OSHA: Rules on falls lax in Ariz.

OSHA may pull $2.4 mil grant unless changes made

Federal safety officials reject Arizona’s worker-protection guidelines regarding falls at residential construction sites, saying they are too lax. State lawmakers last changed the rules in 2012, but are considering adding new protections.

Federal safety officials have rejected Arizona’s fallprotection guidelines for residential construction work, saying the state is too lax and would put workers at greater risk of injury.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration an- nounced Thursday that Arizona’s rules are not as protective of workers as federal rules and it may pull a $2.4 million grant to the state to enforce OSHA rules. Instead, OSHA would provide direct oversight of construction safety in the state.

Arizona lawmakers changed the state’s rules affecting fall protection in 2012 after OSHA enacted more stringent rules in 2010, said Zachary Barnett, director of OSHA’s Phoenix-area office.

In particular, Arizona “requires very limited, if any, fall protection for employees working between 6 and 15 feet,” OSHA said in a letter Wednesday to the Industrial Commission of Arizona. Federal rules require use of nets, rails or other precautions, the agency said in its letter.

“Unless satisfactorily resolved, these proceedings may involve OSHA’s resumption of federal coverage of construction work,” it continues.

A statement provided for the Arizona Industrial Commission by Rachel Brockway defended the state’s program.

“Arizona’s state occupational safety and health program is, and has always been, at least as

See SAFETY, Page B7