OSHA

Employees working six (6) feet or more above lower levels must be protected by conventional fall protection methods listed in 1926.501(b)(13) ( i.e., guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems ) or alternative fall protection measures allowed by other provisions of 29 CFR 1926.501(b) for particular types of work.

An example of an alternative fall protection measure allowed under 1926.501(b) is the use of warning lines and safety monitoring systems during the performance of roofing work on low-sloped roofs. (4 in 12 pitch or less). (See 1926.501(b)(10)).

OSHA allows the use of an effective fall restraint system in lieu of a personal fall arrest system. To be effective, a fall restraint system must be rigged to prevent a worker from reaching a fall hazard and falling over the edge. A fall restraint system may consist of a full body harness or body belt that is connected to an anchor point at the center of a roof by a lanyard of a length that will not allow a worker to physically reach the edge of the roof.

When the employer can demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use required fall protection systems, a qualified person must develop a written site-specific fall protection plan in accordance with 1926.502(k) that, among other things, specifies the alternative fall protection methods that will be used to protect workers from falls.

The effective date of STD 03-11-002 is June 16, 2011.

Slideguards cannot simply be used in lieu of conventional fall protection methods under 1926.501(b)(13). However, slideguards may be used as part of a written, site-specific fall protection plan that meets the requirements of 1926.502(k) if the employer can demonstrate that the use of conventional fall protection (i.e., guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest systems) would be infeasible or create greater hazards.

Under 1926.501(b)(10), safety monitoring systems can be used in conjunction with a warning line system to protect employees during the performance of roofing work on roofs of 4 in 12 pitch or less. When such a roof is 50 feet (15.25 m) or less in width, a safety monitoring system can be used alone, i.e., without a warning line system. Under 1926.501(b)(13), if the employer can demonstrate that the use of conventional fall protection would be infeasible or create a greater hazard, monitors may be used as part of an employer's written fall protection plan under 1926.502(k).

Safety monitoring systems must meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.502(h) including, but not limited to, requirements that the monitor:

  • be competent to recognize fall hazards;
  • be on the same walking working surface and within visual sighting distance of the employee being monitored;
  • be close enough to communicate orally with the employee; and
  • not have other responsibilities which could take the monitor's attention from the monitoring function.

Directive to protect residential construction workers from falls goes into effect June 16 Starting June 16, residential construction employers will have to provide workers with the conventional fall protection required by theconstruction fall protection standard, issued in 1994 (29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13)). Falls are the leading cause of death for workers in construction and this directive will provide residential construction workers with greater protection from being injured or killed on the job.

In December 2010, OSHA issued a new directive withdrawing an interim policy that allowed residential construction employers to use alternative procedures for worker fall protection. Under the new procedures, where residential construction employers find that traditional fall protection is not feasible or creates a greater hazard in residential environments, employers will still be allowed to implement alternative procedures that will assure worker protection after developing a written site-specific fall protection plan.


An example of a Personal Fall Arrest System in use during reroofing.

Since issuing the new directive, OSHA has developed a variety of training and compliance assistance materials in many formats that are available on OSHA'sResidential Fall Protectionpage. The latest of these is an educationalslide presentation* that describes safety methods for preventing injuries and deaths from falls, and explains techniques currently used by employers during various stages of construction. These techniques involve the use of conventional fall protection systems including safety nets, guardrails, and personal fall arrest systems such as body harnesses, lanyards and lifelines. See thenews releasefor more information.

OSHA also provides a free compliance assistance service for small businesses with fewer than 250 employees at any one facility, and no more than 500 employees nationwide. OSHA's on-site consultation services are separate from the agency's enforcement operations and do not result in penalties or citations. To locate the Consultation Office nearest you, visit OSHA'sOn-site ConsultationWeb page or call 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA). For Questions about being OSHA compliant below is contact info to an OSHA compliance specialist. OSHA has compliance assistance specialists in area offices throughout the country. If you have questions for our compliance assistance specialists, visit ourWeb siteor call 1-800-321-6742 to find the OSHA office nearest you

OSHA Jurisdiction:

  • Covers private sector employers
  • Excludes self-employed, family farm workers, and government workers (except in State Plan states)
  • Approves and monitors 28State Plan stateswhich cover private and public sector employees.
  • Assists Federal Agency Programs OSHA Inspections:
  • Conducted without advance notice
  • On-site inspections, or Phone/Fax investigations
  • Highly-trained compliance officers Inspection Priorities:
  • Imminent danger
  • Catastrophes / fatalities
  • Worker complaints and referrals
  • Targeted inspections - high injury/illness rates, severe violators Follow-up inspections
  • All employers under OSHA jurisdiction mustREPORTto OSHA:
  • All work-related fatalitieswithin 8 hours
  • All work-related inpatient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eyewithin 24 hoursNEW

Construction Safety & Health Resources

A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry
OSHA Publication 3150 (Revised 2002), 2.1 MB PDF, 73 pages.
Booklet in question-and-answer format highlights information about scaffold safety.
Ground-Fault Protection on Construction Sites
OSHA Publication 3007 (Revised 1998), 100 KB PDF, 31 pages.
Booklet on ground-fault circuit interrupters for safe use of portable tools.
Lead in Construction
OSHA Publication 3142 (Revised 2003), 610 KB PDF, 38 pages.
Describes hazards and safe work practices concerning lead.
OSHA Assistance for the Residential Construction Industry
Many OSHA standards apply to residential construction for the prevention of possible fatalities. This web page provides information about those standards and the hazards present in residential construction. It was developed in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) as part of the OSHA-NAHB Alliance.
Stairways and Ladders
OSHA Publication 3124 (Revised 2003), 155 KB PDF, 15 pages.
Explains OSHA requirements for stairways and ladders.
Materials Handling and Storage
OSHA Publication 2236 (Revised 2002), 559 KB PDF, 40 pages.
A comprehensive guide to hazards and safe work practices in handling materials.
Personal Protective Equipment
OSHA Publication 3155 (2003), 305 KB PDF, 44 pages.
Discusses equipment most commonly used for protection for the head, including eyes and face and the torso, arms, hands, and feet. The use of equipment to protect against life-threatening hazards is also discussed.

The Asbestos Advisor:This computer program provides an introduction to the scope and logic of the regulations for general industry, construction and maritime.

1st, 3rd and 5th most cited violations by OSHA

#1 – General Requirement Number of Inspections: 3025
Number of Citations: 8147
Total Amount Fined: $6,601,703.00
Average Fine: $2,182.00

The average construction site is an ever-changing, bustling place that can pose many hazards for employees. If the project is up to speed, you can find workmen from several different trades working in the same general vicinity, within close proximity of others. The hazards encountered on a jobsite can be from hand tools, power tools, or from the operation of heavy equipment. There are the risks from falls, improper excavation procedures fire, unsafe breathing atmospheres, and the hazard of electrical shock. All of these situations are potentially dangerous and possibly lethal, if proper safety measures are not followed. Considering the fact that 20% of all work site fatalities are related to construction, the extra time it takes to create safe work practices is well worth the effort. Grand total there were 12,434 Inspections performed by OSHA, with 39,427 Citations given. OSHA fined a whopping grand total of $29,254,984.00 to Construction Companies and Contractors with LESS THAN 10 EMPLOYEES. That’s an average of $2,352.00 Per Fine Per Inspection. Your company should be thoroughly covered with a written safety program whether you have 1 employee or 1,000 employees. The emphasis on safety in the culture of your business can help you avoid these fines. If you need information on preventing these types of fine, please contact the experts atSafety Services Company.

#3 – Fall Protection Number of Inspections: 4667 Number of Citations: 5148
Total Amount Fined: $5,417,592.00
Average Fine: $1,160.00 OSHA takes fall protection very seriously; Fines and citations can come from a variety of issues. Working at height can be very dangerous. Safety must be your primary concern. The following are a few reasons why companies get fined – not properly constructing or installing safety equipment; not properly training employees in the use of fall protection equipment and not using safe work practices.

#5 – Ladders Number of Inspections: 1783
Number of Citations: 2362
Total Amount Fined: $1,245,494.00
Average Fine: $698.00

I’ve seen this many times, guys using ladders that are broken or bent, or have missing rungs; it seems that safe work practices go out the window when you’re on a ladder. You’re not allowed to do any work from a ladder. It is designed to get you from the ground to a certain height, and aid you in getting back down. Once again training is needed. You need to know the rules.

NEWS|12/17/2015

TheDepartmentsofJusticeandLaborAnnouncePlantoProsecuteMoreEmployers

The DepartmentsofJusticeand LaborannouncedThursday a plantomoreeffectively prosecuteemployerswhoputthelivesand thehealthof workersatrisk.

