Toolbox: Tying Off for Safety

As small contractors are increasingly scrutinized by OSHA, we have received a number of questions about how to comply with their regulations. Many of these questions are about fall protection — the protection of workers in high places with safety belts and lifelines. The trick to tying off safely is to limit the distance you can fall, but at the same time be able to change position without spending more time on fall protection than you do on your work. There isn’t much that teaches contractors efficient ways to do this, but some hints can be gleaned from an understanding of the various types of safety belts and lines available. Two Kinds of Fall Protection OSHA puts fall protection in