The Isosceles Group
  • Home
    • COVID-19 Statement
  • Services
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business & Human Rights
    • Facility Management
    • Fractional EHS Management
    • EHS International Project Management
    • Asset Management
    • Emergency & Disaster Management
    • Workplace Bullying & Wellness
    • Privacy and Security >
      • Security Policy
      • Website Privacy Policy
      • Client/Contractor Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • Protocols
  • Products
  • News
  • EHS Blogs
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Facility Management
  • Contact

Working on a Roof

10/22/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Author: Richard DiNitto
​
Working on a roof can be a dangerous activity and is often considered part of an overall Fall Protection Program.  Fall protection is one of the most commonly cited violations by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Nearly 900 people die annually in the US from falls from a roof. 

​Care in how you perform roof work is critical to your overall safety programs. Within the US, OSHA establishes requirements for roof work under Rule 1910.28 Duty to have fall protection and falling object protection.
 
Rule 1910.28 establishes that an employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface (such as a roof in this case) with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more (for general industry or 6 feet or more for construction work) above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of several specified control measures:

  • Guardrail systems;
  • Safety net systems; or
  • Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems.
 
Under the Rule, the distance from the edges of the roof dictates which systems must be in place and what allowances may be acceptable:

  • < 6 feet (1.6 m) from the edge - When work is performed less than 6 feet (1.6 m) from the roof edge, the employer must ensure each employee is protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system.
 
  • 6 to < 15 feet (4.6 m) - 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 the same systems as above.  The one exception is that if the roof work is both infrequent and temporary, the employer may use a designated area when performing this work.
 
A Designated Area is defined by OSHA as "A distinct portion of a walking-working surface delineated by a warning line in which employees may perform work without additional fall protection."

  • Beyond 15 feet (4.6 m) from the edge:
    • Frequent and not temporary work -  the employer must protect each employee from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, personal fall arrest system, or a designated area.
    • Infrequent “and” temporary - the employer is not obligated to provide fall protection, provided that:
      • The work is both infrequent and temporary;
      • The employee is working strictly beyond 15 feet (4.6 m) of the roof’s edges; and
      • The employer implements and enforces a work rule, prohibiting employees from going within 15 feet (4.6 m) of the roof edge.
 
These exceptions for using a designated area or not having to enforce a fall protection plan requires that the work is both temporary and infrequent.  These terms are defined as:

  • Infrequent - Infrequent work means an activity is performed only occasionally, such as once a year, once a month or when needed but not a routine or regular task that might be on a daily or weekly basis.
  • Temporary - temporary refers to tasks that usually takes less than 1-2 hours to complete.
 
As with any work activity that has inherit risks and safety concerns, a proper hazard evaluation or risk assessment to determine the best and safest approach is warranted.  While the information provided above is a good overview and guidance for safe work on a roof, the regulatory rules cover additional parameters and issues that you need to consider in your roof work evaluations and program.  Consultation with roof safety experts is strongly recommended. 

​The Isosceles Group is retained to develop, implement and maintain Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS) at industrial and commercial facilities. It also manages various EHS issues that affect the operation and expansion of such facilities. 
 
If you would like The Isosceles Group to assist with EHS management at your facility, please contact Richard DiNitto at rdinitto@theisogroup.com or (617) 330-2800.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Search Regulatory Compliance Blog


    Browse by Topic

    All
    Air Quality
    Batteries
    Chemical Handling & Management
    Consultation
    Emergency Response And Disaster Management
    Emerging Issues
    Employee Well Being
    Environmental Emergencies
    Facility Management
    General Environmental
    General Health & Safety
    GHG Emissions
    GHS
    Hazardous Chemical/Substance Management
    Miscellaneous
    POPs
    PPE
    REACH
    THE BULLETIN
    Waste Management
    Wastewater Discharge
    Water Resources
    WEEE
    Workplace Bullying
    Workplace Environment & Controls
    Workplace Safety

    RSS Feed

    Browse Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    June 2015
    February 2015
    March 2014
    November 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

The Isosceles Group

361 Newbury Street, #503
Boston, MA 02115
Tel. 617.330.2800


Privacy Policy
The Isosceles Group is a Proud Supporter of

Connect with us

  • Home
    • COVID-19 Statement
  • Services
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Business & Human Rights
    • Facility Management
    • Fractional EHS Management
    • EHS International Project Management
    • Asset Management
    • Emergency & Disaster Management
    • Workplace Bullying & Wellness
    • Privacy and Security >
      • Security Policy
      • Website Privacy Policy
      • Client/Contractor Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • Protocols
  • Products
  • News
  • EHS Blogs
    • Regulatory Compliance
    • Facility Management
  • Contact