Low Slope Roof Fall Protection

Personal fall arrest system or personal fall restraint system.

Low slope roof fall protection.

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. A safety monitoring system is an alternative fall protection option for low slope roofing work under 29 cfr 1926 501 b 10. Although not all fall protection is created equal and there is a hierarchy of fall protection there are requirements that must be adhered to for low sloped roofs depending on the distance from the roof or leading edge. 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.

Osha has designated three work zones on low slope roofs with unprotected edges that are four feet or more above a lower level. 6 feet or less from leading edge acceptable forms of fall protection are. 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. 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.

In a few very specific situations low slope roof work some leading edge work precast concrete erection and residential construction.