Under thenewplan, theJusticeDepartment’sEnvironmentandNaturalResourcesDivisionandtheU.S.Attorney’s OfficeswillworkwiththeDepartmentofLabor’sOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration (OSHA),MineSafetyandHealthAdministration(MSHA),andWageandHour Division(WHD)toinvestigateandprosecuteworkerendangermentviolations.

“On anaveragedayinAmerica,13workersdieonthejob,thousandsareinjuredand150 succumbtodiseasestheyobtainedfromexposureto carcinogens andothertoxicand hazardoussubstanceswhilethey worked,”saidDeputyAttorneyGeneralSallyQuillianYates. “Giventhetroublingstatisticsonworkplacedeathsand injuries,theDepartmentofJusticeis redoublingitseffortstoholdaccountablethosewhounlawfullyjeopardizeworkers’ healthand safety.”

“Safetyandsecurityintheworkplaceareasharedcommitment.Workplaceinjuriesandillnessescause anenormousamountofphysical,financial andemotionalhardshipforworkers andtheirfamilies, andunderscoretheurgentneedforemployerstoprovidea safeworkplace for theiremployees,”saidDepartmentofLaborDeputySecretaryChrisLu.

“Today’s announcementdemonstratesarenewedcommitmentbyboththeDepartmentofLaborandthe Departmentof Justicetoutilizecriminalprosecutionas anenforcementtooltoprotectthehealth andsafetyofworkers.” Startinglastyear,theDepartmentsofJusticeandLaborbeganmeetingstoexploreajointeffort toincreasethefrequencyandeffectivenessofcriminalprosecutionsofworkerendangerment violations.Thisculminatedinadecisiontoconsolidatetheauthoritiestopursueworkersafety statutes withintheDepartment’sEnvironmentandNaturalResourceDivision’sEnvironmental CrimesSection.

Inina memosenttodaytoall93U.S.Attorneysacrossthecountry,Deputy AttorneyGeneralYatesurgedfederalprosecutorstoworkwiththeEnvironmentalCrimes Sectioninpursuingworkerendangermentviolations.The workersafetystatutesgenerally provideforonlymisdemeanorpenalties.However,prosecutorshavenowbeen encouragedto considerutilizingTitle18andenvironmentaloffenses,whichoften occurinconjunctionwith workersafetycrimes,toenhancepenaltiesandincreasedeterrence.

Statutesincludedinthis planaretheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAct(OSH Act),theMigrantandSeasonal AgriculturalWorkerProtectionAct,andtheMineSafetyandHealthAct(MINEAct). Inadditiontoprosecutingenvironmentalcrimes,theEnvironmentandNaturalResources Divisionhasalsobeen strengtheningitseffortstopursuecivilcasesthat involveworkersafety violationsunderstatutessuchastheCleanAirAct,CleanWaterAct, ResourceConservation andRecoveryAct, andtheToxicSubstancesControlAct. Violationsof anumberofprovisions underthesestatutescanhaveadirectimpactonworkerstaskedwithhandlingdangerous chemicalsandothermaterials,cleaningupspillsandrespondingtohazardousreleases.

Employer Responsibilities

Under the OSH law, employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace. This is a short summary of key employer responsibilities: Provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act. Make sure employees have and use safe tools and equipment and properly maintain this equipment.

Report to the nearest OSHA office all work-related fatalities within 8 hours, and all work-related inpatient hospitalizations, all amputations and all losses of an eye within 24 hours. Call our toll-free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742); TTY 1-877-889-5627. [Employers under federal OSHA's jurisdiction were required to begin reporting by Jan. 1, 2015. Establishments in a state with a state-run OSHA program should contact their state plan for the implementation date]. Keep records of work-related injuries and illnesses. (Note: Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers in certain low-hazard industries are exempt from this requirement.

Falls in Construction/Reroofing

More than 800 construction workers die every year while on the job. Falls are the number one

cause of fatalities in construction. Falls cause one of every three construction worker deaths.

These falls happen in a split second while workers are on roofs, scaffolds, ladders, bridges, and other work surfaces. But these deaths can be prevented. The video you are about to see shows how quickly falls at construction sites can lead to workers' deaths. The video will also show what employers must do so that the work can be done more safely.

Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace and required protective equipment. You'll see that using the right type of fall protection saves lives. Please be advised. The scenes you are about to see deal with deaths at construction sites and might be disturbing for some people. All scenes are based on true stories.

