Osha Dock Door Fall Protection

The answer depends on the height of the platform.

Osha dock door fall protection.

Link door can help with fall protection as required by osha regulations. The osha standard requires that a physical barrier guard every wall opening that poses a drop of greater than 4 feet. Since most docks are at least 44 tall to serve tractor trailers and flatbeds a majority will be subject to that requirement. An overzealous osha inspector could take the same drive i did and rack up fines in the hundreds of thousands without leaving the comfort of his air conditioned prius.

Osha regulations on loading dock safety require fall protection on any dock that is 48 inches or higher. Osha fall protection requirements. 1910 29 b 1 the top edge height of top rails or equivalent guardrail system members are 42 inches 107 cm plus or minus 3 inches 8 cm above the walking working surface the top edge height may exceed 45 inches 114 cm provided the guardrail system. The osha 1910 28 standard requires the use of fall protection devices such as a guardrail system a safety net or personal fall protection systems if an employee could fall 4 feet or more from an open or exposed dock door or opening.

When your existing door goes up pull down the rasco bug blocker or chain link. If the dock door is open dock worker protection is required. Osha is clear that at this height or higher using only a visual barrier a yellow rope or chain for example won t suffice. Or personal fall protection system.

Standards for loading dock safety. For dock platforms lower than 4 feet it s still recommended to have a visual barrier with a prominently. 1910 28 includes unprotected sides and edges. By my calculation 1 3 of the open dock doors were compliant 1 3 had inadequate fall protection and 1 3 had no fall protection at all.

Osha 26 cfr2 23 b states that for any wall openings with more than a four foot drop should be equipped with a fall protection barrier. So if the dock door is open when is it necessary to install a guardrail or actual fall protection barrier and when will a visual barrier suffice. When dock doors are open it s sometimes necessary to install a guardrail or a loading dock fall protection barrier. The osha fall protection specifics.

The employer must ensure each employee on a walking working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet 1 2m or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following guardrail systems. 1910 29 b guardrail systems the employer must ensure guardrail systems meet the following requirements.