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Regardless of your industry, you're obligated to ensure your employees have a safe workplace. And one of the areas that you need to be most concerned with is your facility's rooftop. Following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations pertaining to roof fall protection is mandatory. But are you also aware of the standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)? It's vital that you understand the key differences between these fall protection regulations and standards in order to keep people safe and to maintain your company's compliance.
To fully grasp the distinction between OSHA roof fall protection regulations and ANSI guidelines, you need to understand what each entity is and what it does.
OSHA is a subset of the U.S. Department of Labor, and its mandate is to set and enforce workplace safety standards.
ANSI, on the other hand, is a private organization that creates and promotes voluntary consensus for safety standards.
The single most important distinction between these two entities is the power each holds. Remember that OSHA regulations are law. That means you have no choice but to follow the rules or face severe consequences, which can include fines, penalties, closure of your business, and legal action.
ANSI standards are best described as industry best practices, which means that you are not legally obligated to follow them. However, it's a really good idea to conform to ANSI standards in addition to OSHA safety regulations, so you provide the safest workplace you can.
OSHA 1910.28, Duty to Provide Fall Protection and Falling Object Protection, details your obligations under the law for roof fall protection as well as indoor fall protection. The regulation states that you must provide fall protection whenever employees work or walk on a surface with exposed edges 4' or more above the level below. It does not, however, specify what type of fall protection equipment you should use.
It's up to you to decide whether passive fall protection is adequate or if you also need to utilize active fall protection systems. Regardless, every piece of fall safety equipment you use must meet the standards set forth in OSHA 1910.29 - Fall Protection Systems and Falling Object Protection-Criteria and Practices including:
The most common and trusted type of roof fall protection system is passive, such as guardrails installed around the perimeter of the roof, skylights, rooftop machinery, and other fall hazards. In addition to safety railings, most fall protection systems also include a safety gate for access. If you choose this route, your safety rail and self-closing swing gate must meet OSHA criteria for specific attributes including:
Height of the top of the safety rail from the floor,
Material tensile strength,
Smoothness of the guardrail material,
Proper safety rail installation and maintenance
In situations where passive fall protection systems can’t be used, you should choose to incorporate active OSHA roof fall protection such as a safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline to provide adequate fall protection on your rooftop. Keep in mind that PPE can be used either independently or in concert with passive fall protection, depending on the application. OSHA regulations for active fall protection cover:
Inspections of PPE before use,
Acceptable materials for PPE,
Connectors and anchor points,
Supervision by a competent individual.
Remember, the most important distinction between OSHA and ANSI standards is enforcement. Keep in mind that failure to comply with OSHA regulations for roof fall protection systems will result in severe fines and other penalties. This is not the case with ANSI. However, many times ANSI standards become adopted as OSHA requirements, so following ANSI guidelines can help you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to compliance.
ANSI guidelines, like the ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2017: “Safety Requirements For Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces And Their Access; Workplace, Floor, Wall And Roof Openings; Stairs And Guardrail/Handrail Systems” lay out best practices regarding both passive and active fall protection devices. It also defines requirements for design, performance, use, and maintenance for fall protection systems and evices including:
Guardrails
Handrails
Full Body Harnesses
Connectors
Lanyards
Energy Absorbers
Anchorage Connections
Fall Arrest Devices
Vertical Lifelines
Self-Retracting Lifelines
Under ANSI guidelines, employers should use equipment that's been tested to ensure worker safety.
Not all ANSI approved equipment is OSHA compliant. However, it is usually only a matter of time before OSHA begins to use ANSI guidelines. Once OSHA has adopted a standard from ANSI, it becomes law and, therefore, any personal protective equipment created using the standard is compliant. Enlist the help of a qualified safety expert to determine whether your equipment is compliant with OSHA regulations to avoid any punishments down the road.
Nothing is more important than your employees' safety, and it's your legal obligation to ensure that you manage fall hazards in a fashion compliant with the guidelines. Protect your workers with ANSI recommendations and OSHA roof fall protection devices like safety railings, self-closing swing gates, fall arrest devices, body harnesses, lifelines, and lanyards.
Not sure which types of equipment you should be using for each application? Need help determining whether your organization is OSHA-compliant or if you need to adjust things? Contact BlueWater today to discuss your unique OSHA roof fall protection needs. We'll help you decide whether roof fall protection systems like a guardrail are feasible or if you need to focus your attention on more active fall protection measures.