Fall Protection — General Requirements
Construction and general industry · Ver en español
Talking points
- In construction, fall protection is required at 6 feet above a lower level — in general industry, the trigger is 4 feet. Know which standard applies to your task today.
- Acceptable fall protection systems include guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). Your supervisor will determine which system fits the task.
- Guardrail top rails must be 42 inches high (plus or minus 3 inches) and withstand 200 pounds of outward or downward force without failure.
- Floor holes and wall openings must be covered or guarded. Covers must support at least twice the maximum intended load and be marked 'HOLE' or 'COVER.'
- Never remove or disable fall protection — if you find a guardrail missing or a hole cover displaced, stop work, secure the area, and notify your supervisor immediately.
Ask the crew
What's one area on this jobsite right now where you think fall protection could be improved — and what would you do about it?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
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