The University of Southern California’s Fall Protection Program is to establish a written structure for staff, faculty, students, and visitors to follow when working in elevated areas and where the potential for fall exists as required by Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (T8CCR). It is designed to educate USC employees, students, and volunteers about the inherent hazards of working on elevated surfaces and to offer guidance in the form of safety protocols, best practices, and safety training.
Additionally, the Fall Protection Program:
- Enables USC departments to comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Guides employees, students, and volunteers on assessing work areas to determine the type of fall protection, training, and procedures required before initiating any job task.
- Provides oversight for the safe operation of USC academic and work locations.
- Is made available to all employees, students, and volunteers.
Fall protection is required whenever employees are working at heights equal to or greater than four (4) feet high on USC’s premises including subterranean spaces per California General Industry Standards (Title 8 CCR 3210 (b)). Fall protection can be in the form of perimeter protection (e.g., guardrails – see below and toe boards), personal protective equipment (e.g., safety harnesses), and safety monitoring systems.