scope:

This standard establishes criteria and requirements for an employer's fall protection program including policies, responsibilities, training, survey and identification of fall hazards, procedures, controlling fall hazards, rescue planning, program implementation, incident investigation and evaluating program effectiveness (see Figure 1).

NOTE: The intent of the program is that each fall hazard is identified, the fall hazard hierarchy of controls is used to evaluate controls, a control method is selected, a rescue plan is developed, employees are trained according to the control method and the specific work practice is documented through written procedures.

This standard is for use by employers with employees working at heights using personal fall protection and rescue equipment (referred to as "equipment" for the remainder of the standard).

The scope of rescue in this standard is limited to employers and does not apply to professional rescue services.

Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum requirements of a fall protection and rescue program (referred to as "program" for the remainder of the standard) that will enable an employer to identify, evaluate and control fall hazards in the workplace.