Print this pageOSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection
Course Outline
The new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection (Final Rules) went into effect on January 18, 2002. This course highlights the primary impact of the new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection on the design practice of structural engineers and architects. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.Learning Objective
At
the conclusion of this course, the student will be familiar with the new OSHA
regulation regarding:
- Site layout and construction sequence;
- Site-specific erection plan;
- Hoisting and rigging ;
- Structural steel assembly;
- Column anchorage;
- Beams and columns;
- Open web steel joists;
- Systems-engineered metal buildings;
- Falling object protection;
- Fall protection; and
- Training.
- Terminology related to steel erection;
- Applications of OSHA rules;
- Importance of safety planning; and
- Primary impact of new OSHA steel erection rules on the engineering practice.
Course Introduction
On January 18, 2001, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the new Safety Standards for Steel Erection (Final Rules) in the Federal Register (Vol. 66, No. 12). On July 13, 2001, OSHA announced that its final steel erection standard would go into effect January 18, 2002 in the OSHA National News Release. The original effective date was July 18, 2001.
The new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection (the Standard) is much more extensive and detailed than the last edition, which focused almost exclusively on the erectors. The new Standard requires participation of engineers, fabricators, erectors and contractors.
Course Content
According to OSHA, the new Safety Standards for Steel Erection (the Standard), developed in concert with industry and union groups, is expected to prevent 30 fatalities and 1,142 injuries annually and save employers nearly $40 million a year.
The Standard enhances protections provided
to ironworkers by addressing the hazards that have been identified as the major
causes of injuries and fatalities in the steel erection industry. These are
hazards associated with working under loads; hoisting, landing and placing decking;
column stability; double connections; landing and placing steel joints; and
falls to lower levels.
Scope
of the Standard
The scope of the Standard applies to steel erection activities involved in the
construction, alternation, and/or repair of single and multi-story buildings,
bridges and other structures. It also applies to other structural materials,
such as plastics and composites, when they resemble structural steel in their
usage. However, the Standard does not cover electrical transmission towers,
communication and broadcast towers, or tanks.
Definitions
The Standard Section 1926.751 provides detailed definitions of all the terminology
used in the Standard. The following definitions are of particular interest to
structural engineers:
Column means a load-carrying vertical member that is part of the primary
skeletal framing system. Columns do not include posts.
Competent person (also defined in Sec. 1926.32) means one who is capable
of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working
conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who
has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.
Double connection means an attachment method where the connection point
is intended for two pieces of steel which share common bolts on either side
of a central piece.
Double connection seat means a structural attachment that, during the
installation of a double connection, supports the first member while the second
member is connected. Erection bridging means the bolted diagonal bridging that
is required to be installed prior to releasing the hoisting cables from the
steel joists.
Post means a structural member with a longitudinal axis that is essentially
vertical, that: (1) weighs 300 pounds or less and is axially loaded (a load
presses down on the top end), or (2) is not axially loaded, but is laterally
restrained by the above member. Posts typically support stair landings, wall
framing, mezzanines and other substructures.
Project structural engineer of record means the registered, licensed
professional responsible for the design of structural steel framing and whose
seal appears on the structural contract documents.
Qualified person (also defined in Sec. 1926.32) means one who, by possession
of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive
knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability
to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the
project.
Shear connector means headed steel studs, steel bars, steel lugs, and
similar devices which are attached to a structural member for the purpose of
achieving composite action with concrete.
Steel erection means the construction, alteration or repair of steel
buildings, bridges and other structures, including the installation of metal
decking and all planking used during the process of erection.
Steel joist means an open web, secondary load-carrying member of 144
feet (43.9 m) or less, designed by the manufacturer, used for the support of
floors and roofs. This does not include structural steel trusses or cold-formed
joists.
Steel joist girder means an open web, primary load-carrying member, designed
by the manufacturer, used for the support of floors and roofs. This does not
include structural steel trusses.
Steel truss means an open web member designed of structural steel components
by the project structural engineer of record. For the purposes of this subpart,
a steel truss is considered equivalent to a solid web structural member.
Structural steel means a steel member, or a member made of a substitute
material (such as, but not limited to, fiberglass, aluminum or composite members).
These members include, but are not limited to, steel joists, joist girders,
purlins, columns, beams, trusses, splices, seats, metal decking, girts, and
all bridging, and cold formed metal framing which is integrated with the structural
steel framing of a building.
