Osha Flat Roof Fall Protection Requirements

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.

Osha flat roof fall protection requirements.

Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies. 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. 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. Proper fall protection measures personal protective equipment ppe and adhering to safe work practices can protect workers from fall hazards.

Under 1926 501 b 10 the roofers can comply with fall protection requirements by using a warning line 6 feet from the edge. The employer must ensure each safety net system meets the requirements in 29 cfr part 1926 subpart m. In accordance with osha s august 1 2000 letter to mr. The employer must ensure each personal fall protection system meets the requirements in subpart i of this part.

If there is a fall risk it needs to be addressed. 1 8 m from the roof edge for work that is both temporary and infrequent or not less than 15 feet 4 6 m. 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. Multiple trades roofers as well as mechanical trades are working on a low slope roof.

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. Fall protection requirements for construction workers doing work while on a roof. Mark troxell the mechanical trades who are. 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. Below is a table of frequently cited osha standards for roofing contractors during fy 2013.