Osha Roof Tie Off Requirements

In addition the act s section 5 a 1 the general duty clause requires employers to provide their workers with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death.

Osha roof tie off requirements. Having a fall arrest system prevents fall related fatalities and injuries. Fall arrest equipment prevents a worker from hitting the ground if they fall over the roof edge. 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. Effective handrails are 30 to 37 inches high and meet the guardrail strength requirements i e able to withstand 200 pounds of weight applied within two inches of the top edge in any downward or outward direction at any point along the top edge see 29 cfr 1926 1052 c 5 c 6.

Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies. Applied technical services is incredibly proud to be an industry leader in all osha tie off inspections and related services. In fact when testing systems under osha you are required to use a weight of 220 pounds plus or minus 3 pounds at a free fall of 6 feet 29 cfr 1926 subpart m appendix c. Or more off the ground must be tied off to a fall arrest system if there are no guardrails or safety net systems in place.

Two osha standards can apply 29 cfr 1910 which governs general industry safety standards and 29 cfr 1926 which governs construction sites specifically. The system would fail. According to osha regulations workers 6 ft. Occupational safety and health act requires employers to comply with safety and health standards promulgated by osha or by a state with an osha approved state plan.

With regard to fall protection requirements applicable to the construction work itself 1926 501 b 10 low slope roofs requires conventional fall protection a combination of a monitoring system and warning line or on roofs of 50 feet or less in width a monitoring system alone i e without a warning line be used. When the fall protection measures listed above are not used mark the edges of the flat roof with headers and warning lines to notify workers of potential fall hazard areas using the following guidelines. As with most governing bodies osha has some very specific requirements regarding how where and when tie off systems and other safety measures must be used to help create a safe working environment for work at heights employees and contractors at all times. 1926 501 b 2 i each employee who is constructing a leading edge 6 feet 1 8 m or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems.