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PS: Falls from heights and on the same level (a working surface) are among the leading causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths. What is the scope of A1264.1 and in what types of workplaces can the standard have the greatest impact?
Keith: Although statistics vary slightly from year to year and from source to source, there is no dispute that falls take a heavy toll on our society. The latest data from Liberty Mutual show they extract more than $15 billion in direct costs, and much more than this when considering total workers' compensation and medical costs.
Although fatal falls from an elevated surface are more numerous (and generally more injurious) than falls on the same level, they are both of concern. ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2017, Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their Access; Workplace, Floor, Wall and Roof Openings; Stairs and Guardrail/Handrail Systems, and its companion standard A1264.2, Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working Surfaces, address the basic elements of preventing falls through a process and design approach.
The scope of ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2017 "sets forth safety requirements in industrial and workplace situations for protecting persons in areas/ places where danger exists of persons or objects falling from elevated walking and work surfaces such as floor, roof or wall openings, platforms, runways, ramps, fixed stairs or roofs in normal, temporary and emergency conditions."
The breadth of the scope may seem wide in context of the area of concern. However, the standard's purpose is simple: To establish minimum safety requirements for walking areas to provide reasonable safety for workers and others pursuing foreseeable activities.
The standard's title may imply that it is solely for industrial work environments, but it is also intended as a guide for industries in which pedestrians other than workers may be present, such as commercial and retail environments where the public or other invitees may be exposed to fall hazards. The committee hopes that use of this standard over time will help reduce slips, trips and falls in environments where such hazards exist.
PS: OSHA recently...