Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations with cave-ins posing the greatest risk. In addition to the possible loss of life and injury, falls are costly to employers. Fall protection must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery.
Summary:
OSHA has a long list of regulations and requirements designed to protect employees and employers from the risks associated with falls. These regulations include hazard assessments, hazard elimination, fall protection systems, training and more.
OSHA recognizes accidents involving falls are complex and generally involve several factors. To deal with the myriad issues responsible for falls, the government organization has created a system of multi-layered regulations to cover both the human and equipment-related issues in protecting workers from fall hazards. These regulations deal with proper use and installation of safety systems, supervision, safe work procedures, maintenance and more.