Reinforcing Steel (C-50) · Lesson 6 of 7

Rebar Impalement Protection: Covers, Troughs, and the 7-1/2 Foot Test

"Rebar Impalement Protection: Covers, Troughs, and the 7-1/2 Foot Test" is lesson 6 of 7 in the Reinforcing Steel (C-50) Learning Hub. It opens with "The Rule and Who It Covers" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

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Steps in this lesson

  1. The Rule and Who It Covers
  2. Working at the Same Level as the Bars: the 6-Foot Rule
  3. Working Above the Bars: Guardrails, Fall Protection, or Covers, and the 7-1/2 Foot Limit
  4. What a Protective Cover Must Be (Section 1712(d))
  5. Who Keeps the Covers In Place

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 3 steps, starting with "Convert heights to feet".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "Rebar Impalement Protection: Covers, Troughs, and the 7-1/2 Foot Test" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Working Above the Bars: Guardrails, Fall Protection, or Covers, and the 7-1/2 Foot Limit".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "What a Protective Cover Must Be (Section 1712(d))".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Who Keeps the Covers In Place".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
IMPALEMENT PROTECTION: THE 7-1/2 FT TEST8 CCR Sec. 1712(c) and (d) | 8 CCR Sec. 1711(f) | 29 CFR 1926.701(b)WORKER ABOVE EXPOSED BARSgradework surface 9'-0" above gradeprotective coverstops at 2'-6"6'-6"fall totop of cover9'-0"8 CCR SEC. 1712 IN BRIEFAt grade: guard ends up to 6 ftabove grade or work surfaceWorking above: guardrails, Art. 24fall protection, or coversCovers: not if fall to top of coveris over 7-1/2 ft (unless (d)(4)(D))Cover size: 4" x 4" min. (round: 4-1/2")Drop test: 250 lb from 10 ftJob-built: CA engineer's drawingon site (Plate C-25 trough to 6 ft)1Work surface 9'-0" = 9.0 ft above grade; covers sit with their tops at 2'-6" = 2.5 ft2Fall height to the top of the cover = 9.0 - 2.5 = 6.5 ft36.5 ft is not more than 7-1/2 ft, so protective covers are permitted (Sec. 1712(c)(3))4If cover tops were at 1'-0": 9.0 - 1.0 = 8.0 ft, over 7-1/2 ft: covers are not enough on their ownRESULT: covers OK at 6.5 ft; at 8.0 ft use guardrails or fall protectionFall height is measured to the top of the protective cover. Covers must be at least 4" x 4" square or 4-1/2" round.CC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: The Rule and Who It Covers

8 CCR Section 1712(a) applies to all work sites and locations where employees work around or over exposed, projecting reinforcing steel or other similar projections. The federal rule that Cal/OSHA's section sits beside is 29 CFR 1926.701(b): all protruding reinforcing steel, onto and into which employees could fall, shall be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. Section 1711(f)(1) repeats the duty for reinforcing steel work and points back to Section 1712.

Step 2: Working at the Same Level as the Bars: the 6-Foot Rule

Section 1712(c)(1): employees working at grade, or at the same surface as exposed protruding reinforcing steel or other similar projections, must be protected against impalement by guarding all exposed ends that extend up to 6 feet above grade or other work surface, with protective covers or troughs. Troughs are manufactured or job-built covers that protect two or more exposed ends (Section 1712(b)).

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

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