Fall Protection

Heights Above Which Guardrails or Personal Fall Arrest Systems Must Be Installed, per Cal/OSHA Regulations


 

30 inches – Unenclosed elevated work locations inside buildings - 8 CCR 3210(a)

 

4 feet – Unenclosed elevated work locations outside buildings - 8 CCR 3210(b)

 

4 feet – Order Pickers – 8 CCR 3656(e)

 

4 feet – Electrical poles/towers – 8 CCR 2320.8

 

5 feet – Open sides of decks and certain structures on ships – 8 CCR 8374(d)

 

6 feet – Crossing over trenches/excavations on bridges/walkways – 8 CCR 1541(l)(1)

 

7-1/2 feet – Outdoor Signs – 8 CCR 3416

 

7-1/2 feet – Perimeters/edges/sides/slopes/etc. of structures – 8 CCR 1670(a)

 

7-1/2 feet – Ground crews on elevated surfaces in helicopter operations – 8 CCR 1909(c)

 

8 feet – Platform/walkway above open-top bins - 8 CCR 1548(d)(1)

 

15 feet – Thrustouts, trusses, beams, purlins, etc. – 8 CCR 1669(a)

 

15 feet – Tower Crane Erection/Dismantling – 8 CCR 4966(a)(1)(A)

 

20 feet – Certain roof structures – 8 CCR 1730

 

25 feet – Construction: Safety nets if nothing else – 8 CCR 1671

 

30 feet – Ironworkers connecting beams – 8 CCR 1710(m)(1)

 

Any height – Employee operating felt laying machine walking backwards – 8 CCR 1730

 


Disclaimer: This is obviously not an official Cal/OSHA publication.  It is a compilation of some of Cal/OSHA’s fall protection requirements. If you have other examples, particularly at heights not listed, please e-mail them to me at paul@paulburnett.com.