New Slip and Trip Rule Affects General Industry

In mid-November, OSHA published its final rule on slips, trips and falls. The rule becomes effective Jan. 17, 2017, and will affect approximately 112 million workers at seven million worksites. The final rule updates OSHA’s general industry Walking Working Surfaces standards for slip, trip, and fall hazards. As much as possible, OSHA aligned fall protection requirements for general industry with those for construction, easing compliance for employers who perform both activities. General industry employers will have greater flexibility in choosing fall protection systems. The rule eliminates the existing mandate to use guardrails as a primary fall protection method and allows employers to choose the accepted system they believe will work best in the situation. Employers can also use non-conventional fall protection in certain situations, such as designated areas on low-slope roofs.

The rule requires employers to protect workers from fall hazards along unprotected sides or edges that are at least 4 feet above a lower level. It also sets requirements for fall protection in specific situations, such as hoist areas, runways, areas above dangerous equipment, wall openings, repair pits, stairways, scaffolds, and slaughtering platforms.

Employers can select from a variety of fall protection systems, including:

• Guardrail systems

• Safety net systems

• Personal fall arrest systems – These stop a fall before the worker contacts a lower level. They consist of a body harness, anchorage, and connector, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combination. Employers cannot use body belts as part of a personal fall arrest system.

• Positioning systems – Equipment and connectors that, when used with a body harness or body belt, allow a worker to be supported on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall or window sill, and work with both hands free.

• Travel restraint systems – An anchorage, anchorage connector, lanyard (or other means of connection) combined with body support to eliminate the possibility of a worker going over the unprotected edge or side of a walking-working surface.

• Ladder safety systems – A carrier, safety sleeve, lanyard, connectors, and body harness designed to prevent a worker from falling off. Cages and wells are not considered ladder safety systems.

For more information, please contact the CRA ProRental™ Insurance Program professionals of EPIC/Jenkins Insurance brokers at (800) 234-6363, or email us at prorental@epicbrokers.com.