Osha; roof tied off fine ?

OSHA is enforcing the ROOF tied off code IN FLA., does anyone known anything about this, just heard about this today from a roofer and there is a $5.000 fine, IF YOUR ON THE ROOF AND NOT TIED OFF! ,THINKING ABOUT …ROOF INSP… 4 POINT INSP & HOME INSP. FEED BACK

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f2/osha-62418/index2.html#post802222

Self-Employed OSHA Requirements

OSHA does not apply to employers who do not have employees. Accordingly, a self-employed individual would not be required to comply with OSHA requirements. Because a self-employed individual does not have employees, the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration has no jurisdiction over the self-employed individual.

fL. HAS CHANGED THE RULES " ANY ONE ON THE ROOF AND BEING PAID MUST BE TIED OFF "

Another reason I’m glad I don’t live in Florida. :mrgreen:

Be careful with how you object to this.

While OSHA and Workman’s Comp rules are usually only enforced against “employees” and not self employed business owners … your lack of accountability can be used against you since it is the home owner, his insurance and his deductable that is at risk as you dance around on his roof. Even if you sign a release, he (along with his premium rate and coverage) can be at risk if you fall and get hurt or die.

Someone will certainly exploit this area, next, to create a need for special additional insurance as just ANOTHER way to increase the expense of a $79 Florida inspector.

Best keep it to yourself.

**What’s the big deal anyway? Buy a harness system, (doesn’t need to be fancy) tie yourself off, and be done with it. A few hundred bucks (that you write off) is cheap insurance for safety! Just do it! **

http://www.safetysaves.com/safety_wear/product.php?productid=172

roofing harness.jpg

Read this for clairification: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=19974

And here to show what is needed to tie off.
http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_protection.html

:slight_smile:

Too protect yourself from falls on a roof, there are two systems.

Fall Arrest Systems

Fall Restraint Systems

One will protect you from falling off the edge of the roof and the other will protect you on a fall off the roof.

The fall restraint will not work with only one tie point on the roof. Unless you use an ajustable restraint rope and change the length accordingly.

http://www.safetywarehouse.eu/components/com_virtuemart/show_image_in_imgtag.php?filename=resized%2FIKAR_Adjustable__4afa8916b6c32_130x130.jpg&newxsize=130&newysize=130&fileout=

Don’t sweat it. It does not apply to us. Read below…By the way guys, it’s OSHA (Federal). It should be applied to ALL states. :wink:

*Scope and application.*1926.500(a)(1)
This subpart sets forth requirements and criteria for fall protection in construction workplaces covered under 29 CFR part 1926. Exception: The provisions of this subpart do not apply when employees are making an inspection, investigation, or assessment of workplace conditions prior to the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed.

We (inspectors) in Florida are NOT considered to be a part of the constuction industry. This is as it should be as we do not involve ourselves with the construction, modification or estimation of repairs to properties we inspect.

Right on Brian, Inspectors do what they do and don’t fall under the jurisdiction of OSHA. Unless they are an employee, but I would stress that if you walk roofs, be on your guard, it can be treacherous for the ones that are not accustomed to working on roofs. Ladder safety is equal as important.
Never turn your back to a leading edge. :slight_smile:

A roof inspection is considered a construction related activity by OSHA. OSHA has Federal regulations for EVERYTHING related to employee safety in every work place.

There is several other OSHA exceptions to safety lines: for height, low slope, and duration…

Anyway you look at it, it’s appears that OSHA is not concerned about home inspectors wearing harness on any roof that we should consider safe to walk on.

Do you use this for HI?

No, because there is no place to tie off on a finished roof that is walkable.
The tie off point would also need to have a capacity of #5000. :slight_smile:

I’ve got 4 harnesses and brake-falls. I could never get my employees to use them when I did roofing and the ropes wind up being more of a hazard then a help.

Our company policy is that if you fall, you are fired. and if you hit the ground you are trespassing.

My insurance company does not allow us to walk on roofs. Seriously, we do roof inspections though. If we fall it is always from the ladder, because we do not go on the roof. :stuck_out_tongue:

Wow!!! What a coincidence that’s the only way we fall, if we ever do…:mrgreen:

I think a few home owners might not like me to drill holes in the roof to attach those anchors.