1. Step-by-step guide to prevent falls
Module C – Fall Protection Required at Ten Feet or More
Part C-1-Fall Protection Requirements for Construction

2. Table of Contents Sections of the rule What’s in Part C-1?
If you have already seen the Overview slideshow, click the box to jump to the rule requirements.
Sections of the rule
What’s in Part C-1?
What’s the rule telling you to DO?
Web links to useful documents

3. Before continuing, print your own copy
…of Part C-1; Keep it handy throughout the slideshow, as we will ask you to find specific requirements to make your job safer.
Click here to download and print

4. Sections of the rule Scope and application Definitions
General requirements
Fall protection required regardless of height
Fall protection required at 4 feet or more
Fall protection required at 10 feet or more
Fall arrest specifications
Fall restraint specifications
Positioning device system specifications
Other specifications
Training
Appendices A and B non mandatory guidelines

5. Scope and Application
Part C-1 requires employers to provide and enforce the use of fall protection for employees performing activities covered under chapter WAC, Safety Standards for Construction.

6. Fall restraint specifications
“Full body harness” is now being used throughout the rule.
Body belts are no longer allowed as an option for fall restraint.
“Standard guardrail system” is used for consistency throughout the rule.

7. Read and understand all definitions that apply to your work
Affected area is the
distance away from the edge of an excavation equal to the depth of the excavation up to a maximum distance of 15ft. For example, an excavation 10 ft. deep has an affected area extending 10 ft. from the edge of any side of the excavation.
Catch platform is a type of fall arrest system that consists of a platform installed within four vertical feet of the fall hazard, is at least forty-five inches wide and is equipped with a standard guardrail system on all exposed sides.
All definitions are located in WAC
Here are a few…
Equivalent means alternative designs, materials, or methods to
protect against a hazard which the employer can demonstrate and will provide an equal or greater degree of safety for employees than the methods, materials or designs specified in this standard.
Floor hole is an opening measuring less than 12 in. but more than 1 in. in its least dimension in any floor, roof, platform, or surface through which materials but not persons may fall, such as a belt hole, pipe opening, or slot opening.
Walking/working surface means any area including, but not limited to, floors, a roof surface, bridge, the ground, and any other surfaces whose dimensions are forty-five inches or more in all directions, through which workers can pass or conduct work. A walking /working surface does not include vehicles or rolling stock on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties.
Floor opening means an opening measuring 12 in. or more in its least dimension in any floor, roof, platform, or surface through which persons may fall.
Hazardous slope is a slope where normal footing cannot be maintained without the use of devices due to the pitch of the
surface, weather conditions, or surface material.
Safety watch system means a fall protection system as described in WAC (6), in which a competent person monitors one worker who is engaged in repair work or servicing equipment on low pitch roofs only.

8. Part C-1 covers these trigger heights
Fall hazards can occur at any level. There are three threshold levels which have fall hazard concerns and requirements:
Wow!!
Fall hazards on walking/working surfaces, with open sides, wall openings, ramps, or runways. It also includes work on steep pitch roofs, hazardous slopes, etc.
Ooops!
Fall hazards when working above or adjacent to dangerous equipment; floor holes/openings into which persons can walk; and impalement hazards.
Arghhh!!!
Fall hazards during leading edge and roofing work on low pitched surfaces, excavation work, or any other working surface that is not a walking/working surface, such as beams, the sides of structures, etc.
0 feet
4 feet
10 feet

9. WA State Requires Fall Protection at 4 ft. or more for Construction
Exceptions to the 4 ft. rule (Based on certain hazards)
Exemptions from the 4 ft. rule (Based on certain activities)
Working above or adjacent to dangerous equipment
Roofing work & leading edge work on a low pitch surface
Employees exposed to these hazards must be protected from falls regardless of height
Employees engaged in these activities must be protected from falls of 10’ or more
Working on any surface that does not meet the definition of a walking/working surface
Floor holes/openings into which persons can accidentally walk
Trenching and Excavation
(see note below)
Impalement hazards
Exception: fall protection is not required for persons directly involved in the excavation process (foreman; signal person; employee hooking on pipe or other material; grade person; state, county, or city inspectors; engineer or other professional conducting a QA inspection)

10. Fall protection trigger heights requirements
Regardless of height is covered in module - A
4 ft. or more is covered in this module - B
10 feet or more is covered in this module - C
Fall protection systems specifications are presented in module - D
Other specifications are explained in module - E

11. What’s the rule telling you to DO?
Q&A to safer work at 10 feet or more.
Have your Part C-1 section available.

12. Fall protection at 10 feet
Q: What are the only work activities allowed without fall protection up to 10 feet?
Find the answer in section WAC
A: Roofing and leading edge work on a low pitch; excavation and trenching operations; and working on any surface that does not meet the definition of a walking/working surface.

