The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has relented to threats from Federal OSHA and voted to align its residential construction and roofing fall-protection trigger with its federal counterpart at 6 feet.
California has been the only state that runs its own OSHA and not comply with the federal mandate that requires laborers working at heights of more than 6 feet to use fall-protection like safety harnesses and clips, among other methods. Cal/OSHA’s current rules call for a 7.5-foot or 15-foot trigger, depending on the work being performed.
The final rules have been sent to the state’s Office of Administrative law for approval and could be implemented in the coming months. It’s not clear when they will take effect, but Fed-OSHA has asked that the new rules be implemented by July 1, 2025.
If your firm is in the construction trades, it’s important that you understand the new rules before they take effect. They will require many employers, in particular roofers, to make substantial changes to their safety regimens to ensure compliance.
The new rules did not go down easily. Cal/OSHA has for years resisted Fed-OSHA’s prodding to bring its construction fall-protection standard in line with the federal version. Cal/OSHA only acted after Fed-OSHA threatened to take over enforcement of workplace safety in the state.
The new rules
Under the new regulations, fall protection at most heights 6 feet or above may include:
- Personal fall-protection systems (like harnesses or safety belts),
- Scaffolding,
- Guardrails, and
- Safety nets.
Typically, passive systems like scaffolding, guardrails and safety nets are preferred, and if not possible to implement, a personal fall-protection system should be used, under OSHA rules.
Under current Cal/OSHA rules, construction trigger heights include 2 stories or 30 feet for connecting structural steel, 20 feet for most roofing work and 15 feet for panelized roof systems, residential framing and roofing activities, and work on wider structural members.
In addition, the agency requires fall protection at a height of 7½ feet for unprotected platforms, scaffolds or edges of structures, and 6 feet for working with rebar or similar projections.
Examples of triggers that will be brought down to 6 feet under Cal/OSHA’s revised rule on residential construction are:
- Roofing.
- Working on floors and other walking/working services (from 15 feet currently).
- Walking/working on top plates, joists, rafters, trusses, beams or other similar structural members (from 15 feet).
- Installing starter board, roof sheathing and fascia board.
You can find the full regulations here.
The takeaway
With these rules impending, it’s imperative that construction firms and contractors take steps now to comply with the new standard. For many, it will require investing in fall-protection systems, which can be costly — particularly for stationary ones.
Expect Cal/OSHA to enforce the new trigger vigorously.
One final word of warning: According to the Cal/OSHA Reporter newsletter, Cal/OSHA is just getting started. It has a “Phase II” planned that will go beyond residential construction, with the ultimate goal of bringing all construction fall-protection triggers down to 6 feet.
