Osha Roof Edge Distance

Any employee performing roofing work between the warning line and the roof edge must be protected using another form of fall protection.

Osha roof edge distance.

Between 6 feet and 15 feet from the edge. For workers engaged in roofing work 1926 501 b 10 permits an employer to use a warning line 6 feet back from the edge in combination with a monitor. Each employee on a walking working surface horizontal and vertical surface with an unprotected side or edge which is 6 feet 1 8 m or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems. Employers are to ensure that each employee is protected from falling by using fall protection systems such as non penetrating guardrails safety net system fall restraint or fall arrest systems.

Conventional fall protection guardrail fall restraint or fall arrest system is required. How far the d ring shifts and the harness stretches when it supports the full weight of a fallen worker including the weight of tool belts and other attached equipment or tools. When work is performed at least 6 feet 1 6 m but less than 15 feet 4 6 m from the roof edge the employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling by using a guardrail system safety net system travel restraint system or personal fall arrest system. 29 cfr 1926 502 h 1.

Keith harkins osha stated that a warning line system set 15 feet from an unprotected edge is permitted to be used instead of conventional fall protection to protect employees engaged in non roofing activities. There is no distance osha deems as a safe distance from a roof edge so technically you should be protected at all times. Unprotected sides and edges. The 1926 standard doesn t make specific mention to distance from roof edge but again states that for roofing work 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 those systems.

The new rule provides some clarification to this despite osha s previous stance that there is no safe distance. Conventional fall protection guardrail fall restraint or fall arrest system is required. 6 feet from the edge. Safety monitoring systems a safety monitoring system uses a competent person as a safety monitor who can recognize and warn workers of fall hazards see 29 cfr 1926 500 b.

In a november 15 2002 letter of interpretation to mr. Osha requires that this distance be no greater than 3 5 feet 29 cfr 1926 502 d 16 iv but it may be less for some pfas equipment. The regulation states that work at less than 6 feet from the roof edge requires.