Final OSHA rule on walking-working surfaces, PPE for falls expected soon

October 18th, 2016 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's decision to update some of its rules related to walking-working surfaces and fall protection systems for general industry should soon reach a conclusion. According to Jackson Lewis P.C., the changes have successfully moved through the White House Office of Management and Budget. That's a strong indication that the federal health and safety regulator will soon publish the final version of the rule changes and bring them into effect. The proposed alterations have an exceptionally long history, and their approval and implementation is noteworthy from both practical and regulatory process standpoints.

A long road traveled
The revised regulations, which expand the ways in which employers protect their workers and bring certain rules in line with those already established in other industries, have taken more than two decades to reach final rule status and be implemented. EHS Today said the proposal originally came about in 1990. It never finished the approval process and remained in various states of completion until 2003, when OSHA updated the proposal. That revision did little to move the approval process along, however. Another update in 2010 brought the process somewhat closer to conclusion, but that last stretch still covered about six years. Now, OSHA has health and safety regulations reflecting common, modern industry practices and aligned with its other industry-specific rules for construction and shipbuilding industries.

The new rules give employers a level of discretion in terms of deciding which safety precautions to implement. The federal regulator said it believes having some options in place will lead to safer workplaces that take unique considerations into account, Jackson Lewis said. OSHA also stated it believes many of the slips, trips and falls seen in work environments are ultimately preventable with the right approach to safety.

The rules are split into two parts, with one each focused on personal protective equipment for fall protection and walking-working surfaces. For walking-working surfaces, long-standing provisions like orderly and sanitary conditions and clean and dry floors are emphasized. New language making the rule related to obstructions and hazards stronger - and more focused on safety during the planning and construction of new facilities - is a change, as is an addition to maintenance and repair considerations that emphasizes regular and periodic inspections. New wording emphasizing guarding and repairing hazards as soon as possible, having qualified supervision during repairs and training for employees is also included.