Fall arrest anchors on guardrails and crane runways

June 8, 1998
Jerry M. Gillooly
Safety Manager
Bohl Crane, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Gillooly:
This is in response to your March 3 letter addressed to Mr. Roy Gurnham, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) seeking an interpretation of 29 CFR §1926.502(d)(23) and guidance in identifying acceptable methods for accessing a crane runway from an aerial lift.
The referenced regulation prohibits personal fall arrest systems from being attached to guardrail systems or to hoists except as specified in other subparts of this part. This would apply to all guardrail excepting those that have been specifically designed for such use in accordance with the requirements of §1926.502(d)(15).
In the situation you described where suitable anchorage points are not provided for on cranes, employers are to be guided by §1926.502(a)(2), which instructs them to provide and install all fall protection systems for employees and comply with other pertinent subpart requirements before the employee begins work that necessitates the fall protection. Simply put, in situations where the status of appropriate anchorages are unknown or suspected to be inadequate, employers should discuss safe ways to access crane runways and other areas where work is to be conducted. Such planning should anticipate where proper anchorages are to be located prior to work being started instead of using alternative anchorage points which may not comply with this subpart.
If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again by writing to: Directorate of Construction - OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Compliance Assistance, Room N3621, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210
Sincerely,
Russell B. Swanson, Director
Directorate of Construction