[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1926.105]

[Page 185-186]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                                OF LABOR
 
PART 1926_SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart E_Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment
 
Sec. 1926.105  Safety nets.

    (a) Safety nets shall be provided when workplaces are more than 25 
feet above the ground or water surface, or other surfaces where the use 
of ladders, scaffolds, catch platforms, temporary floors, safety lines, 
or safety belts is impractical.
    (b) Where safety net protection is required by this part, operations 
shall not be undertaken until the net is in place and has been tested.
    (c)(1) Nets shall extend 8 feet beyond the edge of the work surface 
where employees are exposed and shall be installed as close under the 
work surface as practical but in no case more than 25 feet below such 
work surface. Nets shall be hung with sufficient clearance to prevent 
user's contact with the surfaces or structures below. Such clearances 
shall be determined by impact load testing.
    (2) It is intended that only one level of nets be required for 
bridge construction.
    (d) The mesh size of nets shall not exceed 6 inches by 6 inches. All 
new nets shall meet accepted performance standards of 17,500 foot-pounds 
minimum impact resistance as determined and certified by the 
manufacturers, and shall bear a label of proof test. Edge ropes shall 
provide a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 pounds.

[[Page 186]]

    (e) Forged steel safety hooks or shackles shall be used to fasten 
the net to its supports.
    (f) Connections between net panels shall develop the full strength 
of the net.