W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-17

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 24, June 14, 2024

Section 36-23-17 - Safety Nets

17.1. Safety nets shall be provided when work places are more than twenty-five (25) feet above the ground or water surface where the use of ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines, or safety belts are impractical.

17.2. Where safety net protection is required by this part, operations shall not be undertaken until the net is in place and has been tested.

17.3.

(a) Nets shall extend eight (8) feet beyond the edge of the work surface where employees are exposed and shall be installed as close under the work surface as practical but in no case more than twenty-five (25) feet below such work surface. Nets shall be hung with sufficient clearance to prevent user's contract with the surfaces or structures below. Such clearances shall be determined by impact load testing.

(b) It is intended that only one (1) level of nets be required for bridge construc­tion.

17.4. The mesh size of nets shall not exceed six (6) inches by six (6) inches. All new nets shall meet accepted performance standards of seventeen thousand five hundred (17,500) foot-pounds minimum impact resis­tance as determined and certified by the man­ufactures, and shall bear a label of proof test. Edge ropes shall provide a minimum breaking strength of five thousand (5,000) pounds.

17.5. Forged steel safety hooks or shackels shall be used to fasten the net to its supports.

17.6. Connections between net panels shall develop the full strength of the net.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-23-17