Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, accounting for about one-third of all fatalities in the industry. There were 291 fatal falls to a lower level in construction in 2013, out of 828 total fatalities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Subpart M lays out the requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces. The provisions of Subpart M can be found in Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart M - Fall Protection, 29 CFR 1926.500, 29 CFR 1926.501, 29 CFR 1926.502, and 29 CFR 1926.503.