Systems-engineered metal building means a metal, field-assembled building
system consisting of framing, roof and wall coverings. Typically, many of these
components are cold-formed shapes. These individual parts are fabricated in
one or more manufacturing facilities and shipped to the job site for assembly
into the final structure. The engineering design of the system is normally the
responsibility of the systems-engineered metal building manufacturer.
Impact on Structural Design
The primary impact of the Standard on the design practice of the project structural engineer of record is summarized as followings:
1. Column Stability (see definition for column above)
- Columns are required to have a minimum of (4) anchor bolts.
- Column anchor bolts, column splices and column foundation are required to be capable of supporting a 300 pound eccentric load at the column top located 18 inches from the extreme outer face of the column in each direction.
- Repair, replacement or field modification of anchor bolts is not permitted without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.
- Posts (see definition above) are not required to have (4) anchor bolts.
2. Double Connections (see definition above)
- Double connections through column webs or at beams that frame over the tops of columns in the case of cantilevered construction must be designed to have at least one installed bolt remain in place to support the first beam while the second beam is being erected. Alternatively, the fabricator must supply a seat or equivalent device with a means of positive attachment to support the first beam while the second beam is being erected.
3. Open Web Steel Joists (see definition above)
- Strut joists at or near columns must be bolted to their supporting members.
- Joist stabilizer plates are required on the column to stabilize the joist bottom chord where columns are strutted with joists. A 13/16" diameter hole is required on the joist stabilizer plate to provide an attachment point for guying or plumbing cable.
- Erection bridging must be shown on the steel joist erection plans.
- Unless panelized, all steel joists 40' or longer and their supporting members must have holes to allow for initial connections by bolting. The designer must take the bolting requirements into consideration in beam design.
- Steel joist may not be modified without the approval of the project structural engineer of record.
4. Tripping Hazards
- The shop placement of shear connectors (such as headed steel studs, steel bars or steel lugs), reinforcing bars, deformed anchors or threaded studs is prohibited where they would obstruct the walking surface of beams, joists or beam attachments. An example of walking surface during construction is the top flange of beams.
- Shear connectors on composite floors, roofs and bridge decks shall be installed after the metal decking has been installed.
5. Roof and Floor Holes and Openings
- Framed metal deck openings shall have structural members turned down to allow continuous deck installation except where not allowed by structural design constraints or constructibility.
- Metal decking holes and openings shall not be cut until immediately prior to being permanently filled with the equipment or structure needed or intended to fulfill its specific use, or shall be immediately covered.
- Covers for roof and floor openings shall be capable of supporting, without failure, twice the weight of the workers, equipment and materials that may be imposed on the cover at any one time.
- All covers shall be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment or workers.
6. Column Splice Locations
- It is recommended to locate column splices every 2 floors so that the fall distance does not exceed 30 feet during erection.
7. Slip Resistance of Skeletal Structural Steel Members
- After July 18, 2006, workers will not be permitted to walk the top surface of any structural steel member that has been coated with paint or similar material unless documentation or certification that the coating has achieved a minimum average slip resistance of .50 when measured with an English XL tribometer or equivalent tester on a wetted surface at a testing laboratory is provided.
8. System-Engineered Metal Building (see definition above)
- All of the requirements of the Standard are applicable to the erection of system-engineered metal building except Secs. 1926.755 (column anchorage) and 1926.757 (open web steel joists).
- There are several additional safety requirements for this type of buildings.
In order to protect the safety of ironworkers, structural engineers, architects and contractors shall get familiar with the new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection. In this course, you are required to study the following documents:
1. Chapter
5 - Definitions and Photos (Inspection policy and procedures for OSHA's steel
erection standards for construction) (2002 edition, PDF).
2. OSHA
Safety Standards for Steel Erection (2001 edition, the Final Regulatory
Text from page 5265 to page 5280 in the Federal Register Vol. 66 No. 12, HTML).
Course Summary
This course highlights the primary impact of the new OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection on the design practice of structural engineers. To protect the safety of ironworkers during construction, structural engineers, architects and contractors must adhere to the OSHA Safety Standards for Steel Erection during both design and construction phases of the project.
Related Links
OSHA Subpart R – Awareness Guide for Structural Engineers (42KB PDF)
New OSHA Erection Rules: How They Affect Engineers, Fabricators & Contractors
An article on Modern Steel Construction (115KB PDF)
Quiz
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
