The North Dakota Safety Council has put together information about (29 CFR 1926, Subpart M), the general construction fall protection rule, which may come in handy when you’re planning or conducting a Safety Stand-Down.

The guide includes:

• Who the rule covers (most construction workers except those inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work is done).
• The areas where fall protection is needed: (1) ramps, runways, and other walkways, (2) excavations, (3) hoist areas, (4) holes, (5) formwork and reinforcing steel, (6) leading edge work, (7) unprotected sides and edges, (8) overhand bricklaying and related work, (9) roofng work, (10) precast concrete erection, (11) wall openings, (12) residential construction, and (13) other walking/working surfaces.
• Threshold height specifications (like guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest, positioning device, and warning line systems)
• Employer responsibility
• Provisions of the standard
• Employee training
• How to select equipment
• Types of equipment

It also offers a training tip that is basic, but one which should not be ignored: Ensure that employees know and can recognize the hazards of the fall situations they are in, and the procedures they must follow in order to minimize the hazards.

Click here to access the Fall Protection for Construction – Safety Talk.