OSHA and ANSI Compliant
To ensure worker safety and protection, the construction industry is regulated by OSHA and ANSI standards. To remain in compliance, the OSHA standards for construction much be understood and implemented by construction workers — specifically rooftop workers — to prevent serious injury or death.
Different types of roof top hazards can range from skylights to leading edges. By identifying these typical rooftop risks, you’ll be better equipped to prepare a plan to complete your project safely, efficiently and within OSHA and ANSI compliance.
Remaining in OSHA and ANSI Compliance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protects construction workplaces with safety and health standards, especially for employees who work on rooftops. OSHA is the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) primary government agency tasked with ensuring safe and healthy working conditions for employees by establishing and enforcing standards and by offering outreach, education, training, assistance and other resources. The agency has designed several solutions to help protect workers from falls, such as fall arrest equipment, restraint mechanisms and guardrails.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which consists of government agencies, organizations, international and academic bodies and individuals, helps develop voluntary safety standards. Remaining in ANSI compliance ensures your workers stay protected whether they are using a lifeline system or a personal fall arrest system.
While ANSI guidelines are recommendations, employers must comply with OSHA standards because they are regulated and enforced.
Getting Fall Protection That's Compliant With OSHA Regulations
Falls are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and deaths. Employers are responsible for maintaining a workplace that prevents employees from falling off overhead workstations, elevated platforms or falling into holes in the floors and walls. OSHA also requires that employers provide fall protection when employees work above potentially hazardous machinery or equipment, regardless of the distance.
OSHA mandates employers to:
- Provide working conditions free from known dangers.
- Keep floors in work areas as clean and dry as possible.
- Furnish required personal protective equipment to workers at no cost.
- Appropriately train employees about potential job hazards in a language they can understand.
FIXFAST USA offers multiple types of fall system equipment and products to help you meet OSHA regulations.
OSHA Compliant Fixed Ladders
Ladders are an everyday tool for rooftop workers. New and experienced workers are both at risk for ladder injury or misuse. Both employees have unique reasons that they require protection from falls.
A fall arrest system like KATTCLIMB® uses a full-body harness with a stainless steel cable to catch the worker in the event of a fall. OSHA-compliant ladders and fall systems can provide far greater peace of mind for workers and increase safety on the project site.
OSHA’s 1910 Walking-Working Surface standard is rewriting how the regulatory body defines a fixed ladder. Historically, OSHA required cages for any fixed ladder with a height taller than 20 feet. The objective was for the cage to slow the walkers fall before they hit the next platform. Unfortunately, cages can often lead to more significant injuries when the worker hits the metal surface.
In January 2017, OSHA created a mandate that will phase out all cages and replace them with a personal fall arrest system or ladder safety system by 2036. Any ladder with a height greater than 24 feet constructed after November 19, 2018, must contain these new systems, while any ladders built previously will need to comply by November 19, 2036.
OSHA Compliant Work Platforms
OSHA also requests safety compliance for work platforms. The five most significant requirements include:
- Guardrails: OSHA now requires work platforms higher than 4 feet to have guardrails at least 42 inches tall. The work platform should also be able to withstand 200 pounds of force.
- Height: The platform height cannot be four times larger than the shortest base dimension without outriggers or counterweights for additional support. This safety feature prevents accidental overturning during work.
- Stairs: Each step on your platform stairs must be at least 16 inches wide. The steps must also be uniform in their spacing and arrangement.
- Safety gate: OSHA requires self-closing safety gates around all platform entry points, such as ladder holes. The only exceptions are offset gates that a worker cannot directly fall through.
- Weight: Your platform must have a 4-to-1 ratio for width and height reliability — it must support four times the maximum intended load.
OSHA Compliant Fall Protection
OSHA also has particular guidelines for protecting the workforce from falls. These requirements tell employees to guard all potential floor holes with railings, toe-boards or floor hole covers. It’s also vital to provide a guard rail or toe-board for elevated open side platforms floors or runways.
Another key guideline is to always provide guardrails and toe-boards around fall hazards like conveyor belts or vats. Employers should also offer fall protection systems with a harness, stair railings, safety nets and more. Other types of fall protection necessary for specific jobs include safety harnesses and lines, stair railings, safety nets, and handrails.
OSHA promotes using control zones, designated working areas, warning lines and other similar systems to limit the number of workers exposed to potential dangers. Performing a hazard assessment or creating a thorough fall protection plan helps employers better manage potential risks and focus employee attention on practical prevention efforts. If a company uses a specific fall protection system, it must ensure employees know how to use the equipment properly.
Keep Your Construction Site Safe With Our OSHA and ANSI Compliant Fall Systems
FIXFAST USA is your source for some of the most trusted fall protection solutions in the industry. Whether your site requires a modular access system or a fixed ladder, we have the products you need to safeguard your workers from numerous roof hazards. We can help you eliminate access issues and fall risks so your workers can stay safe and return home to their families each evening. You can do so with our ANSI and OSHA compliant options, which include:
KATTCLIMB ladders, which are made using high tensile light-weight aluminum, ensure users stay secure while ascending and descending. Options include mounting, fall arrest systems, support brackets and security solutions.
With the KATTGUARD system, your workers will experience continuous fall protection through differently configured and styled guardrails. Choose from options ranging from toe-boards to walkways and experience peace of mind on your job site.
With an anchor point and lifeline systems, the KATTCONNECT will deliver additional security and protection for rooftop workers.
Remain in Compliance With Our Roof Fall Protection and Restraint Systems
At FIXFAST USA, we’ve been helping workers stay safe from fall hazards with our array of roof fall protection and restraint systems since 1975. Whether you are looking for an OSHA roof access ladder or ANSI fixed ladder, we’ll make sure your needs are taken care of.
We also offer several programs to help your company stay compliant with OSHA regulations, including:
- High Five™: High Five is a five-step program that helps you identify potential problem areas at your work site. The program lets you comprehensively explore your work location to recognize unsafe regions and take the necessary accident prevention measures. FIXFAST USA wants to help ensure all workers make it home safely — promoting effective fall prevention programs is the first step to making that happen.
- KATTCARE™: KATTCARE is a comprehensive on-site program that ensures the correct installation of our products and that the installer and end user feel confident with the equipment’s functionality. FIXFAST USA has a team of highly trained technicians experienced in the correct and efficient installation of our fall systems. KATTCARE is a support-only program and does not include any physical installation services.
Connect With the Experts at FIXFAST USA Today
Ready to learn how you can experience maximum safety with minimum fuss? Reach out today if you have any questions or would like to request a quote on any of our safe access products and fall protection systems.