Fall Protection Requirements

My understanding is that you need either the "warning line and fall monitor" system or a full harness for each individual not both.

what about attaching the fall arrest to a crane with it jib just over the top of the roof.

you now have a fall arrest system indipendent of the building.

And Tell them not to fall or they will be dismissed

5 Guys require 5000lb each for fall protection. That's 25,000lb @ 150' from the edge of the building. Throw in a safety factor and your looking at a big !@#$% crane. I'm talking about replacing roof flashing. Small job. Five guys.

-A-

Don't know if this would meet your safety department criteria at a hard point. While working on roofs we run a good climbing rope across the peak. Anchoring both ends to the ground. Tied our safety lines into it. We use climbing gear. Not a retractable fall arrest system. Set our lines on to the anchor rope so that if you did slip it would never go over the edge. The safety line was connected to the anchor rope with a attachment that could slide on the anchor rope and lock into place. Allows you to work both sides of the roof. Enough slack on the anchor rope that it would not allow it to fall off at the peaks at both ends. This allows movement across the width of the roof. Each man has his own anchor rope. Our safety person stays on the ground to checks the anchors.

This is done for personal work. When a friend needs his roof re-shingled we get together and do it. One friend is a tree expert spends his days depending on the same equipment.

Thanks guys.

I just fired off an e-mail to the head of our Safety department.

We'll see what happens.

-A-

I already looked it up before I went to the end of the thread...

From OSHA 1926.501(b)(11):

"Roofing work on Low-slope roofs." Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each employee engaged in roofing activities on low-slope roofs, with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, or a combination of warning line system and guardrail system, warning line system and safety net system, or warning line system and personal fall arrest system, or warning line system and safety monitoring system. Or, on roofs 50-feet (15.25 m) or less in width (see Appendix A to subpart M of this part), the use of a safety monitoring system alone [i.e. without the warning line system] is permitted."

If this is the subsection in effect, it does appear warning lines and ground monitor is allowable without a fall arrest.

Your own safety department will most certainly be the last word... unless you feel that more stringent precautions than are dictated as minimum are in order.

You are absolutely right...you're going to lose this argument.

How high is that roof above the ground? And what is the cover? And the underground? Is it structurally safe? A 1:12 is not that steep to work on. Please elaborate.

Thanks guys. I managed a verbal approval of my plan. Now I have to try and get it in writing.

Thanks again for the input.

-A-