Fall Protection Program

Purpose

The purpose of this page is to provide University-affiliated employees, contractors, and visitors with resources and information to protect against exposure to fall hazards. To encourage compliance with applicable national and state occupational safety and health regulations, the following resources can help guide the designation, selection, and use of fall protection strategies, as well as training on these topics. 

Program Details

Program Manual

The full manual for the OSU Fall Protection Program can be found using the following link:

OSU Fall Protection Program Manual

Hierarchy of Controls

In the field of occupational health and safety, the hierarchy of controls approach is commonly used to determine the best course of action for mitigating fall hazards. The end solution for managing fall hazards is often comprised of a combination of these controls:

  1. Eliminate the fall hazard by surrounding serviceable mechanical equipment in an enclosed structure, preventing the possibility of a fall.
  2. Substituting the fall hazard by using systems that require less maintenance in hazardous areas.
  3. Passive controls for fall protection require little to no training and include structures such as guardrails, parapets, nets, skylight covers, and toe-boards.
  4. Fall restraint systems such as fixed lanyards and positioning systems are meant to prevent workers from reaching the edge in the first place.
  5. Fall arrest systems such as personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) use an anchorage, a body harness, and connectors to protect against the worst outcomes for workers in free-fall.  
  6. Administrative controls are how employers warn workers of potential fall hazards, including signs, warning tape, and markings.

Training

Prior to any employee's exposure to a fall hazard, the employee must be provided fall protection training. This applies to any employee who uses personal fall protection systems or is exposed to any fall hazards during the scope of their work. Training must be carried out by a qualified person.

The training must include:

  • The nature of fall hazards in the work area and how to recognize them
  • The procedures to be followed to minimize those hazards
  • The correct procedures for installing, inspecting, operating, maintaining, and disassembling the personal fall protection systems that the employee uses
  • The correct use of personal fall protection systems including, but not limited to, proper hook-up, anchoring, and tie-off techniques, and methods of equipment inspection and storage, as specified by the manufacturer
  • Equipment selection and design requirements
  • Proper care, inspection, storage, and use of equipment
  • Equipment specific protocols as specified in 29 CFR 1910.30b

The training can be satisfied through the following training sequence:

  1. SciShield Fall Protection Trainings
  2. In-Person Authorized/Competent Person Training
  3. In-Person Equipment Specific Training

The training must be understandable and accessible for the employees being trained. Employers must retrain employees when there is a reason to believe the employee does not have a proper understanding of the fall protection training requirements for any reason. 

SciShield Training Catalogue: 

Rooftop Protection Program

The rooftop protection program is a multifaceted effort to document rooftops for buildings on campus, ensure proper fall protection methods are taken, and provide adequate signage warning of the specific fall and chemical hazards that exist on the roof. This is meant to provide critical safety information to OSU facilities and maintenance employees who may be accessing the rooftops, as well as contracted workers. The onus is on the supervisors and employees to properly adhere to EH&S fall protection requirements that are posted when they access the rooftops on campus. 

Documentation will be managed digitally and released once completed. This will include a table of rooftops on campus, fall hazards, and associated protections that are available. Work orders and other documents related to roofs will be stored in the EH&S drive. 

This part of the overall Fall Protection Program is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. 

Signage

At the entrance of each accessible rooftop space on campus, EH&S will post signage that provides important details about the overall safety of the rooftop, including: 

  • Overall fall hazard designation and regulations based on OR-OSHA standards:
    • Low Hazard = Minimal fall hazards exist for infrequent and temporary work - no additional fall protection controls are required.
    • Medium Hazard = Significant fall hazards exist in areas of the roof - work performed within 6 feet of fall hazards requires the use of a personal fall restraint or arrest system. Supervisors may approve infrequent or temporary work in a designated area between 6 and 15 feet from fall hazards without additional fall protection controls. 
    • High Hazard = Imminent fall hazards exist on the roof - personal fall restraint or arrest system is required to access the roof. 
    • Restricted Access = No regular roof access is permitted for OSU employees.
  • Chemical Hazard Designation
    • Unlimited Access = Roof is open to work with no restrictions related to hazardous chemical discharge
    • Restricted Access = Pre-planned and coordinated discontinuation of fume hood use is required for roof access. 
  • Specific fall protection controls and fall hazards that are present on the roof.
  • Required PPE / engineering controls for roof access.