Two workers were reroofing a two-story home with a pitched roof. They were not wearing any personal fall protection. The workers used nail guns to install shingles over an old layer of shingles. One of the workers was close to the edge of the roof. As she reached to pick up another shingle, she lost her balance. She slipped off the edge of the roof. She fell more than 20 feet and landed on the driveway below. She died instantly from her injuries.

Let's look at the events leading up to this tragic incident, and see how it could have been prevented. Originally, the workers had no fall protection, which OSHA requires when working in residential construction at heights of 6 feet and above.

Let's look again at the workers installing shingles. Now, they are both wearing personal fall arrest systems. Each system has a full-body harness, a rope-grab lifeline, and connectors. Snaphooks connect each worker's rope-grab lifeline to secure roof anchors, which are located higher up on the roof. D-rings connect the workers' safety harnesses to their rope-grab lifelines. As before, the worker reaches over to pick up a shingle, loses her balance, slips, and falls. But now, because she is wearing a fall arrest system, she only slips 2 feet and doesn't fall off the roof.

This example shows the importance of following OSHA's fall protection standards. These types of construction deaths are preventable. The fall protection measures shown here save workers' lives. Use fall protection on the job: it could be the difference between life and death.

If you would like more information,contact OSHA at or 1-800-321-OSHA

Using ladders

  • Be sure straight ladders are long enough so that the side rails extend above the top support point, by at least 36 inches. Place the base of straight ladders out away from the wall or edge of the upper level about 1 foot for every 4 feet of vertical height. Don’t use ladders as a platform, runway or scaffold.
  • Tie in, block or otherwise secure the top of straight ladders to prevent them from shifting.
  • Always face the ladder and hold on with both hands when climbing up or down. Don’t try to carry tools or materials with you.
  • Don’t lean out to the side when you’re on a ladder. If something is out of reach, get down and move the ladder over.

Scaffolding Safety

  • Guardrails, midrails and toeboards must be installed on all open sides of scaffolds, 10 feet or more in height.
  • Falling object protection must be provided in areas where persons are required to work or pass under a scaffold.
  • Don’t stockpile materials on scaffolds. Remove all tools and leftover materials at the end of the day.
  • Use access ladders provided for each scaffold. Climbing off the end frames is prohibited.
  • Use personal fall protection equipment tied off to an anchorage point from a lanyard, lifeline and/or deceleration device, when working from floats, needle beam scaffolds, or suspended scaffolds.

Otherformsoffallprotectionsystems include:

GuardrailSystems–1926.502(b),SafetyNetSystems–1926.502(c), WarningLineSystems–1926.502(f),

ControlledAccessZones–1926.502(g),SafetyMonitorSystems–1926.502(h),and HoleCovers–1926.502(i).

What steps do we take to keep us working safely on roofs?

  • Use PFASs or other fall protection systems, as per the OSHA Fall Protection standard.
  • Train workers in hazard recognition and the OSHA Fall Protection standard to properly identify and understand the severity of fall hazards and certify through a written record.
  • Guard or secure covers over holes with materials of sufficient strength, and write “Hole” over the cover upon observing the fall hazard.
  • Provide and use safety monitor systems, warning line systems, or controlled access zones, in accord with the OSHA Fall Protection standard.

Personal fall arrest systemsWhen conducting roofing work, there are many ways to prevent fall hazards. If workers use a Personal Fall Arrest System (PF AS), the employer must provide a full body harness, lanyard and/or lifeline, for each worker, and an anchorage point independent of supporting any other platforms, but capable of supporting 5,000 lbs (22.2kN), per each attached worker. Make sure the PF AS fits the worker, and regularly inspect all fall protection equipment to ensure that it’s still in good condition. If workers do not routinely use their PF AS, they may neglect routine daily inspection of their equipment — and when required to use their PF AS, a component part may fail! Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and even experienced workers can be hurt and killed in falls. Regularly wear your PF AS, stay connected and tie-off to a proper anchorage point at the job site.

Safety monitorWorkers can use a safety monitor system in conjunction with a warning line system with a low slope roof (4:12 vertical to horizontal, or less), under 50 feet or less in width. The safety monitor must be a competent person and have no other duties that could interfere with their responsibility. They are required to work on the same level as the work being performed, and close enough to workers for direct monitoring (visual) and for verbal communication

Osha compliance assistance specialists : # 1-800-321-6742