflockingkeeperwhichremainsclosedandlockeduntilunlockedandpressedopenforconnectionordisconnectionor
1926.500(b)(2)

Thenonlockingtypewithaselfclosingkeeperwhichremainscloseduntilpressedopenforconnectionordisconnection.AsofJanuary1,1998,theuseofa
nonlockingsnaphookaspartofpersonalfallarrestsystemsandpositioningdevicesystemsisprohibited.
Steeproofmeansaroofhavingaslopegreaterthan4in12(verticaltohorizontal).
Toeboardmeansalowprotectivebarrierthatwillpreventthefallofmaterialsandequipmenttolowerlevelsandprovideprotectionfromfallsforpersonnel.
Unprotectedsidesandedgesmeansanysideoredge(exceptatentrancestopointsofaccess)ofawalking/workingsurface,e.g.,floor,roof,ramp,or
runwaywherethereisnowallorguardrailsystematleast39inches(1.0m)high.
Walking/workingsurfacemeansanysurface,whetherhorizontalorverticalonwhichanemployeewalksorworks,including,butnotlimitedto,floors,roofs,
ramps,bridges,runways,formworkandconcretereinforcingsteelbutnotincludingladders,vehicles,ortrailers,onwhichemployeesmustbelocatedin
ordertoperformtheirjobduties.
Warninglinesystemmeansabarriererectedonarooftowarnemployeesthattheyareapproachinganunprotectedroofsideoredge,andwhichdesignates
anareainwhichroofingworkmaytakeplacewithouttheuseofguardrail,bodybelt,orsafetynetsystemstoprotectemployeesinthearea.
Workareameansthatportionofawalking/workingsurfacewherejobdutiesarebeingperformed.
[44FR8577,Feb.9,197944FR20940,Apr.6,1979,asamendedat45FR75625,Nov.14.198055FR47687,Nov.14,199059FR40730,Aug.9,1994
60FR5131,Jan.26,199560FR39254,Aug.2,199566FR5265,Jan.18,200175FR48133,Aug.9,201079FR20696,July10,2014]

NextStandard(1926.501)
Regulations(Standards29CFR)TableofContents

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