Introduction to the New Subpart R

Presented at the Construction Safety Council's 13th Annual Construction Safety & Health Conference & Exposition, Rosemont, Illinois, February 2003.

Table of Contents

• Who is Covered
  
  
  • §1926.750 Scope
    
    
• Definitions
  
  
  • §1926.751
    
    
• Site Preparation
  
  
  • §1926.752 Site Layout
    
    
• Cranes
  
  
  • §1926.753 Hoisting and Rigging
    
    
• Structural Stability
  
  
  • §1926.754 Structural Steel Assembly
  • §1926.755 Column Anchorage
  • §1926.756 Beams and Columns
  • §1926.757 Open Web Steel Joists
    
    
• Metal Buildings
  
  
  • §1926.758 Systems-engineered Metal Buildings
    
    
• (Non-Hoist) Overhead Hazards
  
  
  • §1926.759 Falling Object Protection
    
    
• Fall Protection
  
  
  • §1926.760 Fall Protection (for connectors, deckers, and all others)
    
    
• Training
  
  
  • §1926.761 Training (general and specialized)

§1926.750 Scope

• The standard covers all employers engaged in steel erection activities.
• There are two lists of activities:
  
  
  • Primary: All activities in .750 (b)(1) are covered (connecting, bracing, guying . . .)
  • Ancillary: All listed in .750 (b)(2) are covered "when they occur during and are a part of steel erection activities"
    (sealing, caulking, elevator beams . . .)
  
  Does not include:
  
  
  • electrical transmission towers,
    
  • communication and broadcast towers,
    
  • tanks.

Site Preparation

1926.752 (c)

• Adequate layout area
• Adequate access roads

Layout area and access roads



Cranes and Falling Object Protection

§1926.753 Hoisting and Rigging

• Cranes: 1926.550 applies (except personnel platform provision) PLUS new, additional requirements
• Employee exposure to overhead loads to be reduced through preplanning (.752) and work practice requirements.
• Allows for expanded use of personnel platforms (.753 (c)(4)).
• Prescribes proper procedure for multiple lifts "Christmas-treeing" (.753(e) "multiple lift rigging procedure")

Multiple Lift



§1926.759 Falling Object Protection (does not apply to materials being hoisted)

• Secure loose items aloft
• Controlling contractor to bar operations below steel erection unless falling object protection provided (from objects other than hoisted materials)

Structural Stability

§1926.755 Column Anchorage



Column Anchorage

• Requires 4 anchor bolts per column
  
  
  • contains design strength requirements and other column stability requirements
    
    
• Assure the adequacy of anchor bolts modified in the field
  
  
  • written notice must be given to erector that changes were made

Modification/Repair of Anchor Bolt



§1926.752(a) and (b) Concrete Strength

• Concrete/mortar for footings, piers & walls
• Written confirmation of ASTM test -- to erector
  

§1926.756 Beams and Columns



Beams and Columns

• Two bolts per connection prior to releasing hoisting line
• Safe procedures/devices for making double connections at columns

Minimum of two bolts per connection before releasing hoisting line



Double connection with seat



§1926.757 Open Web Steel Joists



Steel joist concepts: terms

• Erection Bridging:

Steel joist concepts: terms

• Erection bridging "anchored" to a "terminus point":

Steel joist concepts:

• What you have to do before releasing hoisting cable:
  
  
  • Joist end connection requirements
  • Erection bridging
    
    
• Max # of workers allowed on joist
• Specs for:
  
  
  • Initial connections (specs and devices; holes requirement)
  • Final connections
    
    
• Requirements vary with length of span
• Some exceptions for "constructibility"
• Requirements for landing and placing loads on joists
  
• Some requirements may be modified through a site-specific erection plan (tandem setting of some 60'+ joists and requirements for landing decking bundles)

§1926.754 Structural Steel Assembly

• Provides specific work practices for:
  
  
  • maintaining structural stability (max# unsecured floors)
  • landing deck bundles - where and weight

Metal Decking



Decking Bundle



§1926.758 Systems-Engineered Metal Buildings

Requirements for the erection of these specialized structures which account for a large amount of steel erection.





Fall Prevention and Protection

§1926.760 Fall Protection

• All must be protected at heights greater than 2 stories or 30 feet, including connectors and deckers
• Between 15 and 30 feet: Fall protection required for all with exceptions for:
  
  
  • Deckers in controlled decking zone (CDZ) and
  • Connectors
    
    
    • Connectors must be provided and wear equipment necessary to be able to be
      tied-off, or be provided with other means of fall protection

Fall Protection: CDZ



§1926.760 Fall Protection (cont.)

• Controlled decking zone:
  
  
  • For leading edge decking work
    
    
    • limited access
    • designated boundaries (usually by control lines)
    • Work practices for attaching deck:
      
      
      • install safety attachments from leading edge back
      • no final attachments allowed in CDZ
      • up to 3000 SF of unsecured decking
        
        
    • specific training requirements

Fall Protection -- Perimeter Cables (req. in beams and columns)

• Requirements to facilitate quick installation of perimeter safety cables:
  
  
  • Column attachments or holes in columns for perimeter safety cables
  • Column splice height and strength specified

• Perimeter cables required on multistory buildings
  
  
  • Must be installed "as soon as the metal decking has been installed"
    
    
• Custody of Fall Protection Equipment:
  
  
  • Controlling contractor must choose to either:
    
    
    • accept responsibility for maintaining fall protection equipment left by erector,
    • OR ensure that it is removed (.760(e))

1926.754(e) holes and openings
minimizing fall hazards in interior openings (decking-over)



Tripping and Slipping

• Walking/working surfaces requirements:
  
  
  • tripping hazards: shear connectors (and similar projections) generally prohibited until decking is installed
  • slip resistance criteria for painted structural steel members (effective 5 years after the rest of the standard)

Shear Connectors



§1926.761 Training

• Qualified person to train workers in use & operation of fall protection equipment
• Qualified person to train workers engaged in specific activities:
  
  
  • "Christmas-treeing"
  • connecting
  • CDZ procedures

SITE SPECIFIC ERECTION PLAN OPTION §1926.752

• No general requirement for an erection plan
• Some requirements may be modified through a site-specific plan if equivalent protection is provided.
  
  
  • Safety latches on hooks activated (.753(c)(5))
  • Setting joists 60'+ at/near columns in tandem (.757(a)(4))
  • Landing decking on steel joists (.757(e)(4))

§1926.750(c) Specific Controlling Contractor Duties

• Written notification to the steel erector:
  
  
  • Concrete in piers/walls is cured re ASTM spec
  • Anchor bolt modifications/repairs approved by project engineer (.752(a); .755(b))
    
    
• Adequate on-site access roads (.752(c))
• Preclude work below steel erection unless there is overhead protection (.759(b))
• Choose whether to accept responsibility for maintaining fall protection equipment left by erector (otherwise it must be removed) (.760(e))

Effective Date and Phase-In

• New Effective date: January 18, 2002
• Phase-in Exceptions for
  
  
  • Component provisions (these affect the design of components. Example: columns must have 4 anchor bolts)
  • Component provisions will NOT apply where:
    
    
    • (Buildings)
      
      
      • Building Permit obtained prior to January 18, 2001
      • Steel erection has begun on or before September 16, 2001
        
        
    • (Bridges)
      
      
      • Contract date before January 18, 2001; or
      • Steel erection began before September 16, 2001.
        
        
• Painted surfaces slip resistance provision - July 18, 2006

OSHA's Web Site

• The complete standard can be obtained from our web site at www.osha.gov.

Prepared by the U.S. Department of Labor, Directorate of Construction and Compliance Assistance