Arizona OSHA to host hearings on residential fall protection

Tucson, AZ – In light of federal OSHA’s delay in enforcing the new residential fall protection directive, the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health is taking the opportunity to host two hearings (.pdf file) on the issue next month, the state agency announced Aug. 1.

ADOSH is scheduled to host informal public meetings Sept. 6 in Phoenix and Sept. 9 in Tucson.

Last December, federal OSHA changed its enforcement policy to require residential construction employers to provide conventional fall protection for employees. Shortly before the agency began enforcing the new directive, OSHA announced it would provide a three-month phase-in period that runs through Sept. 15.

As a State Plan program, ADOSH is required to adopt the new directive or one “at least as effective” as federal OSHA’s. The state agency chose to adopt the federal directive, but held off on enforcing it.

During the hearings, ADOSH will be seeking information on the possible infeasibility of conventional fall protection in residential construction processes, direct and indirect costs of such fall protection, and whether an effective alternative to OSHA’s new directive could be used instead.