Fall Protection Plan
Written plan when conventional fall protection is infeasible. Leading edge, roofing, pre-cast.
What this document is
A Fall Protection Plan is a site-specific written program developed when conventional fall protection systems are infeasible or create a greater hazard. It identifies the work tasks, describes the alternative measures that will be used, and designates a competent person to supervise and enforce the plan.
The regulation that requires it
29 CFR 1926.502(k) states that employers must have a fall protection plan whenever conventional fall protection is infeasible or would create a greater hazard. The rule requires the plan to be prepared by a qualified person, kept at the job site, and include specific elements such as identification of the work, description of the alternative measures, and designation of a competent person. It must be implemented under the supervision of the competent person and updated when conditions change.
Who needs it
General contractors and specialty trades performing leading edge work, roofing operations, or precast concrete erection often need this plan. California contractors must comply with the equivalent Title 8 CCR Section 1671.1, which mirrors the federal standard but is enforced by Cal/OSHA. Any employer whose employees work at heights of six feet or more in these situations in California or four feet in general industry should have one.
What happens without it
OSHA and Cal/OSHA routinely cite employers for failure to provide a written fall protection plan when required. Violations are typically classified as Serious with penalties ranging from several thousand dollars up to the current maximum for serious citations, while repeated or willful violations can reach the maximum willful penalty under the OSHA penalty schedule. Inspection risk is high on roofing, leading edge, and concrete erection jobs, and multi-employer worksites can result in citations to both the creating and exposing employers.
What's included in the generated document
- Site-specific hazard assessment and work description
- List of tasks where conventional fall protection is infeasible
- Alternative fall protection measures and procedures
- Designation of competent person and their responsibilities
- Plan approval, review, and change procedures
How to implement it at your company
- Talk to Guy first. Describe your operation, trade, and location — Guy draws from 300,000+ verified OSHA and state regulatory citations to build a compliance plan specific to your company. Your answers shape every section of the document you receive. Takes about 10 minutes.
- Review the downloaded plan and customize all highlighted sections with your company name, job site details, and specific work procedures.
- Designate and train a competent person who will supervise the plan on site.
- Provide a copy of the plan to all employees and supervisors who will perform the covered work.
- Keep the plan readily available at the job site and update it whenever site conditions or work methods change.
- Conduct daily inspections and hold briefings with crews to ensure the plan is followed.
View state-specific requirements
How this document changes by state — citations, enforcing agency, and any overrides beyond the federal baseline.