Osha Low Slope Roof Fall Protection

Slope is calculated by rise over run thus a low sloped roof is a roof where for every 12 units inches feet or meters measured horizontally run the roof does not increase or decrease by.

Osha low slope roof fall protection.

A low sloped roof is defined as a slope equal or less than a ratio of 4 to 12. If employers elect to use a safety monitoring system they must designate a competent person to monitor the safety of workers and to warn them when their work puts them close to a fall hazard. Osha has designated three work zones on low slope roofs with unprotected edges that are four feet or more above a lower level. The extremely high danger zone less than six feet from the roof s edge requires one of the following.

The roofing safety zones. In a few very specific situations low slope roof work some leading edge work precast concrete erection and residential construction. See 1926 501 b 2 12 and 13 because of feasibility limitations the standard permits the use of a warning line in combination with other measures instead of conventional fall protection guardrail systems personal fall arrest systems or safety net systems to keep employees away from an edge. 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.

Osha is adding this provision to make the general industry standard more consistent with the construction fall protection standard which includes a provision addressing roofing work performed on low slope roofs 1926 501 b 10.