At what depth is fall protection required for bridges or walkways across excavations and trenches?

Fall protection is mandated for bridges or walkways across excavations and trenches when there is a risk involved due to the depth of the excavation. The correct depth for requiring fall protection is 6 feet. This requirement is in place to ensure worker safety, recognizing that falls from this height can lead to serious injuries or fatalities.

A depth of 6 feet is particularly significant in construction and excavation safety regulations, reflecting the standard at which falls are considered likely to result in injury and warrant protective measures. Therefore, any excavated area or trench that meets or exceeds this depth presents enough of a hazard that protective systems, such as guardrails or safety nets, must be implemented to safeguard workers traversing these elevated surfaces.