13 NCAC 07F .0205          Steel erection

Subpart R—Steel Erection – additions and amendments to 29 CFR 1926.750 Scope, through 1926.754 Structural steel assembly, are applicable as follows:

"Section 1926.750 Scope:

(b)(1) Steel erection activities include hoisting, laying out, placing, connecting, welding, burning, guying, bracing, bolting, plumbing and rigging structural steel, steel joists, bridge steel girders and metal buildings; installing metal decking and moving point-to-point while performing these activities.

(b)(2) There may be activities that occur during and are part of steel erection where conventional fall protection methods may not offer adequate protection for employees.  The employer shall establish and determine when to implement employee fall protection measures as described in 1926.760 or the more protective measures described in 1926.502 "Fall Protection Systems Criteria and Practices".  Where non-traditional steel or iron workers (employees not meeting requirements of 1926.761(c)) are engaged in leading edge work activities six (6) feet or more above lower levels, those employees shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems or safety nets.  Such leading edge work activities include off loading, stacking, laying out and fastening steel floor decking and metal and non-metal roof decking; positioning and securing exterior curtain walls, window walls, exterior siding systems; and moving from point to point while performing these activities.

1926.754(c)(1)Tripping hazards.

Employees shall be protected from falls due to tripping hazards created by shear connectors (including headed steel studs, steel bars or steel lugs), reinforcing bars, deformed anchors, or threaded studs attached to the top flanges of beams, joists or beam attachments.  Such protection from falls may be accomplished by any of the following:

(1)           Not welding or applying shear connectors that project vertically or horizontally across the top flange of a member until the metal decking or other walking/working surface is installed (field-installed shear connectors).

(2)           Providing all employees that are exposed to falling hazards greater than six feet with a suitable fall protection system, as defined in 1926.32(s), including guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, or safety nets.

(3)           Covering shop or pre-installed connectors that project vertically from or horizontally across the top flange of the member with a temporary decking, metal or wood box until the metal decking, or other walking/working surface, is installed or until final construction covers the shear connectors.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 95-131; 150B-21.6;

Recodified from 13 NCAC 07F .0201(4) Eff. December 17, 2007;

Amended Eff. June 1, 2010;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. March 1, 2016.