Residential contractors are subject to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Fall Protection Standard (29 CFR 1926.501). In fact, OSHA has made fall protection a priority for inspections and fines. Local jurisdictions to rely on whistleblowers and public reporting to aid inspectors finding sites where infractions may occur. To comply with OSHA fall protection rules, make sure you have a written plan, proper training, and the right equipment.
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Q: Is there any legal way to work off the forks of an all-terrain forklift - for instance, in a steel cage that's safely secured to and supported by the forks? More
Q. We built a custom home for a client in west Michigan a couple of years ago, and the home has had problems with ice ever since. It's a 1,450-square-foot ranch with cathedral ceilings and many can lights throughout. We used blown fiberglass insulation in the ceiling assemblies. From the beginning, the can lights (IC-rated) overheated and tripped their thermal-protection breakers. We finally resorted to pulling the insulation away from the housing of the can lights so they TAs a result, the heat from these lights now warms up the roof and has created a horrible ice problem instead. Last fall we even added four pot vents to the back of the roof in addition to the soffit-to-ridge venting. The homeowner called to report that the pot vents have improved the situation but not completely. I drive by this home frequently and see ice buildup there while other homes in the area are ice free. More
Q: Your May 2001 article "Fall Protection Update" says that OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926 requires fall protection for anyone working above 6 feet. Here in Washington state, I understand that the standard applies when there is a 10-foot fall potential. What a More
