Regulations and Standards

Regulations Fall Protection & Prevention Systems

In window cleaning and other suspended work industries, there exists a vertical chain of responsibility and accountability that (a) the workers are trained, (b) they follow their Site-Specific Written Safety Plan, (c) their equipment is maintained properly, (d) there are certified, visible (easy to access and use) anchorages provided on the building, or there are certified horizontal lifelines when unguarded roof edges and openings exist in the work area.

This takes honesty and true adherence to safety if any and all sub-contractors are to bid their work on a level playing field, if all building owners and management companies are to perform their fiduciary responsibilities completely (thus competing fairly for tenants without cutting the costs of safety from their budgets) and also, if they all are to provision safe working conditions per the OSHA General Duty Clause.

GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE

OSH Act of 1970

Section 5 (a) Each employer

(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees;

(2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act.


ANSI / IWCA I-14.1-2001

OSHA National Consensus Standard (Selected Sections)

3.8 Fall protection, perimeter guarding, personal fall arrest systems … shall be provided for all work areas … that expose a worker to a fall hazard when approaching within 6 feet of an unguarded edge or skylight.

3.9 Building owners and window cleaning contractors shall not allow suspended work to be performed unless it has been determined that the building has provided, identified and certified anchorages …

4.1.1 All buildings where window cleaning is performed that employ suspended equipment shall be equipped with roof anchorages or other approved devices which provide for the safe use of the equipment in conformance with the provisions of this Standard.

4.2.2 Existing buildings without the means and methods to safely clean its windows shall be provided such a system and/or employ methods complying with the provisions of this Standard.

5.9.3 It shall be the building owner, manager or operating agent’s responsibility to have the installation inspected on a regular basis in compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.66.


CERTAIN OSHA CODES

1910.66 (f)(3)(ii)(I) “…outrigger shall be tied-back to a verified anchorage on the building…”

1910 Subpart D Walking, Working Surfaces

1910 Subpart F Personal Fall Arrest Systems