Osha Requirements For Fall Protection On Roofs

Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies.

Osha requirements for fall protection on roofs.

Except as otherwise provided in paragraph b of this section each employee engaged in roofing activities on low slope roofs with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet 1 8 m or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems safety net systems personal fall arrest systems or a combination of warning line system. Roofing work poses safety risks for workers because of the high heights involved in installing roofs. Below is a table of frequently cited osha standards for roofing contractors during fy 2013. Fall protection for activities not in the construction industry is addressed in specific standards for the general industry shipyard employment marine terminals and longshoring industry this section highlights osha standards federal register notices rules and proposed rules preambles to final rules background to final rules directives instruction to osha staff letters of.

Requirements of federal fall protection standards under title 29 cfr subpart m fall protection 1926 500 503 employers must assess a workplace to. Proper fall protection measures personal protective equipment ppe and adhering to safe work practices can protect workers from fall hazards. Osha definition is used as a basis for implementing low slope fall protection measures such as warning line systems and safety monitors. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph b of this section each employee engaged in roofing activities on low slope roofs with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet 1 8 m or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems safety net systems personal fall arrest systems or a combination of warning line system.

Two osha standards can apply 29 cfr 1910 which governs general industry safety standards and 29 cfr 1926 which governs construction sites specifically the osha general industry standards exclude construction as well as agriculture and marine industries which. Osha regulations for roofing focus on fall protection equipment to help protect the safety and health of roofing workers. Except as provided in paragraph c 4 ii of this section safety nets and safety net installations shall be drop tested at the jobsite after initial installation and before being used as a fall protection system whenever relocated after major repair and at 6 month intervals if left in one place. Single unit monolithic roofing applied to flat roofs may seem safer to some roof workers but the work is still at height and subject to many similar hazards and safety requirements as sloped roof work.