Work On Roofs

Fall Prevention/Fall Protection Flowchart YES

Develop a Fall Protection Plan

Is there a fall Hazard ?

NO

Proceed with Job

YES

Can the Hazard be engineered out using long tools, working in man lifts, scissors, scaffolding, etc.?

NO

Are you working on a roof of rolling stock ?

NO

For all other fall hazards , Contact Line Organization Competent Person or Program Safety Manager

YES

Are you working on a roof with a slope less than 4/12 pitch?

When performing work activities are you less than 6-feet from fall hazard?

Provide Fall Protection in accordance with requirements outlined in “Performing Elevated Work on Roof and Rolling Stock” for fall hazards 6' or less.

NO

NO

See requirements to performing elevated work on roof and Rolling Stock

Are you 6'-15' from the fall hazard?

Provide Fall Protection in accordance with requirements outlined in “Performing Elevated Work on Roof and Rolling Stock” for fall hazards 6'-15'.

NO

Are you greater than 15' from the fall hazard ?

Provide Fall Protection in accordance with requirements outlined in “Performing Elevated Work on Roof and Rolling Stock” for fall hazards greater than 15'.

Work on Roofs Activity

Responsible Individual

Required Action

Obtaining Members of Get permission and gain access to a building’s roof by using the Permission to the Workforce appropriate roof access process. Work on a Roof Dealing with Members of 6’ or Less Fall the Workforce Hazard Exposures Dealing with 6’-15’ Fall Hazard Exposures

Members of the Workforce

For fall hazard exposures 6’ or less from an unprotected side, edge, or hole on low sloped roofs (< 4/12 slope), use guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or some other method that will provide equivalent protection. For additional information, see Fall Protection/Fall Protection Decision Flowchart. • •

•

Dealing with Members of Greater Than the Workforce 15’ Fall Hazard Exposures

For fall hazard exposures between 6’-15’ from unprotected side, edge, or hole on low-sloped roofs (< 4/12 slope), follow the requirements set forth by OSHA 1926.500. Protect Members of the Workforce from falls by using guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of a warning line system and a guardrail system; a warning line system and a safety net system; a warning line system and a personal fall arrest system; or a warning line system and a safety monitoring system. For roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width, the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e., without the warning line system] is permitted (see Subpart M, Appendix A of OSHA 1926.500).

For fall hazard exposures greater than 15’ from unprotected side, edge, or hole on low sloped roofs (< 4/12 slope), consider the administrative controls listed in Table 1, Administrative Controls for Work on Unprotected Low-Sloped Roofs without Conventional Fall Protection, or develop an equivalent fall protection plan that has been reviewed and approved by a “fall protection competent person.” The fall protection administrative controls listed in Table 1 allow Members of the Workforce to work on some of SNL’s large, low-sloped roofs without conventional fall protection devices if the work is greater than 15’ feet from an unprotected side, edge, or hole, and if no additional hazards have been identified. Note: OSHA states “Distance alone is ineffective to protect workers from unprotected side, edge, or hole.” Work on unprotected low-sloped roofs shall be allowed without conventional fall protection under the conditions listed in Table 1, Work on Unprotected Low-Sloped Roofs. Considering Members of Consider additional concerns and health hazards while working on Additional the Workforce roofs, including: Concerns and • Chemicals Health • Magnetic fields Hazards • Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation • Skylights • Weather • Communication

Table 1. Criteria for Work on Unprotected Low-Sloped Roofs without Conventional Fall Protection Work Plan

• •

Only Non-Traditional Construction-Type Work Safe Work Area

Safety Monitor

•

Only for other than traditional “construction” type work, (e.g. roofing repairs, heating and a/c, and electrical maintenance, R&D work, of a temporary nature etc.) on low-sloped roofs (< 4/12 slope). A safe work area on the roof must be designated by: • Warning lines, which are used without a monitor, where the warning lines are at least 15 feet back from the unprotected edge and all of the following are met: ○ A warning line is used 15 feet or more from the edge (or nearest edge of a hole); ○ The warning line meets or exceeds the requirements in §1926.502(f)(2); • “Marking” the area by some method including painting, tape, or chalk. (Caution: some chemicals may react with roofing membranes and cause damage. Contact building manager for advice). • No work or work-related activity is to take place in the area between this designated safe work area and the fall hazard. • Members of the Workforce are prohibited from going past the designated safe work area delineation (marking/warning lines). • • •

