Like getting your child’s cold, changes inevitably happen. When it comes to changes in how the OSHA standards are implemented, what we choose to do about them may not be quite as important as how we plan to go about changing our mindset. At my age I realize I am much better at the former than the latter. Often changing my mindset seems like swimming to shore, against the tide, while wearing my overalls, jacket and boots — if I actually get there, it won’t be pretty.

OSHA’s new STD 03-11-002 — Compliance Guidance for Residential Construction was issued on June 16, 2011. This instruction cancels OSHA’s previous STD 03-00-001 — Plain Language Revision of STD 3.1 (Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction – 6/18/99). OSHA’s 14-year-long “interim period” will apparently be over on March 15, 2013. Then what?