13. Fall protection at 10 feet
Q: Who is required to use fall protection at 10 feet or more?
Find the answer in section WAC
A: Everybody, in any activity covered by the construction standards. Keep in mind that most operations require fall protection at 4 ft. or more.

14. Low pitched roof Q: What is the definition of a low pitched roof?
Find the answer in section WAC
A: A roof having a slope equal to or less than 4 in 12.

15. Roofing work on low pitch
Q: Do I need fall protection if I’m roofing a low pitch roof with an eave height of 9 ft. 6 in. to ground and is 14 feet off the gable ends?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)(a)
9 ft. 6 in.
14 ft.
A: Yes. Wherever the fall distance is 10 feet or more while roofing a low pitch roof, fall protection must be used.
Question unanswered how close to the gable end before measuring the fall height from the gable.

16. Roofing work on low pitch
Q: You are roofing a low pitch roof which is no higher than 9’10”, but another contractor has a trench along one side of the house that is 6 feet deep. Do you need fall protection on that side?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)(a)
A: Yes, because the depth of the trench now makes the fall distance greater than 10 feet.

17. Leading edge work on low pitched surfaces
Q: What’s the definition of a leading edge?
Find the answer in section WAC
A: A leading edge is the advancing edge of a floor, roof or formwork as additional sections are placed, formed or constructed. The edge of a finished roof is not a leading edge.

18. Leading edge work on low pitched surfaces
Q: At what height do employees who are not directly involved in constructing a leading edge on a low pitch roof have to use fall protection?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)
A: Employees not involved in leading edge work on low slopes, but are on a walking/working surface must use fall protection starting at 4 feet.

19. Working on any surface other than a walking or working surface
Q: What is the definition of a walking/working surface?
Find the answer in section WAC
This surface does not meet the definition of walking/working surface. Therefore, fall protection is required at 10 ft.
A: A walking/working surface is any area including, but not limited to, floors, a roof surface, bridge, the ground, and any other surfaces whose dimensions are forty-five inches or more in all directions, through which workers can pass or conduct work. A walking/working surface does not include vehicles or rolling stock on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties.

20. Working on any surface other than a walking or working surface
Q: Is the framer standing on the top plate required to use fall protection?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)(c)
A: Yes. He is on a surface that is not considered a walking/working surface, and the exterior fall is greater than 10 feet.

21. Other safety hazards
Q: What other safety violations can you identify in this photo?
A: No fall protection; poor housekeeping WAC ; not wearing long pants WAC (2).

22. Fall protection work plan
Q: Based on the photo, is a fall protection work plan required?
Find the answer in section WAC (2)
A: Yes. A written fall protection work plan is required when employees are exposed to fall hazards of 10 feet or more.

23. Affected area
Q: What is the definition of the affected area of a trench or excavation?
Find the answer in section WAC
A. Affected area means the distance away from the edge of an excavation equal to the depth of the excavation up to a maximum distance of 15 ft.

24. Excavation and trenching operations
Q: Who is required to have fall protection at a trench or excavation that is 10 ft. or more in depth?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)(d)(ii)
A guarded trench
A: Employees standing or working in the affected area of a trench/excavation, who are not directly involved with the excavation process; or employees who are on a protective system or other structure in the excavation.

25. Excavation and trenching operations
Q: Who are the six persons considered to be directly involved in the excavation process?
Find the answer in section WAC (1)(d)
Employees in this photo not listed in the answer, must use fall protection.
A: Foreman of the crew; signal person; employee hooking on pipe or other materials; grade person; state or local government inspectors; an engineer or other professional conducting quality assurance inspection.

26. Click on any of these useful web links
Safety standards for construction work
Fall Protection Part C-1
Accident prevention program
Click on the page …
Worksite housekeeping
Click on the page…
Fall Protection Basics publication
Fall Protection Work Plan Template

27. To view other Fall Protection modules, click on any link below:
Module A – Overview of Part C-1
Module B – Fall protection required at 4 feet or more
Module C – Fall protection required at 10 feet or more
Module D – Fall protection systems specifications
Module E – Other specifications