Fall Hazards

•

• General Requirements

Members of the Workforce develop a work plan that addresses fall hazards, describes the worker and safety monitor fall protection duties, and uses designated safe work zones. All affected Members of the Workforce shall sign the work plan acknowledging responsibilities and training requirements.

• • •

There must be at least two people in the work area, one person designated as the “Safety Monitor,” The trained “Safety-monitor” must keep him/herself and other Members of the Workforce within the designated safe work zone and greater than 15’ from the edge. Safety-monitor has no other duties other than being a “safety monitor”. Members of the Workforce are not exposed to any fall hazards (closer than 15’ in any direction) while working or accessing the work area. Members of the Workforce remain on the horizontal surfaces of the roof (not elevated) (< 4/12 slope). Members of the Workforce have and maintain visual contact, good oral communication, (no language barriers, noise issues, etc.) when performing work. Inclement weather does not increase hazards. All exposed employees have adequate training:

Work on Rolling Stock Activity

Responsible Individual Working from Members of Rolling Stock the Workforce (such as flatbed trucks or trailers)

Required Action •

•

Use fall prevention/protection methods when working on “Rolling Stock” (flatbed trucks, trailers, or other similar surfaces) (Requirements 1910.132 and OSHA General Duty Clause 5a.1). Attend to the following hazards: ○ Unprotected open-sided areas created by working near edges of flatbed trucks, trailers or similar surfaces. ○ Safe access to these work surfaces.

Fall Protection Equipment Activity Training

Responsible Required Action Individual Managers Ensure that Members of the Workforce are adequately trained and appropriate fall-protection equipment is provided. Note: For purposes of this application, a “competent person” is defined as one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them. Members of Read and understand the instructions and warnings on fallthe Workforce protection equipment prior to use.

Equipment Inspection

Managers

Ensure that fall-protection equipment is inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations or as a minimum, inspected annually and documented by a competent person Members of Inspect each piece of fall-protection equipment before and after the Workforce use according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The inspection shall include, but not be limited to, the following: • The FBH, body belt, and lanyard are stamped with the date of manufacture, manufacturer’s name, and the ANSI standard number. • D-rings, tongue or billet, and buckle attachments on harnesses and body belts for signs of wear such as the equipment being misshapen, showing signs of exposure to chemicals, or overexposure to sunlight. • Equipment webbing for frayed or broken strands. • Tongue and friction buckles for distortion. • Lanyards for cuts, frayed areas, or unusual wearing patterns. • Lanyard hardware, including snaps and thimbles, for distortion or signs of wear.

Destroying Defective Equipment

Members of the Workforce

•

Ensure that any parts of the personal fall-protection system that look worn, misshapen, or that show signs of exposure to chemicals or overexposure to sunlight are destroyed.

Using Fall Protection Equipment

Members of the Workforce

• •

Not reuse fall-arrest systems that were subjected to a fall. Not destroy or discard fall-arrest systems until an investigation is complete.

•

Use compatible components of a fall-arrest system. Ensure that when anchoring fall protection equipment, select an appropriate point at or above the height of the back D-ring. Use only anchorages and anchorage connectors that are capable of supporting at least 5,000 lbs. per person attached or if there is doubt about the integrity or weightsupporting capability of a selected anchor. Note: For alternative anchorages, consult the fall-prevention and protection contact for assistance. Wear the appropriate personal fall-protection equipment such as a full-body harness (FBH) with shock-absorbing lanyard (rather than a body belt, which is not used for fall arrest) as outlined in the TWD Note: A body belt may be used in combination with a FBH in positioning work only. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for details. Consult the fall-prevention and protection contact for assistance and questions on the proper use of fall-protection equipment.

• •

•