At what height are rebar caps required?

“Considering the serious nature of the hazard, the standard mushroom-style plastic rebar caps should not be used for protection against impalement. Protective devices capable of withstanding at least 250 pounds dropped from a height of ten feet should be used.

What type of reinforcing steel should be guarded with caps to protect from impalement?

Steel reinforced rebar caps provide the strongest and best impalement protection for workers. Proper protective rebar caps should be at least 4” square or, if they are round, they should have a 4.5 inch diameter.

Are rebar caps required?

Caps meet the standard only for personnel working at the same level as the protruding rebar. When workers are at elevations above the bars, only troughs or covers with a minimum area of 4 in.

What constitutes an impalement hazard?

They can stick out and pose a hazard to workers who can cut or scratch themselves on the sharp ends. Workers that stumble or fall onto the exposed bars can be pierced or impaled on them, resulting in serious internal injuries and death.

Do rebar caps work?

Rebar caps/covers are appropriate to prevent cuts, abrasions or other minor injuries when working at grade and there is no impalement hazard. Recent testing indicates that the standard mushroom style plastic rebar covers DO NOT provide any protection from the hazards of impalement, even from a short fall of three feet.

What is a rebar cap?

The OSHA compliant rebar safety cap is ideal for rebar installation projects. The steel reinforced safety cap covers and marks the ends of exposed rebar to provide protection against protruding rebar and reduce risk of impalement. The caps are a highly visible orange color for increased awareness.

Is the common drinking cup allowed in the workplace?

Any container used to distribute drinking water shall be clearly marked as to the nature of its contents and not used for any other purpose. The common drinking cup is prohibited.

What is impalement protection?

Steel reinforcing bars, or rebar, are a common hazard on construction sites. The next level of impalement protection is to use protective guard systems to cover the protruding ends. Steel reinforced rebar caps provide the strongest and best impalement protection for workers.

How do you cover exposed rebar?

Spalling is best corrected by using a high-pressure sprayer to remove any and all surface rust that may be present. Next, a specialty protective coating containing anti-corrosive agents is applied to the exposed metal to prevent further damage.

How do you make rebar safe?

When caps are not available, bend rebar over or cap with a 2×4 “L” to protect employees from injury. When rebar is being hoisted “stay clear”. Rebar can easily slip out of mats and cages. Cover exposed rebar with the correct protective cap.

Is it an OSHA violation to eat at your desk?

Specifically, OSHA’s regulation prohibits the consumption of food and drink in areas where work involving exposure or potential exposure to blood or other potentially infectious or toxic material exists, or where the potential for contamination of work surfaces exists.

Is it illegal to run a business without running water?

An employer is required, under OSHA, to have potable drinking water and access to restrooms available at the work place. Now, OSHA does not say anything about the employer having to allow employees to go home and not be at work in the event that they lack these requirements.

What are the requirements for impalement protection caps?

The cap must be large enough to dissipate the forces of impact to prevent impalement from a reasonably foreseeable fall distance.1It should be noted that the use of impalement protection caps is but one method of protection; covers or wooden troughs can be another means of meeting the guarding requirement.

How big should a rebar cap be to prevent impalement?

Proper protective rebar caps should be at least 4” square or, if they are round, they should have a 4.5 inch diameter. Some rebar caps are too narrow or not steel-reinforced. If a worker falls on a standard plastic cap, the impact pressure can push the rebar through the cap and impale the worker, or impale the worker cap and all.

What does it mean to eliminate the hazard of impalement?

The key words are “to eliminate the hazard of impalement.” Exposure to impalement is always a consideration when employees are working above rebar or other sharp protrusions. The critical element when evaluating any job activity is the recognition or identification of impalement hazards and the exposure to employees.

What do you need to know about OSHA rebar protection?

To protect workers from this hazard, OSHA requires that rebar and other projections on the worksite “be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement.” Guarding from rebar impalement hazards must be done when workers will be working around or at any height above exposed rebar.