Walking-Working Surfaces

By: Scott Powell

Don’t get slipped up with the new OSHA’s Walking, Working, and Surfaces Standard.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a final rule updating its general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standards specific to slip, trip, and fall hazards. The rule also includes a new section under the general industry Personal Protective Equipment standards that establishes employer requirements for using personal fall protection systems.

The final rule will increase workplace protection from those hazards, mostly fall hazards, which are a leading cause of worker deaths and injuries. OSHA believes advances in technology and greater flexibility will reduce worker deaths and injuries from falls. The final rule also increases consistency between general and construction industries, which will help employers and workers that work in both industries.

OSHA estimates the final standard will prevent 29 fatalities and more than 5,842 injuries annually.  The rule became effective on Jan. 17, 2017, and will affect nearly 112 million workers at seven million work sites.

The final rule's most important update is allowing employers to select the fall protection system that works best for them, choosing from a range of accepted options including personal fall protection systems. OSHA has permitted the use of personal fall protection systems in construction since 1994 and the final rule adopts similar requirements for general industry. Other changes include: allowing employers to use rope descent systems up to 300 feet above a lower level, eliminating the use of body belts as part of a personal fall arrest system, and requiring worker training on personal fall protection systems and fall equipment.

The final rule also requires that ladders be capable of supporting their maximum intended load and that mobile ladder stands and platforms be capable of supporting four times their maximum intended load.

Ladders must also be inspected before initial use in a work shift to identify defects that could cause injury.

For fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet, the rule phases in ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems and phases out the use of cages or wells. For portable ladders, employers must ensure several standards are observed.  First, rungs and steps must be slip resistant. Second, portable ladders used on slippery surfaces need to be secured and stabilized. Thirdly, portable ladders cannot be moved, shifted or extended while a worker is on them. Also, the top steps and caps of stepladders cannot be used as steps and ladders cannot be fastened together to provide added length unless designed for such use.  Finally, ladders are not to be placed on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain added height.

The final rule became effective on Jan. 17, 2017. 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).

• 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).