FromtheGeneralSafetyandHealthProvisions1926.32Definitions.(g)“Constructionwork.”Forpurposesofthissection,“Constructionwork”meansworkforconstruction,alteration,and/orrepair,includingpaintinganddecorating.http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/rules/division_3/div3c.pdfStandardInterpretations05/11/1999-Maintenancevs.construction;workingfromfixedladders.•StandardNumber:1910.12;1926.1053(a)(18);1926.1053(a)(19);1926.1053(b)(4)OSHArequirementsaresetbystatute,standardsandregulations.Ourinterpretationlettersexplaintheserequirementsandhowtheyapplytoparticularcircumstances,buttheycannotcreateadditionalemployerobligations.ThisletterconstitutesOSHA'sinterpretationoftherequirementsdiscussed.NotethatourenforcementguidancemaybeaffectedbychangestoOSHArules.Also,fromtimetotimeweupdateourguidanceinresponsetonewinformation.Tokeepapprisedofsuchdevelopments,youcanconsultOSHA'swebsiteathttp://www.osha.gov.May11,1999J.NigelEllis,Ph.D.,CSF,P.E.,CPEPresidentDynamicScientificControlsP.O.Box445Wilmington,Delaware19899-0445DearMr.Ellis:ThisisinresponsetoyourletterofMarch18,1998inwhichyouraisedseveralissues"foranswernowwherepossiblebutalsointendedfor[inclusionintheAdvancedNoticeofProposedRulemakingonSubpartM]."Weapologizeforthelongdelayinansweringyourletter.Wehaveansweredseveralofyourquestionsbelow.Withrespecttotheothers,wewillconsiderincludingtheissuestheyraiseinourupcomingAdvanceNoticeofProposedRulemakingforSubpartsM(fallprotection)andL(scaffolds).Question1:ThedifferencebetweenmaintenanceandconstructionAnswer:Yourfirstquestioniswhetherpaintingapowerpoleismaintenanceorconstructionwork.Inyourexamplethepolesarepainted"periodicallybetweentenandtwentyyears."Youaskifthefollowingfactorsbearonwhethertheworkismaintenanceorconstruction:(1)whethertheworkisdonebyanoutsidecontractorratherthanbyapowercompany'sown2employees;(2)ifthepolesarepaintedwhilemajorpartsofthepolearelive;(3)ifpaintingthepolesisaregularpartoftheemployee'swork,and(4)typeoftower(poleorlattice).Ifthepaintingofthepolesisananticipated,routine,andperiodiceventtokeepthemfromdegradingandtomaintainthemintheiroriginalcondition,thenthepaintingismaintenancework.Thefactthat10or20yearstranspiresbetweenrepaintingwouldnotnormallyalterthisconclusion,aslongastherepaintingcontinuestobeascheduledactivity.Thefollowingfactorsdonotaffectwhethertheworkisconsideredmaintenanceorconstruction:whethertheworkisdonebythepowercompanyorbyanoutsidecontractor;partsofthetowerarelive;paintingthepolesisaregularpartoftheemployee'sworkandwhetherthetowerisofapoleorlatticeconfiguration.[Note:AdditionalclarificationonthisissueisavailableintheNovember18,2003lettertoMr.RaymondV.Knobbs(Added6/14/2004)]Question2:Whenpaintingorweldingisdoneasaconstructionactivity,doOSHAregulationspermittheworktobedonewhilestandingononefootonanoffsetstep(climbing)singlerailladder?Answer:No;§1926.1053(b)(19)prohibitstheuseofsinglerailladders.Question3:Isworking(otherthanclimbingactivityoraccessing)fromanyfixedladderpermitted?Doesthisdependonwhetherfallprotectionisprovided?Answer:First,under§1926.1053(a)(19),fallprotectionmustbeprovided-whethertheemployeeisclimbing(upordown)orworkingfromaladder-wheneverthelengthofclimbequalsorexceeds24feet.Also,evenifthelengthofclimbislessthan24feet,under§1926.1053(a)(18),cages,wells,laddersafetydevices,orself-retractinglifelinesmustbeprovidedwherethetopoft...
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