General industry waits on a proposed fall protection rule
A quick look at statistics reinforces that falls from heights account for a significant yearly number of disabling injuries and fatalities. The issue is so significant that for two years running, OSHA has promoted a National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in the construction industry — covered by Part 1926 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 291 of the 828 construction fatalities recorded in 2013. Those deaths were preventable. Fall prevention safety standards were among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards, during fiscal year 2014.” 1