Rebar and Impalement Protection
29 CFR 1926.701 · This talk in Spanish
Why it matters
Exposed vertical rebar is a bed of spears. A worker who trips from even a few feet onto unguarded dowels does not get a second chance. OSHA requires guarding every piece of rebar a worker could fall onto, and the plastic mushroom caps alone do not stop impalement.
Hazards
- ⚠ Falls onto exposed vertical rebar and dowels
- ⚠ Mushroom caps that prevent scratches but not impalement
- ⚠ Working at height above unguarded steel
- ⚠ Cut rebar ends and tie wire slicing hands and shins
- ⚠ Carrying bundles through congested mats
Controls and safe practices
- ✓ Guard all protruding rebar a worker could fall onto, per 1926.701(b): steel-reinforced caps, troughs, or bend the steel over.
- ✓ Plastic mushroom caps alone are for scratch protection only; impalement requires rated caps or wooden troughs.
- ✓ Eliminate work above exposed steel where possible; sequence pours and steel so falls cannot land on dowels.
- ✓ Wear cut-resistant gloves and shin protection when tying and walking mats.
- ✓ Keep walk paths through mats planked and clear.
- ✓ Inspect caps daily; sun and impacts crack them.
Crew discussion questions
- Where is exposed vertical steel on this site right now, and how is it guarded?
- Are any of our caps the scratch-only type where fall exposure exists?
- Who works above steel today, and can that be re-sequenced?
- Are the mat walk paths actually planked?
Applicable OSHA standards
29 CFR 1926.701
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