safety on residential roofs

[supergeek]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if you all have suggestions or links regarding staying safe on roofs. Most of my experience is doing commercial and industrial work, but I'm starting to get into solar installations. To get my feet wet, I want to do a few residential solar jobs before bidding commercial projects.

Anyway, I just want to keep my employees (and myself) as safe as possible. I wondered what types of fall protection you've used or seen used out there. We have safety harnesses, but what should they hook to? Or should some sort of safety rail (or maybe a scaffold) be temporarily installed?

On most houses, the roof pitch is pretty mild, but I want to have something to offer my workers besides just a generalized "be safe, don't fall!"

Thanks a lot for any ideas you might have!

 

[celtic]

First thing you might consider is upping your insurance policy and adding the "roof work" rider.
Here in NJ, a roof work rider costs A LOT more.

 

[480sparky]

Just Google "Roof Fall Protection" and you'll get a lot of good info.

As to what you attach your harnesses to, the most common is one of these:

 

[iwire]

Along with the other good suggestions I strongly suggest you take a look at the OSHA standards contained in 1926 subpart M.

OSHA 1926 Index

Here is the 'biggie'

1926.501(b)(1)

"Unprotected sides and edges." 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.

So as far as OSHA is concerned your employees must be protected by guard rails or they will be tied off.

Obviously guard rails are not a reasonable option.

I would plan on body harness, a 6' lanyard and a sliding rope grab. I am not sure about what I would tie to. the tie off point is more or less required to be rated 5000 Lbs per person......not sure what on a residential roof meets that.

1926.502(d)(15)

Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall arrest equipment shall be independent of any anchorage being used to support or suspend platforms and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per employee attached, or shall be designed, installed, and used as follows:

1926.502(d)(15)(i)

as part of a complete personal fall arrest system which maintains a safety factor of at least two; and

1926.502(d)(15)(ii)

under the supervision of a qualified person.

1926.502(d)(16)

Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, shall:

1926.502(d)(16)(i)

limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kN) when used with a body belt;

1926.502(d)(16)(ii)

limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kN) when used with a body harness;

1926.502(d)(16)(iii)

be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level;

..1926.502(d)(16)(iv)

1926.502(d)(16)(iv)

bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 m); and,

1926.502(d)(16)(v)

have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 m), or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.


Note: If the personal fall arrest system meets the criteria and protocols contained in Appendix C to subpart M, and if the system is being used by an employee having a combined person and tool weight of less than 310 pounds (140 kg), the system will be considered to be in compliance with the provisions of paragraph (d)(16) of this section. If the system is used by an employee having a combined tool and body weight of 310 pounds (140 kg) or more, then the employer must appropriately modify the criteria and protocols of the Appendix to provide proper protection for such heavier weights, or the system will not be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (d)(16) of this section.

Anyway I would take a look at all of subpart M of 1926 as it has some lesser options for low pitched roofs and a lot more info about the training you as the employer are required to provide for the use of the equipment.

 

[JohnE]

It's nearly impossible to comply with osha reg's on a residential roof. When I did my 10 hour osha class geared towards building inspectors, the instructor basically said as much. Of course not in so many words.

 

[iwire]

It's nearly impossible to comply with osha reg's on a residential roof.

I don't doubt that for a bit and I was not trying to seem like a safety geek. :wink: :smile:

Only suggesting that supergeek take a few minutes to read the standards, what he does from there is up to him.

I think it is commendable that supergeek wants to do more than simply say 'Don't Fall'.

 

[supergeek]

Great info, thanks!

Great info, thanks!

I appreciate the info. I'll study the OSHA Regulation that was mentioned and try my best to comply. Thanks again!

 

[celtic]

Elizabeth man dies from ladder fall; police suspect burglary

If had had some PPE, this might not have ended so suddenly for him.

 

[480sparky]

Who is OSHA going to fine on that one????

About 10 years ago, we had a guy break into a construction site one night and tried to use a drop cord to lower a welder/generator down from the roof. The weight got the best of him, the cord wrapped around his leg, and over the edge he went. But the end of the cord was tied to the temp panel, so he stopped halfway down. Died of exposure... it was 18? that night.

 

[360Youth]

Yeah, sub it out.:wink:

 

[celtic]

More fun of roofs...

Blaze ignites after roofing work

 

[muskiedog]

Chart to help direct you.

Chart to help direct you.

http://www.doli.state.mn.us/pdf/resdential_fall_chart.pdf

 

[cowboyjwc]

Just had CALOSHA in our office and they said that if we are on the roof checking the installation of solar or even roof nailing the we need to be tied off to. So make sure that you have an extra harness for the inspector.

 

[smithacetech]

Its nice to hear a residental job talk about OSHA & fall protection. It seems most residential jobs around here think OSHA is just short for OH SH..!:grin:

Perhaps you can use a GLG lift or bucket truck?

 

[saftgek]

Working at Heights

Working at Heights

I appreciate the info. I'll study the OSHA Regulation that was mentioned and try my best to comply. Thanks again!

To further assist in your efforts (laudable, by the way), this link will take you to the DBI/Sala site for anchorages specific to roof work. DBI is an excellent source of equipment and training - I have worked with them extensively while in private sector and when I was a Senior Safety Investigator/Training Officer for MNOSHA.

Best Wishes, and Think Safety Always ! ! !

OOPS - link did not transfer. Let's try it again!

http://www.capitalsafety.com/Defaul...ng&CatalogId=1&Source=Category&CategoryId=137

 

[saftgek]

It's nearly impossible to comply with osha reg's on a residential roof. When I did my 10 hour osha class geared towards building inspectors, the instructor basically said as much. Of course not in so many words.

John - sad that an Outreach facilitator would suggest the futility of conforming to 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1). This link takes a user to a vendor site specific to anchorage on roofs:


http://www.capitalsafety.com/Defaul...ng&CatalogId=1&Source=Category&CategoryId=137

From a great Billie Holliday song, ". . . the difficult, I'll do right now, the impossible will take a little while."