Osha Regulations For Fall Protection On Roofs

Section 1910 28 establishes the requirements that employers must follow on the use of cages and wells as a means of fall protection.

Osha regulations for fall protection on roofs.

In construction activities fall protection is required when working at heights greater than 6 feet with some exceptions. Note to paragraph g. 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. Also the warning line would comply with the criteria requirements in 1926 502 f.

Supervise workers to ensure fall protection equipment is used and maintained correctly. The osha general industry standards exclude construction as well as agriculture and marine industries which also have their own standards but both standards can sometimes apply to the same. Understand the requirements of osha s fall protection standards at 29 cfr 1926 subpart m to protect workers exposed to falls six feet or more above a lower level. Answer as explained below the answer is no.

How far from the edge do you have to be before fall protection is required. Two osha standards can apply 29 cfr 1910 which governs general industry safety standards and 29 cfr 1926 which governs construction sites specifically. 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. When work is performed at least 6 feet 1 6 m but less than 15 feet 4 6 m from the roof edge the employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling by using a guardrail system safety net system travel restraint system or personal fall arrest system.

The answer is it doesn t matter how far from the edge. If there is a fall risk it needs to be addressed. 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 and guardrail system warning line system and safety net system or warning line system and personal fall arrest system or warning line system and. Implement safe work practices to reduce the possibility of falls.

Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies. This is important because the osha definition is used as a basis for implementing low slope fall protection measures such as warning line systems and safety monitors. Platforms used with fixed ladders provide a horizontal surface of at least 24 inches by 30 inches 61 cm by 76 cm. Figure d 14 clearances for fixed ladders in wells.