Osha Low Slope Roof Definition

Roofing work on low slope 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.

Osha low slope roof definition. Aerial lifts may be used to transport personnel so long as the requirements in 29 cfr 1926 453 which cover aerial lifts are met. Although the actual definition of a designated area mentions any walking working surface all of the guidance for how designated areas are to be applied and used are related to low slope roofs found in osha 1910 28 b 13. 29 cfr 1926 500 defines low slope roof as a roof having a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 vertical to horizontal 29 cfr 1926 501 b 10 allows the use of a safety monitor on a low slope roof. Such areas or surfaces include but are not limited to ground levels floors platforms ramps runways excavations pits tanks material water equipment structures.

Lower level means a surface or area to which an employee could fall. Lower levels means those areas or surfaces to which an employee can fall. Osha is adding this provision to make the general industry standard more consistent with the construction fall protection standard which includes a provision addressing roofing work performed on low slope roofs 1926 501 b 10. Low slope roof means a roof having a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 vertical to horizontal.

A ladder safety system usually consists of a carrier safety sleeve lanyard connectors and body harness. Osha walking working surfaces standard low sloped roof fall protection defined low sloped roof is a term that osha felt it needed to be defined in its walking working surfaces update published november 18 2016. In our previous article about citations regarding the standard for steep roofs we pointed out that osha standard 1926 500 defines a steep roof as a roof that has a pitch of 18 5 or more. This is important because the osha definition is used as a basis for implementing low slope fall protection measures such as warning.

A low sloped roof is defined as a slope equal or less than a ratio of 4 to 12. Cages and wells are not ladder safety systems. Roof slope osha defines a low slope roof as a roof having a slope of less than or equal to 4 inches of vertical rise for every 12 inches horizontal length 4 12 1926 500 b definitions. The difference between steep and low slope roofs is depicted in the image below.

New questions are emerging about key provisions the occupational safety and health administration s updated rule to prevent falls.