A: Technically under
OSHA’s regulations and interpretations it could be. However, you need to
ensure that your safety monitor is not preforming any other job tasks or even
talking on the cell phone. It is also important that there is no other
means of fall protection that can be used. If it is possible use a guardrail
system, safety net, or personal fall arrest system. Please see
OSHA’s regulation and interpretation for more information.
Lancaster Safety Consulting, Inc. provides OSHA compliance services for General Industry and Construction. A valuable part of our service is that our clients can call or email us with any safety questions they may have. LSCI's safety blog is intended to help others by providing answers to safety questions that we've been asked. Visit our website for more information about our services: www.lancastersafety.com
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Fall Protection
Q: When working on a low-slope
roof that is less than 50 feet wide is a safety monitoring system alone
permitted without any other means of fall protection or warning line system?
1926.501(b)(10)
"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.
