1926 Subpart Q
Under 1926.706(a)(1) the limited access zone must be set up before construction of the masonry wall begins.
Under 1926.706(a)(2) the limited access zone must extend a distance equal to the height of the wall being constructed plus four feet, and it must run the entire length of the wall.
Under 1926.706(a)(3) the limited access zone must be placed on the side of the wall that will be unscaffolded.
Under 1926.706(a)(4) only employees actively engaged in constructing the masonry wall may enter the limited access zone; all other employees are prohibited from entering.
Under 1926.706(a)(5) the limited access zone for walls eight feet high or less may be removed once the wall is adequately supported to prevent overturning and collapse.
Under 1926.706(a)(5) and 1926.706(b) masonry walls over eight feet tall must remain within a limited access zone until they are adequately braced to prevent overturning and collapse, unless the wall is otherwise adequately supported so it will not overturn or collapse.
Under 1926.706(b) bracing for masonry walls over eight feet must remain in place until the permanent supporting elements of the structure are installed.
Under 1926.706 the wall must be supported so it will not overturn or collapse before the limited access zone is removed; the standard requires a condition that prevents overturning and collapse but does not provide a technical definition of "adequately supported."
See the general condition in 1926.706(a)(5) and the bracing requirement in 1926.706(b).
Employers should base the determination of adequate support on competent evaluation (engineering judgment, manufacturer instructions, or qualified person assessments) to ensure the wall will not overturn or collapse.
Under 1926.706(a)(4) the employer must limit access to employees who are performing tasks directly involved in constructing the masonry wall; the standard requires that only those actively engaged be permitted entry.
See the access restriction in 1926.706(a)(4).
While the standard does not define "actively engaged," OSHA guidance on employer responsibilities to assess hazards and assign protections can inform this decision; see the PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28 for employer duties to evaluate hazards and determine appropriate controls and personnel protections.
Under 1926.706 the standard requires a limited access zone to be established whenever a masonry wall is being constructed and specifies the zone be on the unscaffolded side (see 1926.706(a) and 1926.706(a)(3)). If both sides will be scaffolded, the employer still must comply with the general requirement to establish a limited access zone and ensure the protections of the standard are met; the rule explicitly locates the zone on the unscaffolded side, so employers should apply the zone requirements in a way that meets the safety objective of preventing overturning/collapse hazards.
See 1926.706(a) and 1926.706(a)(3).
Because the standard's purpose is to protect employees from hazards associated with wall overturning or collapse, employers should use competent evaluation and work planning to determine how to apply the zone when site conditions differ from the typical unscaffolded-side scenario.
Under 1926.706(a)(2) the limited access zone must run the entire length of the wall being constructed, which includes curved or segmented walls; the required distance is the height of the wall plus four feet along the whole length.
Under 1926.706 the standard requires that a limited access zone be established as specified, but it does not prescribe exact methods for marking or barricading the zone. Employers must still ensure the zone effectively limits entry to authorized workers.
See the establishment requirement in 1926.706(a).
Employers should use practical, effective means (barricades, warning signs, tape, or spotters) to control access consistent with the zone dimensions and the employer's hazard assessment; see OSHA guidance on employer hazard assessments at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28 for support on making those decisions.
Under 1926.706(b) "adequately braced" means the wall must be braced to prevent overturning and collapse; the bracing must remain until permanent supporting elements of the structure are in place.
See the bracing requirement and duration in 1926.706(b).
The standard does not prescribe exact bracing designs, so employers should use competent evaluation or engineering design to select bracing that reliably prevents overturning and collapse.
Under 1926.706 the limited access zone is restricted to employees actively engaged in constructing the wall and is intended to keep others out; the standard does not authorize general material or equipment storage in that zone unless such storage does not conflict with the zone's protective purpose and only authorized workers access it.
See the access restriction in 1926.706(a)(4).
Employers should avoid placing unrelated stored materials or equipment in the zone where they could increase the risk of collapse, overload the wall, or obstruct safe work by authorized employees.
Under 1926.706 the rule applies whenever a masonry wall is being constructed; it does not limit application to permanent versus temporary walls, so the limited access zone requirement applies to any masonry wall construction where the hazards described could occur.
Under 1926.706 the limited access zone must be established whenever a masonry wall is being constructed; if onsite erection involves the same hazards of overturning or collapse while the wall is being formed or set, the employer should establish and maintain the limited access zone during those activities to comply with the standard.
See the general requirement in 1926.706(a).
Employers should assess the specific erection tasks and hazards and apply the zone where the standard's protective intent is implicated.
Under 1926.706 the employer is responsible for establishing and maintaining the limited access zone as required by the standard whenever masonry walls are being constructed.
See the employer obligation to establish the zone in 1926.706(a).
Employers should use competent supervision and workplace assessments (see OSHA's PPE hazard assessment interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28) to make sure the zone is correctly sized, positioned, and enforced.
Under 1926.706, the limited access zone must be on the unscaffolded side of the wall and protect employees from overturning/collapse hazards; when scaffolds or suspended conveyances are used near masonry walls, employers must also follow scaffold fall-protection and falling-object protection requirements described in OSHA scaffold guidance.
See the zone location and requirements in 1926.706(a)(3) and the general section 1926.706(a).
For work involving suspended scaffolds or conveyances near masonry walls, see OSHA's scaffold and fall-protection clarification at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-12-05 which explains how scaffold fall protection and falling-object protection rules apply to temporary suspended conveyances. Employers must comply with both the masonry limited access zone requirements and relevant scaffold fall/falling-object protections when both hazards are present.
Under 1926.706 the employer must keep the limited access zone in place until the wall is adequately supported or braced; if signs of instability appear, the employer must maintain or expand controls (keep the zone in place, prevent entry, and provide bracing or other measures) until the wall is made safe.
See the requirement to maintain the zone until safety conditions are met in 1926.706(a)(5) and the bracing requirement in 1926.706(b).
Employers should immediately stop unsafe operations affecting stability and use competent evaluation or engineering measures to correct instability before allowing access to the zone.
Under 1926.706 the standard does not create specific recordkeeping or posting paperwork requirements for establishing a limited access zone; it requires only that the zone be established and maintained per the section's dimensions and access limits.
See the establishment and access provisions in 1926.706(a).
Employers should document their hazard assessments and the measures taken to comply (a best practice supported by OSHA's employer hazard-assessment guidance at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-03-28), even though the masonry limited access-zone rule itself does not mandate a written record.