Falls from heights and on the same level (a working surface) are among the leading causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. From 2012 through 2016, Minnesota OSHA Compliance investigated 26 fatalities and 78 serious injuries due to falls.
Some requirements in the new rule have compliance dates after the
effective date including:
- Ensuring exposed workers
are trained on fall hazards and the use of fall protection equipment (6
months),
- Inspecting and certifying
permanent anchorages for rope descent systems (1 year),
- Installing personal fall
arrest or ladder safety systems on new fixed ladders over 24 feet and on
replacement ladders/ladder sections, including fixed ladders on outdoor
advertising structures (2 years),
- Ensuring existing fixed
ladders over 24 feet, including those on outdoor advertising structures,
are equipped with a cage, well, personal fall arrest system, or ladder
safety system (2 years), and
- Replacing cages and wells
(used as fall protection) with ladder safety or personal fall arrest
systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet (20 years).
For more information on the changes, visit the OSHA Fact Sheet.
Up next…some more information about fixed ladder safety and
compliance.
