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U.S. OSHA Regulations for a Fall Arrest

Individuals working at great heights are at substantial risk of injury. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extensive regulations in place to safeguard the health of such workers. These regulations vary by industry, height and project.

  1. Anchoring

    • The most basic part of fall arrest regulations involve personal anchoring. Individuals working at heights must wear a harness which must be securely connected to an anchor. The anchor must be secured in such a way that it will not easily come loose when pulled upon.

    Deceleration

    • At substantial heights, OSHA requires deceleration devices. If an individual falls from a great height the impact of stopping can cause serious injury even in cases where the anchor breaks their fall. Deceleration involves systems which slow the rate of a fall.

    Other Topics

    • OSHA has additional regulations governing guard rails, working surfaces, powered platforms such as lifts, protective equipment, cargo handling and regulations for special industries such as telecommunications, electric power and more.

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