Building Owners & Managers
Saving money is essential but saving lives is invaluable.
Building owners and managers, of course, need to control operational costs, but managing buildings with complete fall protection systems – including adequate roof anchorages – is a must. Fall protection and suspended maintenance systems provide safety for contractors working at heights, ensuring that there are proper connections from which these ones can attach personal protective equipment.
Are your buildings compliant with OSHA regulations for fall protection?
OSHA’s latest fall protection standard, covering an estimated 112 million workers, aims to prevent injuries and fatalities from falls. The new OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces rule aligns general industry requirements with existing fall protection standards for the construction industry.
What does this mean for building owners and managers?
The new OSHA rule – in effect since 2017✱ — requires that building owners inform suspended maintenance contractors, such as a window washing company, in writing that the building owner has identified, tested, and certified each anchorage can support at least 5,000 pounds in any direction for each worker that is attached in a rope descent system✱✱. OSHA’s new rule also specifies safe distances from building edges and fall protection requirements at heights of 4 feet or more. These anchorage certifications must be conducted by a qualified person✱✱✱.
Additionally, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) recommends that building owners conduct background checks on all contractors providing such services to verify that they meet the qualifications for inspecting and certifying roof anchorage points.
OSHA’s rule requires that employers who use personal fall protection and work in other specified high hazard situations — like rooftops with unprotected edges — are adequately trained in fall safety measures✱✱✱✱. Building owners bear the responsibility to provide training by a qualified person.
What is the building owner’s possible exposer to liability for window cleaning?
The Building Owner’s Possible Exposer to potential damages due to their negligence is virtually unlimited ****.
Summit Anchor Co. understands the importance of working safely at height, as well as the complexities of the design and installation of an OSHA-compliant fall protection system. We also have qualified persons who can certify your existing fall protection systems. Contact Summit Anchor today to bring your property into compliance with OSHA regulations. Safety from the top down with Summit Anchor.
Duty of Care
✱ Final Rule to Update General Industry Walking-Working Surfaces and Fall Protection Standards, https://www.osha.gov/walking-working-surfaces/
Doc with Link to: OSHA Subpart D Final Rule Searchable
✱✱ Enforcement Guidance for General Industry Rope Descent System (RDS) Anchorage Requirements (29 CFR 1910.27(b)(1)), https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2017-11-20
✱✱✱ OSHA Fact Sheet, https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3903.pdf
✱✱✱✱ Doc with Link: Building Owner’s Possible Exposer to Liability for Window Cleaning:
Safety from the top down.
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