Osha Regulations On Flat Roofs

What distances from the rooftop for fall protection.

Osha regulations on flat roofs. Figuring out how to work on a roof without fall protection is easier than you think. These include using roof anchors and safety cords for roof inspections. Roofing work poses safety risks for workers because of the high heights involved in installing roofs. Osha defines what fall protection is required based on how close employees are to the edge of the roof.

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. Appropriate lifting technique for long roof conforms to as nzs 4389 2015 roof safety mesh is installed by a competent person in a safe manner and in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions. For work on flat or low sloped roofs osha requires fall protection. If safety mesh is used ensure it.

Always follow a safe system of work using a platform beneath the roof where possible. Proper fall protection measures personal protective equipment ppe and adhering to safe work practices can protect workers from fall hazards. If you choose to walk on a roof without these you will be out of compliance with osha regulations and subject to fines. Falls from flat roof edges can be prevented by simple edge protection arrangements a secure double guardrail and toeboard around the edge.

Osha regulations for roofing focus on fall protection equipment to help protect the safety and health of roofing workers. Each year many roofers sustain injuries and even die on the job in the u s. 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. Staging on the roof surface to spread the loads safety mesh secured under fragile roofing or skylights.

There are osha rules defining safe distances from the edge of a roof and the degree of protection required. 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. 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.