A low-sloped roof is defined as a slope equal to or lower than a ratio of 4 to 12. The slope is calculated using the elevation difference. OSHA's 29 CFR 1926.501 includes a general rule. This general rule requires the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems to protect against falls of 6 feet or more to a lower level. A steep roof is one with a slope of more than 4 inches of vertical elevation for every 12 inches of horizontal length.
In roofing work involving steep roofs, the general rule applies, but it also requires that a railing system have struts. See this post for more details, what are water slides and when to use them? It's important to review OSHA fall protection requirements and rooftop safety training standards, as well as to take advantage of free OSHA resources. So how do we protect the maintenance worker who occasionally finds himself on a roof to change the air conditioning filters? The applicable standards are 1910.28 (b) (1) for low-sloped roofs and 1910.29 (d) for designated areas. In architecture, the term “slope” refers to the angle of a roof and is usually measured in inches over a 12-inch span.
While not all fall protections are the same and there is a hierarchy of fall protection, there are requirements that must be met for low-sloped roofs, depending on the distance from the roof or the leading edge. While most of the industry refers to low-sloped roofs as flat roofs, flat roofs almost always have a certain degree of slope to allow drainage and prevent the accumulation of precipitation. Due to the very nature of the risks involved in roofing works, effective fall protection measures are particularly important. Knowing how OSHA defines a low-slope roof helps roofers know what steps to take to protect themselves properly before, during and after work begins.
The lines are usually yellow, so those on the roof are clear that they should not cross that line without the restrictions required by OSHA. Ideally, all roof systems that require maintenance should be located within the HIGH DANGER ZONE (15 feet or more from the edge), in the center of the building. However, many people in the roofing industry use the term “flat roof” to describe any roof that appears flat, even though it most likely has a slight slope. If the employee falls, the device is stuck in the ceiling and you'll have to repair it, but you won't suffer any serious injuries.
As you can see, fall protection, roof safety and OSHA compliance include the requirement to establish and implement an effective safety program.
