Roofing

Falls are the leading cause of roofing injuries and fatalities. Employees who do roofing, siding, and sheet metal work have the highest rate of occupational injuries and illnesses for a non-manufacturing industry.

The angle, slope, or pitch of a roof is calculated by the number of inches it rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally. For example, a roof that rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run has a 6-in-12 pitch.

Roofing Work on Low-Slope Roofs

A low-slope roof has a slope less than or equal to 4 in 12 (vertical to horizontal). When working on a low-slope roof that has one or more unprotected sides or edges 6 feet or more above lower levels, workers must be protected from falling by one of the following:

• Guardrail systems
• Safety net systems
• Personal fall arrest systems
• A combination of conventional fall protection systems and warning line systems
• A warning line system and a safety monitoring system (reviewed later in the course)

When working on low-slope roofs 50 feet or less in width, the use of a safety monitoring system without a warning line system is permitted.

Working on Steep Roofs

A steep roof has a slope greater than 4 in 12. When working on a steep roof that has one or more unprotected sides or edges 6 feet or more above lower levels, each worker must be protected by one of the following:

• Guardrail systems with toeboards
• Safety net systems
• Personal fall arrest systems

To learn more about Fall Protection visit our Construction Fall Protection Online Training web page.