Page 233 - Safety Memo
P. 233
4. Manufactured protective covers shall be approved by Cal/ • Job-built wood troughs must be constructed of at
OSHA in accordance with 344.90. least “standard grade” Douglas Fir.
5. Personal fall protection (or equivalent) must be used
while employees place or tie reinforcing steel in walls, Illustration 2 | Protective Covers
columns, piers, and other structures more than 6 ft.
high. 1711(i)
4" square or
Exception: Reinforcing ironworkers may travel point-to- 4 1/2" diameter
point horizontally or vertically on reinforcing steel up to 24
ft. above the surface below if there are no impalement
hazards.
Protruding rebar or other
impalement hazard
Illustration 1 | Troughs
Protruding Manufactured protective covers used for impalement
Reinforced Steel protection must meet the following requirements:
• The protective covers must be Cal/OSHA approved.
• The cover surface must be at least 4 in. square. If the
cover is round, its surface must have a minimum
diameter of 4 1/2 inches. For a trough, the protective
cover must be at least 4 inches wide.
• The protective covers used “above grade” must be
designed to withstand the impact of a 250 lb. weight
dropped from 10 ft.
• The protective covers used “at grade” must be
designed to withstand the impact of a 250 lb. weight
dropped from 7 1/2 ft.
14 Gauge Steel Trough
Mushroomed Cap
24"
Mushroomed caps
Troughs can be used for impalement protection if the cannot be used as
following apply: impalement protection
• The trough designs shown above can be used when
employees are working at heights of 6 ft. or less
“above grade.” Protruding rebar or other
impalement hazard
• If employees are working at heights above 6 ft., the
design must be specified by an engineer (Ca PE).
24 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry June 2019 Cal/OSHA Pocket Guide for the Construction Industry | June 2019 25
