Section R. 408.41213 - Guardrails; fall arrest devicesRule 1213.
(1) A guardrail shall be installed on any open side or end of a scaffold work platform that is 10 feet (3.1 meters) or more above the floor or ground, except for any of the following:(d) A ladder jack scaffold.(e) A needle beam scaffold. The guardrail shall be as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 21. "Guarding of Walking and Working Areas," as referenced in R 408.41201.
(2) An employee on a boatswains chair, catenary scaffold, float scaffold, needle beam scaffold, or ladder jack scaffold shall be protected by a personal fall arrest system. An employee on a single-point or 2-point adjustable suspension scaffold shall be protected by both a personal fall arrest system and guardrail system.(3) A personal fall arrest device as prescribed in Construction Safety Standard Part 45. "Fall Protection," as referenced in R 408.41201, shall be worn and attached to a substantial portion of a scaffold when the work platform of an adjustable suspension scaffold with overhead protection is 10 feet (3.1 meters) or more above the floor, water, or ground. Separate safety lines shall be attached to a substantial portion of the structure above and to the scaffold by an approved fall prevention device to prevent the scaffold from falling more than 12 inches if the scaffold suspension system fails.(4) A top rail or an intermediate rail may be eliminated if the configuration of the scaffold and the material deck provides equivalent protection to prevent an employee falling from the platform or if a personal fall arrest device is worn.(5) A cross brace may be used as part of the guardrail system as follows: (a) If the pivot point occurs from 36 inches to 48 inches above the platform, then a midrail shall be added midway between the platform and the brace pivot point.(b) If the pivot point occurs from 18 inches above the platform, then a top rail shall be added.(c) If the pivot point occurs less than 18 inches or more than 48 inches above the platform, then both a top rail and midrail shall be provided.(6) An employer shall have a competent person determine the feasibility and safety of providing fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds. An employer shall provide fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds where the installation and use of the protection is feasible and does not create a greater hazard.(7) If vertical lifelines are used, then they shall be fastened to a fixed safe point of anchorage and shall be protected from sharp edges and abrasion. Safe points of anchorage include structural members of buildings, but do not include any of the following: (c) Other piping systems.(8) If horizontal lifelines are used, they shall be secured to 2 or more structural members of the scaffold or may be looped around both suspension and independent support lines equal in number to the number of points supported and equivalent in strength to the strength of the suspension ropes. Independent support lines and suspension ropes shall not be attached to the same points of anchorageMich. Admin. Code R. 408.41213
1981 AACS; 1990 AACS; 1996 AACS; 1998-2000 AACS; 2016 AACS; 2018 MR 23, Eff. 12/19/2018