DAR File No. 27903

Labor Commission, Occupational Safety and Health

R614-7-4

Residential-Type Construction, Raising Framed Walls

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE

DAR File No.: 27903
Filed: 05/13/2005, 04:36
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this new section is to prevent the increasing number of injuries that result from manual attempts to raise framed walls.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed amendment applies to "residential-type construction" and establishes safety standards for raising framed walls in such construction. For framed walls between 10 and 18 feet high, cleats, straps or other restraining devices are required. For framed walls greater than 18 feet high, mechanical lifting devices are required. The proposed rule also requires employee training on the hazards of raising framed walls and the use of protective measures.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Title 34A, Chapter 6

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The State is not generally involved in the types of construction subject to this rule. Furthermore, the restraining devices and other safety measures required by this rule require minimal cost. The Commission anticipates no aggregate cost to the State budget.

local governments:

Local governments are not generally involved in the types of construction subject to this rule. Furthermore, the restraining devices and other safety measures required by this rule require minimal cost and will result in no cost to local government.

other persons:

Construction companies that perform the type of construction subject to this rule will be required to use simple restraining devices or mechanical lifting devices. These devices will cost, on average, $75.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The estimated cost of a strap or cleat is less than $5. The estimated cost of a mechanical lift will vary depending on the type of lift, but is estimated in the range of $75.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The cost of injuries that result from accidents in lifting framed walls can easily run to thousands of dollars. The cost of preventing such accidents, through the simple and inexpensive methods required by the proposed rule, is less than $100 per construction project. Consequently, this rule should have a positive fiscal impact on business. R. Lee Ellertson, Commissioner

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

William Adams at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6897, by FAX at 801-530-7606, or by Internet E-mail at wadams@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/01/2005

This rule may become effective on:

07/02/2005

Authorized by:

R Lee Ellertson, Commissioner

RULE TEXT

R614. Labor Commission, Occupational Safety and Health.

R614-7. Construction Standards.

R614-7-4. Residential-Type Construction, Raising Framed Walls.

A. Scope and Application

This section applies to work directly associated with the raising of framed walls in new buildings or structures in residential-type construction.

B. Definitions

1. "Residential-type Construction" means construction using the operations, methods, and procedures associated with residential and light commercial construction characterized by joists or trusses resting on stud walls and using wood and/or light gage steel frame construction.

2. "Bottom Plate" means the bottom horizontal member of a frame wall.

C. Standards For Raising Walls.

1. At no time during the raising of the framed wall shall an employee who is not performing the actual lift be allowed under the wall system unless a mechanical bracing system is in place to arrest the fall of a wall.

2. Before manually raising framed walls that are 10 feet or more in height, temporary restraints such as cleats on the foundation/floor system or straps on the wall bottom plate shall be installed to prevent inadvertent horizontal sliding or uplift of the framed wall bottom plate. Anchor bolts and/or toe nails, are not sufficient for use in blocking or bracing the framed wall.

3. Framed walls 18 feet or more in height shall be raised using mechanical lifting devices.

D. Standards For Training.

1. The employer shall provide a training program to employees engaged in raising framed walls. The program shall enable employees to recognize the hazards associated with raising framed walls and shall include procedures to minimize those hazards, including:

a. Where required by the standard, the use of and limitations to temporary restraints used to prevent inadvertent sliding and uplift on the bottom plate;

b. the use of mechanical lifting devises;

c. the use of mechanical bracing systems; and

d. the role of each employee involved in the raising of a framed wall.

KEY: safety

[December 4, 1998]2005

Notice of Continuation November 25, 2002

34A-6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE:

• Text to be deleted is struck through and surrounded by brackets (e.g., [example]). Text to be added is underlined (e.g., example). Some browsers may not depict some or any of these attributes on the screen or when the document is printed.
• Please see the DISCLAIMER regarding information available from state web pages.

For questions regarding the content or application of this rule, please contact William Adams at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6897, by FAX at 801-530-7606, or by Internet E-mail at wadams@utah.gov

For questions about the rulemaking process, please contact the Division of Administrative Rules (801-538-3764). Please Note: The Division of Administrative Rules is NOT able to answer questions about the content or application of these administrative rules.