Osha Flat Roof Fall Protection Requirements

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.

Osha flat roof fall protection requirements. The employer must ensure each safety net system meets the requirements in 29 cfr part 1926 subpart m. Proper fall protection measures personal protective equipment ppe and adhering to safe work practices can protect workers from fall hazards. Fall protection requirements for construction workers doing work while on a roof. Subpart m 1926 501 b 10 of the osha construction standards specifies that under certain conditions roofing work can be conducted with a warning line in place 6 feet from the edge and a safety monitoring system.

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. 1 8 m from the roof edge for work that is both temporary and infrequent or not less than 15 feet 4 6 m. In accordance with osha s august 1 2000 letter to mr. Under 1926 501 b 10 the roofers can comply with fall protection requirements by using a warning line 6 feet from the edge.

Mark troxell the mechanical trades who are. 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. Below is a table of frequently cited osha standards for roofing contractors during fy 2013. Simply consider the task you are performing whether that be maintenance construction or really anything else assess the hazards divide by the number of workers and factor in the use of personal protective equipment adjusted for recent revisions to written policy and you will find that without fail.

Multiple trades roofers as well as mechanical trades are working on a low slope roof. Osha standards frequently cited during fy 2013 inspections of roofing contractors naics 238160 rank by number of citations issued categories standard 1 duty to have fall protection 1926 501 2 ladder safety 1926 1053 3 fall protection training requirements. 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. How it is addressed depends on the type of work being done.

This is in response to your fax submitted on september 2 2003 to the occupational safety and health administration osha and as a follow up to a telephone conversation on september 22 2003. Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies.