Fall protection system criteria

Under 1926.502(b)(1) the top edge of guardrails (or equivalent members) must be 42 inches (1.1 m) above the walking/working level, plus or minus 3 inches (8 cm).

• This means acceptable top-rail heights are between 39 and 45 inches unless conditions warrant a higher top edge.
• The guardrail may exceed 45 inches when necessary, as long as it still meets all other criteria in 1926.502(b).

Under 1926.502(b) (note), when employees use stilts the top edge height of the top rail (or equivalent member) must be increased by the height of the stilts.

• Ensure the adjusted top rail still meets the strength and other guardrail criteria in 1926.502(b).

Under 1926.502(b)(2), midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, or equivalent structural members must be installed between the top edge of the guardrail and the walking/working surface when there is no wall or parapet at least 21 inches (53 cm) high.

• If a parapet 21 inches or higher exists, intermediate members are not required.
• Choose the appropriate type (midrail, screen, mesh, or other) based on the opening and hazard.

Under 1926.502(b)(2)(i), midrails must be installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking/working level.

• For example, if the top rail is at 42 inches, the midrail should be roughly halfway between 42 inches and the walking surface (about 21 inches above the walking level).

Under 1926.502(b)(2)(iii), intermediate vertical members must be spaced no more than 19 inches (48 cm) apart.

• This spacing helps ensure there are no large openings that could allow a person to fall through.

Under 1926.502(b)(3), guardrail systems must withstand, without failure, a force of at least 200 pounds (890 N) applied within 2 inches (5.1 cm) of the top edge in any outward or downward direction at any point along the top edge.

• Design and construction must account for this load to prevent collapse or loss of protection.

Under 1926.502(b)(4), when the 200-pound (890 N) test load is applied downward the top edge of the guardrail must not deflect to a height less than 39 inches (1.0 m) above the walking/working surface.

• In practice, that means a properly built guardrail at nominal 42 inches cannot dip below 39 inches under the specified downward load.

Under 1926.502(b)(5), midrails, screens, mesh, intermediate vertical members, solid panels, and equivalent structural members must be capable of withstanding a downward or outward force of at least 150 pounds (666 N) at any point without failing.

• This requirement ensures the intermediate members offer meaningful protection between the top rail and walking surface.

Under 1926.502(b)(8), steel banding and plastic banding must not be used as top rails or midrails.

• Use solid structural members that meet the dimensional and strength requirements instead.

Under 1926.502(b)(9), top rails and midrails must be at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm) nominal diameter or thickness. If a wire rope is used for top rails it must be flagged with high-visibility material at intervals of not more than 6 feet (1.8 m).

• The size requirement is to prevent cuts and lacerations.
• Flagging makes wire rope rails easier to see and reduces snag/trip hazards.

Under 1926.502(b)(10), when guardrail systems are used at hoisting areas a chain, gate, or removable guardrail section must be placed across the access opening between guardrail sections when hoisting operations are not taking place.

• This prevents people from inadvertently walking into open hoisting areas when they are not in active use.

Under 1926.502(b)(11) and 1926.502(b)(12), guardrail systems must be erected on all unprotected sides or edges of holes. For holes used for passage of materials, at most two sides may have removable guardrail sections to allow material passage; when not in use the hole must be closed with a cover or all unprotected sides must be guarded.

• Always keep holes closed or fully protected when not actively used to pass materials.

Under 1926.502(b)(13), guardrail systems around holes used as access points must either have a gate or be offset so that a person cannot walk directly into the hole.

• A gate or offset prevents accidental falls through the access opening.

Under 1926.502(b)(14), guardrail systems on ramps and runways must be erected along each unprotected side or edge.

• This provides fall protection along the full length of the ramp or runway where there is a risk of falling.

Under 1926.502(b)(15), manila, plastic, or synthetic rope used for top rails or midrails must be inspected as frequently as necessary to ensure they continue to meet the strength requirement of 1926.502(b)(3).

• Inspect these rope rails for wear, fraying, cuts, or other deterioration and replace them when they no longer meet strength needs.

Under 1926.502(c)(1), safety nets must be installed as close as practicable to the walking/working surface but in no case more than 30 feet (9.1 m) below that level. For nets used on bridges, the fall area between the work surface and the net must be unobstructed.

• Install nets as high as possible below the work surface to minimize fall distance and potential impact.

