Osha Roof Safety Rules

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

Osha roof safety rules.

Install warning lines no closer than 5 feet inside the roof edges and at a height of 34 to 45 inches. 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. Since roofs rarely have any sort of built in protective rails employers must provide fall protection for roof workers. Two osha standards can apply 29 cfr 1910 which governs general industry safety standards and 29 cfr 1926 which governs construction sites specifically.

That applies to both existing and new ladders. Or on roofs 50 feet 15 25 m or less in width the use of a safety monitoring system alone is permitted 29 cfr 1926 501 b 10. Osha requires fall protection for workers on surfaces over six feet off the ground that do not have protection along the surface edges. Re roofing fact sheet osha fs 3503 2012 english.

The warning line system shall consist of ropes wires or chains and supporting stanchions 29 cfr 1926 502 f 2. Reducing falls during residential construction. Protecting roofing workers osha 3755 2015 english. Place warning lines and headers around the entire roof perimeter.

The safety monitor is always a competent person 29 cfr 1926 500 b. Osha states that any ladders that rise 24 feet or more require a fall arrest system e g ladder safety system cage well attached to them.