Subpart M
Subpart M does not apply when employees are only making inspections, investigations, or assessments of workplace conditions before construction starts or after all construction work is finished. See 1926.500(a)(1) for the exclusion.
Fall protection for employees working on scaffolds is covered by Subpart L, not Subpart M. See 1926.500(a)(2)(i). For practical application to conveyances and suspended platforms, OSHA's letter of interpretation about scaffolds may be helpful: Scaffold and fall protection clarification (Dec. 5, 2023).
An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices. See the definition of "Anchorage" in 1926.500(b).
No — as of January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest is prohibited. See the definition and prohibition in 1926.500(b).
A "hole" is a gap or void 2 inches (5.1 cm) or more in its least dimension in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
A "leading edge" is the edge of a floor, roof, or formwork that changes location as additional sections are placed; it is considered an "unprotected side and edge" while it is not actively and continuously under construction. See the definition of "Leading edge" in 1926.500(b).
"Lower levels" are any areas or surfaces to which an employee can fall, including ground levels, floors, platforms, ramps, runways, excavations, pits, tanks, material, water, equipment, structures, or parts of them. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
"Unprotected sides and edges" are any side or edge of a walking/working surface (except at points of access) where there is no wall or guardrail system at least 39 inches high. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
Section 1926.502 does not apply to the erection of tanks and communication and broadcast towers. In those cases, 1926.104 sets criteria for body belts, lanyards, and lifelines, and 1926.107(b),(c),(f) provides relevant definitions. See 1926.500(a)(3)(iv).
For activities under subpart CC, sections 1926.502(a), (c) through (e), and (i) apply unless subpart CC states otherwise; no other paragraphs of 1926.502 apply to subpart CC. See 1926.500(a)(3)(v) and 1926.502(a).
A controlled access zone is an area where certain work (for example, overhand bricklaying) may occur without guardrails, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets, provided access to the zone is controlled. See the definition of "Controlled access zone (CAZ)" in 1926.500(b).
Deceleration distance is the vertical distance a falling employee travels after a deceleration device begins to operate until stopping, measured between the attachment point at onset of deceleration and its position after full stop (excluding lifeline elongation and free fall). See the definition in 1926.500(b).
Snaphooks are either a locking type (self-closing, self-locking keeper) or a non-locking type (self-closing keeper that must be pressed open); non-locking snaphooks are prohibited in personal fall arrest and positioning device systems as of January 1, 1998. See 1926.500(b) and 1926.500(b)(1) and 1926.500(b)(2).
Section 1926.503 training requirements apply to installation and use of fall protection systems except for steel erection activities and equipment covered by subpart CC. See 1926.500(a)(4) and the training standard 1926.503.
A personal fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, and a body belt or body harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations of these; however, body belts are prohibited for fall arrest for work after Jan 1, 1998. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
A positioning device system is a body belt or body harness rigged to allow an employee to be supported on an elevated vertical surface (for example, a wall) so they can work with both hands free while leaning. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
A low-slope roof has a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal); a steep roof has a slope greater than 4 in 12. See the definitions of "low-slope roof" and "steep roof" in 1926.500(b).
An "opening" is a gap or void in a wall or partition that is 30 inches (76 cm) or more high and 18 inches (48 cm) or more wide through which employees can fall to a lower level. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
A warning line system is a barrier erected on a roof to warn employees they are approaching an unprotected side or edge and designates an area where roofing work may take place without using guardrails, body belts, or safety nets. See the definition of "Warning line system" in 1926.500(b).
Fall protection for erection of tanks and communication and broadcast towers is provided in 1926.105, not by the general provisions of Subpart M. See 1926.500(a)(2)(v).
Subpart CC provides fall protection requirements for employees working on cranes and derricks. See 1926.500(a)(2)(ii).
No — the definition of "Roof" excludes floors or formwork that temporarily become the top surface of a building because the building is not completed. See the definition of "Roof" in 1926.500(b).
A self-retracting lifeline/lanyard is a deceleration device with a drum-wound line that can be slowly extracted or retracted under slight tension during normal movement and that locks automatically after onset of a fall to arrest it. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
A rope grab is a deceleration device that travels on a lifeline and automatically engages and locks by friction to arrest an employee's fall, typically using inertial or cam/lever locking principles. See the definition of "Rope grab" in 1926.500(b).
A toeboard is a low protective barrier that prevents materials and equipment from falling to lower levels and provides protection from falls for personnel. See the definition of "Toeboard" in 1926.500(b).
A walking/working surface is any surface, horizontal or vertical, on which an employee walks or works (floors, roofs, ramps, runways, formwork, reinforcing steel, etc.); ladders, vehicles, and trailers are excluded. See the definition in 1926.500(b).
"Equivalent" means alternative designs, materials, or methods that an employer can demonstrate will provide an equal or greater degree of safety than the methods or materials specified in the standard. See the definition of "Equivalent" in 1926.500(b).
"Infeasible" means it is impossible to perform the construction work using a conventional fall protection system (guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest) or that it is technologically impossible to use any of those systems to provide fall protection. See the definition of "Infeasible" in 1926.500(b).
"Failure" means load refusal, breakage, or separation of component parts; load refusal is the point where the ultimate strength is exceeded. See the definition of "Failure" in 1926.500(b).
Free fall distance is the vertical displacement of the attachment point between the onset of the fall and just before the arrest system begins to apply force, excluding deceleration distance and lifeline elongation; deceleration distance is the vertical distance after the deceleration device begins to operate until the worker stops. See the definitions of "Free fall distance" and "Deceleration distance" in 1926.500(b).