Under 1926.502(c)(2), safety nets must extend outward from the outermost projection of the work surface according to the vertical distance to the net:

• Up to 5 feet vertical distance: net must extend 8 feet outward.

• More than 5 feet up to 10 feet: net must extend 10 feet outward.

• More than 10 feet vertical distance: net must extend 13 feet outward.

• Use these minimum horizontal distances to ensure falling workers land safely in the net.

Under 1926.502(c)(4)(i), safety nets must be drop-tested at the jobsite after initial installation and before first use, whenever relocated, after major repair, and at 6-month intervals if left in place. The drop test uses a 400-pound (180 kg) bag of sand (30 ±2 inches diameter) dropped into the net from the highest walking/working surface at which employees are exposed, but not from less than 42 inches (1.1 m) above that level.

• This confirms the net and installation can absorb the required impact energy before being relied on for fall protection.

Under 1926.502(c)(4)(ii), an employer may avoid the drop-test when they can demonstrate it is unreasonable to perform; in that case a qualified person must prepare a certification record before the net is used. The certification must identify the net and installation, state the date the net was determined to comply with the clearance requirement of 1926.502(c)(3), and include the signature of the certifying person. The most recent certification must be available at the jobsite for inspection.

• Use this option only when a drop-test truly is unreasonable (e.g., impractical or unsafe); document the basis and keep the signed certification on site.

Under 1926.502(c)(5) safety nets must be inspected at least once a week for wear, damage, and deterioration, and defective components must be removed from service. Under 1926.502(c)(6) materials, scrap, equipment, and tools that fall into a safety net must be removed as soon as possible and at least before the next work shift.

• Inspect nets after any event that could affect their integrity (e.g., impact, severe weather).
• Keep nets clear of debris to maintain their energy-absorbing performance.

Under 1926.502(c)(7) the maximum mesh opening is 36 square inches and no side of an opening may be longer than 6 inches (15 cm); mesh crossings must be secured to prevent enlargement. Under 1926.502(c)(8) each net or net section must have a border rope or webbing with a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN). Under 1926.502(c)(9) connections between panels must be as strong as the integral net components and spaced no more than 6 inches (15 cm) apart.

• These requirements ensure nets reliably catch and contain falling workers and tools.

Under 1926.502(d), effective January 1, 1998, body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system.

• Body belts may still be used for positioning device systems regulated under 1926.502(e) (if applicable), but not to arrest falls.

Under 1926.502(d)(1) connectors must be drop forged, pressed or formed steel, or made of equivalent materials. Under 1926.502(d)(2) connectors must have a corrosion-resistant finish and all surfaces and edges must be smooth to prevent damage to interfacing parts.

• Use quality connectors and keep them clean and corrosion-free to preserve strength and safe operation.

Under 1926.502(d)(3) dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN). Under 1926.502(d)(4) they must be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or permanently deforming.

• Use only hardware that meets these strength and test standards to ensure connectors will not fail during fall arrest.

Under 1926.502(d)(5) and the rule stating that, effective January 1, 1998, only locking-type snaphooks shall be used, snaphooks must be sized and/or be locking types so they cannot unintentionally disengage. Specifically, they must be compatible with the member they connect to or be a locking design that prevents the keeper from being depressed by contact with the connected member.

• Use locking snaphooks sized to avoid cross-opening or roll-out; replace nonlocking hooks with approved locking versions.

Under 1926.502(d)(6), unless the snaphook is a locking type designed for the connection, snaphooks must not be engaged: (i) directly to webbing, rope, or wire rope; (ii) to each other; (iii) to a dee-ring to which another snaphook or connector is attached; (iv) to a horizontal lifeline; or (v) to any object incompatibly shaped or dimensioned such that unintentional disengagement could occur.

• These prohibitions reduce the risk of roll-out or accidental disconnection during use.

Under 1926.502(d)(8), horizontal lifelines must be designed, installed, and used under the supervision of a qualified person and must be part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two.

• A qualified person must ensure the system can handle the loads and dynamic forces associated with expected falls.

Under 1926.502(d)(9), lanyards and vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN).

• Use certified components that meet this strength requirement and inspect them regularly for damage.

Under 1926.502(d)(10)(ii), two employees may be attached to the same lifeline only during construction of elevator shafts, provided both employees work atop a false car equipped with guardrails, the lifeline strength is 10,000 pounds (5,000 pounds per employee), and all other lifeline criteria are met. Otherwise, 1926.502(d)(10)(i) requires each employee be attached to a separate lifeline.

