Osha Roof Safety Flat Roofs
This means that you must have rails fall arrest systems or a warning line safety monitor setup no matter where it is you are working.
Osha roof safety flat roofs. Re roofing fact sheet osha fs 3503 2012 english. Osha regulations for commercial roof inspections the occupational safety and health administration has set new guidelines for inspecting commercial roofs. If you choose to walk on a roof without these you will be out of compliance with osha regulations and subject to fines. Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies.
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. These include using roof anchors and safety cords for roof inspections. 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.
Steep roofs each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet 1 8 m or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems with toeboards safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems. As far as osha is concerned there is no safe distance from the edge of a roof so you must be protected. 1926 501 b 12 precast concrete erection. 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.
These are just a few examples of new osha roofing safety guidelines introduced in january 2017. Aerial lifts may be used to transport personnel so long as the requirements in 29 cfr 1926 453 which cover aerial lifts are met. 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. 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.
Proper fall protection measures personal protective equipment ppe and adhering to safe work practices can protect workers from fall hazards. But what if you are not working on roofing activities. 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.