Osha Regulations Roof Access

Osha considers it a working area.

Osha regulations roof access.

Side rails of through or side step fixed ladders must extend 42 inches 1 1 m above the top level or landing platform served by the ladder. The osha general industry standards exclude construction as well as agriculture and marine industries which also have their own standards but both standards can sometimes apply to the same. This means that the building owner needs to work with their maintenance staff to develop a safe work plan for any work on the roof. How far the d ring shifts and the harness stretches when it supports the full weight of a fallen worker including the weight of tool belts and other attached equipment or tools.

Osha safety standards especially for roof fall protection can be a source of confusion for many industrial companies. Conversely they can leave it up to individual contractors to provide safe access to the roof during maintenance activities. Osha has set forth regulations codifying the steps building owners must take to protect roof openings including roof hatches. These standards are flexible providing multiple options for maintaining compliance.

Parapet ladders must have an access level at the roof if the parapet is cut to permit passage through it. Osha requires that this distance be no greater than 3 5 feet 29 cfr 1926 502 d 16 iv but it may be less for some pfas equipment. If the parapet is continuous the access level is the top of the parapet.