• Follow the elevator-shaft exception strictly and ensure the lifeline rating and working conditions meet the criteria.

Under 1926.502(d)(11), lifelines must be protected against being cut or abraded.

• Use protective sleeves, routing, or other means to avoid sharp edges, rough surfaces, or other hazards that could weaken lifelines.

Under 1926.502(d)(12), self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that automatically limit free fall distance to 2 feet or less must sustain a minimum tensile load of 3,000 pounds (13.3 kN) with the device fully extended. Under 1926.502(d)(13), self-retracting lifelines and lanyards that do not limit free fall to 2 feet, ripstitch lanyards, and tearing/deforming lanyards must sustain a minimum tensile load of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) with the device fully extended.

• Select the device type based on expected free-fall distance and required strength.

Under 1926.502(d)(14), ropes and straps (webbing) used in lanyards, lifelines, and strength components of body belts and harnesses must be made from synthetic fibers.

• Synthetic materials offer predictable strength and performance for personal fall arrest components.

Under 1926.502(d)(15), anchorages used for personal fall arrest attachments must be independent of any anchorage supporting or suspending platforms and be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached. Alternatively, they may be designed, installed, and used as part of a complete personal fall arrest system that maintains a safety factor of at least two and under the supervision of a qualified person (1926.502(d)(15)(i)-(ii)).

• Ensure anchorages are rated, documented, and (if relying on engineered design) certified by a qualified person.

Under 1926.502(d)(16), a personal fall arrest system must: limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when used with a body belt and to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness; be rigged so an employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor contact any lower level; bring the employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance to 3.5 feet (1.07 m); and have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a free fall of 6 feet or the system's permitted free fall distance, whichever is less.

• Use appropriate energy absorbers, lanyard lengths, and anchorage locations to meet these limits and prevent ground/contact impact.

Under the rule language in 1926.502(d) and the specific provision stating that, effective January 1, 1998, only locking-type snaphooks shall be used, snaphooks are required to be locking type starting January 1, 1998.

• Use only approved locking snaphooks for personal fall arrest hook connections to reduce the risk of accidental disengagement.

Under 1926.502(c)(4)(ii), when a drop test is unreasonable the employer (or designated competent person) must prepare a written certification record prior to using the net as fall protection. The record must identify the net and installation, show the date the net was determined to comply with the clearance requirement of 1926.502(c)(3), and include the signature of the person making the determination. The most recent certification must be available at the jobsite.

• Keep this signed documentation on site and be prepared to explain why a drop test was unreasonable.

Yes — conveyances operating with temporary guides, temporary suspension means, or temporary hoist machines, including some configurations with permanent car frames plus temporary devices, meet the definition of suspended scaffolds and therefore must meet the scaffold fall protection requirements and falling object protection requirements. OSHA explained this in its Letter of Interpretation regarding scaffolds and fall protection dated December 5, 2023 (Original URL).

• The fall protection for these conveyances must comply with 29 CFR 1926.451(g) (scaffold fall protection) and falling object protection must meet 29 CFR 1926.451(h), as referenced in the interpretation.
• For personal fall arrest anchorages used in and around hoistways, 1926.502(d)(15) sets the anchorage strength requirements.

If the combined weight of the employee and tools is 310 pounds (140 kg) or more, the employer must modify the system's criteria or protocols to provide proper protection; otherwise the system will not be considered in compliance with paragraph (d)(16). See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(16).

• If using a system that follows Appendix C to subpart M, it’s allowed only for combined weights under 310 lb without modification.
• For heavier users, update the system (for example, stronger anchorage, different shock-absorbing elements, or equipment rated for the higher weight) and document the changes to ensure compliance.

The attachment point of the body belt must be located in the center of the wearer’s back. See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(17).

• This location helps ensure the belt functions as intended if it is used as part of a positioning or arrest system. Note that body belts have limited use (see other provisions) and are not permitted for certain personal fall arrest applications.

No. Body belts, harnesses, and their components shall be used only for employee protection (as part of a personal fall arrest system or positioning device system) and not to hoist materials. See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(18).

• Do not rig workers’ belts or harnesses to lift tools or materials; use appropriate material-handling equipment instead.

