Walking/Working Surface Rules Need Changes, OSHA Says

Revisions to 1910, Subpart D (Walking and Working Surfaces) and Subpart I (Personal Protective Equipment) are necessary, says OSHA, to reduce workplace slips, trips, and falls, which are a leading cause of worker-related injury and death.

Every year more than 200,000 employees across the nation are injured when they slip, trip, or fall from work surfaces such as floors, platforms, portable and fixed ladders, stairs, and ramps. Recently, more than 600 workers were killed in job related falls in one year.

OSHA says these accidents happen because employees are either unprotected from slip, trip, and fall hazards or they have a protection but aren’t using it correctly.

The agency estimates the proposed rule would prevent 20 workplace fatalities per year and over 3,700 injuries annually that are serious enough to result in days away from work.

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Overview of Proposed Subparts D and I

Key proposed changes include:

• The proposed rule would eliminate duplication and extensive specification of requirements, while emphasizing performance-based criteria. For example, the proposal would incorporate the construction scaffolding standards, which would eliminate the need for most scaffold specifications in general industry.
• A new section would be added to subpart I that provides criteria for fall protection equipment. This new section would make the general industry standards consistent with existing construction and maritime standards regulating fall protection, as well as current industry practice, and give clear standards on fall protection PPE to employers.
• Compliance flexibility would be provided for the mitigation of fall hazards. For example, proposed subpart D would require fall protection, but would provide options for compliance such as travel restraint systems and designated areas for fall protection when appropriate.
• Subpart I would provide criteria on the proper use of personal fall protection systems when used by the employer.

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OSHA will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule revision at the Department of Labor in Washington on January 18. Click here for the complete text of the  proposed new rules.

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