NIOSH Testimony to DOL on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration'sNotice of Proposed Rulemaking on Walking and Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) by J. D. Millar, September 11, 1990

摘要

The testimony concerns the views of NIOSH relating to the proposed rule making ofOSHA on walking and working surfaces and personal protective equipment, with an emphasis on fall protection systems. Additional data are presented with the testimony which deal with the minimum tread width for stairway design, the fatality and injury rates for exterior building maintenance workers, the occurrence of injuries from falls into shafts, and additional FACE reports on fatalities involving falls at work. The proposed rule would allow fixed stairs with open risers to have a minimum tread depth of 6 inches. NIOSH presents references addressing the selection of appropriate depth for stair treads but does not have any accident data specifically addressing this issue as a causal factor in falls. Statistical reports identified a fatality rate of 56.2 per 100,000 among window cleaners. The average annual fatality rate for all industry sectors combined was 7.8 per 100,000 workers. In reviewing the Bureau of Labor Statistics for injury and fatality data involving falls into shafts a total of 4656 such injuries was reported for 1984 and were from workers involved in motor freight transportation and auto repair.