Personal fall arrest systems and components that have been subjected to impact loading must be immediately removed from service and not used again for employee protection until a competent person inspects them and determines they are undamaged and suitable for reuse. See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(19).

• Keep records or tags showing inspection and approval before returning the equipment to service.

The employer must provide for prompt rescue of employees in the event of a fall or must ensure that employees are able to rescue themselves. See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(20).

• Have written rescue procedures, trained rescuers or self-rescue equipment, and ensure rescue can occur quickly enough to prevent suspension trauma or other harm.

Personal fall arrest systems shall be inspected prior to each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration; defective components must be removed from service. See the requirement in 1926.502(d)(21).

• Conduct visual and tactile inspections before every shift and after any event (e.g., impact loading) that could damage equipment; document inspections as your program requires.

A positioning device system must be secured to an anchorage capable of supporting at least twice the potential impact load of an employee's fall or 3,000 pounds (13.3 kN), whichever is greater. See the requirement in 1926.502(e)(2).

• Verify anchorage capacity by calculations, manufacturer data, or a qualified person’s assessment before use.

Connecting assemblies must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN), and Dee-rings and snaphooks must be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kN) without cracking, breaking, or taking permanent deformation. See the requirement in 1926.502(e)(5) and the requirement in 1926.502(e)(6).

• Use components that meet these minimum strength criteria and follow manufacturer instructions for inspection and testing.

As of January 1, 1998, only locking-type snaphooks may be used; unless a snaphook is locking and designed for certain connections, snaphooks shall not be engaged directly to webbing/rope/wire rope, to each other, to a Dee-ring already holding another connector, to a horizontal lifeline, or to any object of incompatible shape/dimension that could depress the keeper and cause disengagement. See the requirement in 1926.502(e)(8) and the specific prohibitions in 1926.502(e)(8)(i), 1926.502(e)(8)(ii), 1926.502(e)(8)(iii), 1926.502(e)(8)(iv), and 1926.502(e)(8)(v).

• Use locking snaphooks sized and designed for the connection to prevent unintentional disengagement.

When mechanical equipment is not being used, a warning line must be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the roof edge; when mechanical equipment is being used, the warning line must be at least 6 feet from the roof edge parallel to the equipment’s operation and at least 10 feet (3.1 m) from the edge perpendicular to the equipment’s operation. See the requirement in 1926.502(f)(1) and the distance specifics in 1926.502(f)(1)(i) and 1926.502(f)(1)(ii).

• Make sure access paths and material handling areas are connected as required by 1926.502(f)(1)(iii).

Warning lines must be ropes, wires, or chains flagged at not more than 6-foot intervals, rigged so their lowest point is at least 34 inches and highest point no more than 39 inches above the walking surface; stanchions with attached line must resist a 16-pound horizontal force applied 30 inches above the surface without tipping; the line must have a minimum tensile strength of 500 pounds and be attached so pulling one section won’t create slack in adjacent sections. See the requirement in 1926.502(f)(2) and the subsections 1926.502(f)(2)(i), 1926.502(f)(2)(ii), 1926.502(f)(2)(iii), 1926.502(f)(2)(iv), and 1926.502(f)(2)(v).

• Inspect warning lines and stanchions regularly and after any movement or impact to ensure continued compliance.

For leading edge operations, control lines shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor more than 25 feet (7.7 m) from the unprotected or leading edge; when erecting precast concrete members, control lines shall be erected not less than 6 feet (1.8 m) nor more than 60 feet (18 m) or half the length of the member being erected, whichever is less. See 1926.502(g)(1), 1926.502(g)(1)(i), and 1926.502(g)(1)(ii).

• Ensure the control line runs along the full length of the unprotected edge and connects to a guardrail or wall at each end per 1926.502(g)(1)(iii)–(iv).

The safety monitor must be a competent person who can recognize fall hazards, must warn employees who are unaware or acting unsafely, must be on the same walking/working surface and within visual sight of the employee, be close enough to communicate orally, and must not have other duties that distract from monitoring. See 1926.502(h)(1) and its subparts 1926.502(h)(1)(i)–1926.502(h)(1)(v).

• Mechanical equipment cannot be used or stored where safety monitoring systems are used for roofing on low-slope roofs (1926.502(h)(2)).
• Employees in a controlled access zone must promptly follow warnings from the safety monitor (1926.502(h)(4)).