Temporary Flooring: Skeleton

Steel Construction in Tiered Buildings as it apppears published in Federal Register, Volume 39 Number 128 of July 2, 1974 1910 and 1926 - Recodification of Air Contaminant Standards as it appears published in Federal Register Volume 40, Number 107 of June 3, 1975 This adoption will be effective immediately after its approval. Given on this 9 of October Carll of 1978. DEL DEPARTMENT RECURSOS NTO TRADAD 00 Carlos S. Quirós 23847 CHAPTER XVII-OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DE- PARTMENT OF LABOR Title 29-Labor PART 1910-OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS PART 1926-SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Recodification of Air Contaminant Standards Correction In FR Doc. 75-13809 appearing at page 23072, in the issue of Wednesday, May 28, 1975, in the third column on this page 23072, immediately after the fourteenth line of the first complete paragraph insert the following: "with toxic substances will be placed in". FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 40, NO. 107-TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1975 ments suggest th The use of safety nets be permitted as an alternative to the installation of temporary floors. In summary, the comments appear to agree that employees engaged in skeleton steel erection should be protected by the standard regardless of the equipment being used or the work activity involved. Several persons recommend the adoption of pertinent provisions of ANSI Standard A10.13-1972, Safety Requirements for Steel Erection, covering work operations involved in skeleton steel erection, including the removal of temporary floors. Also a few comments suggest that parallel changes be made 24360 in $ 1926.750(b) (1) (ii) and § 1926.105 (a), It is argued that the proposal con- Title 29-Labor flicts with the 25-foot-height require- CHAPTER XVII-OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY ments in these two sections which in- AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEvolve work places and potential fall dis- PARTMENT OF LABOR tances similar to those covered by the proposal. PART 1926-SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION Only three comments oppose the proposal. The objectors allege that the adop- Temporary Flooring; Skeleton Steel tion of the proposal would expose em- Construction in Tiered Buildings ployees to a greater risk of injury as a On January 16, 1974, a notice was pubresult of a potential fall distance of 30 lished in the FEDERAL REGISTER (39 FR feet, while the present standard allow's 2015) of a proposal to revise 29 CFR a maximum fall distance of 25 feet. One 1926.750(b) (2) to require that where comment contends that the proposal is erection is being done by means of a less stringent than codes or rules of some crane operating on the ground, a tight states and safety organizations. and substantial floor be maintained After careful consideration of the iswithin two stories or 30 feet, whichever sues raised by the written comments. it is is less, below and directly under that concluded that the proposed amendment portion of each tier of beams on which should be adopted with modifications. bolting, riveting, welding, or painting is The contention that the coverage and being done. The reason for the proposal application of the standard is too rewas to allow for current designs in steel strictive has merit. It is agreed that the erection which involve the use of a falling hazards to employees engaged in greater depth of structural beam memsteel erection are similar regardless of bers. The proposal was substantially the type of equipment being used or the based on the recommendations of the work activity being performed. Further, Advisory Committee on Construction it is agreed that provisions covering the Safety and Health. removal of temporary floors are neces- The notice invited interested persons sary for the protection of employees. Accordingly, it has been decided to amend to submit written data, views, and argu- $ 1926.750(b) (2) in substantial conformments concerning the proposal. Interested persons were also afforded an ity with a pertinent paragraph of ANSI A10.13-1972, Safety Requirements for opportunity to file objections to the proposed revision and to request a hearing Steel Erection. Two closely similar paraon the objections. Many written comgraphs of the ANSI standard have been pointed out. Both require some form of ments were received in response to the notice. The majority of the comments protection "within two floors or 30 feet, whichever is less below a tier of supported the adoption of the proposal with some suggestions for changes. Sevbeams on which work is done. Both proeral objections to the adoption of the vide expressly for the removal of planks. proposal were received. However, no However, $ 6.2 of the ANSI Standard rehearing has been requested. quires a tight and substantial floor when bolting, riveting, or welding is done, while Several comments contend that the § 10.1.2 of the same standard requires "a scope and application of the proposal is floor or safety nets" for "any work," not broad enough to provide adequate presumably any work other than bolting, protection for all employees engaged in riveting. or welding. The amended skeleton steel construction. It is con- § 1926.750(b) (2) follows $ 6.2 of the ANSI tended that the proposal does not cover Standard, in requiring a substantial floor, steel erection using derricks or tower but expands the requirement to apply to cranes, or cranes which are not operated any work. When bolting, riveting, or from the ground. Also, some comments welding is done, a substantial floor is state that the reference in the proposal more appropriate than a safety net. to bolting, riveting, welding or painting Such a floor stops falling rivets, bolts, operations unnecessarily excludes all tools, and molten slag, and its planks other operations or work activities involved in skeleton steel erection. Furare not cut, burned, or otherwise damther, it is pointed out that the proposal aged as easily as the ropes of a safety does not contain provisions for the renet. Also, a floor permits some work to be moval of temporary floors. Some comperformed by employees while standing EDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 39, NO. 128-TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1974 24361 RULES AND REGULATIONS on the floor. Finally, a floor requirement §