Roofing Law
OSHA Fall Protection Plan
Having an OSHA fall protection plan in place is an important component of running a successful roofing business. Your workers are an integral part of your livelihood so you should do everything in your power to make sure they are safe when performing work on the job. Besides, fall-related injuries and fatalities can have a major impact on employer finances, reputation, and levels of productivity and performance among other things.
Employer Responsibility
Employers are required by law to have a fall protection plan in place for work that is performed with drops over six feet and within 15 feet of a roof edge. Proper fall protection must be put in place to ensure roofers are safe when performing tasks in or on the following areas:
- Unprotected sides and edges
- Leading edges
- Hoist areas
- Holes
- Formwork and reinforcing steel
- Excavations
- Ramps
An extensive list of these requirements and more can be found on the OSHA website.
Communicating OSHA Roof Safety Standards
Safety communication matters. What are you doing to ensure workers know OSHA roof safety is a top priority? Some of the ways you can increase fall safety awareness are through a company newsletter, workplace signage, mandatory training sessions, routine safety checks, filling out incident reports, and creating a system for reporting hazards as they are discovered. Practicing safety communication can help increase employee engagement while covering yourself legally in case your company’s compliance with OSHA standards is ever called into question.
Guarding Against Hazards
Are you doing everything you can to protect roofers on every level? At times, roofs can be unstable for a variety of reasons. If workers are working on steep roofs, near dangerous machines above their heads, near holes, with ladders, or on along edges, you must guard them against a potential fall with fall protection equipment.
Securing the Right Equipment
Before a roofer even begins work, employers must be diligent about having safety systems in place that stop falls or lessens their impact. Industry safety standards require employers to provide safety tools such as safety net systems, guardrail systems, and personal fall arrest systems.
OSHA Defense
If you are an employer that is facing an OSHA citation due to an injury or death that has occurred on your jobsite, the lawyers of Cotney Construction Law are available to walk you through the citation process, the inspection process, and provide representation on your behalf should you need to contest any citation.
If you would like to speak with a roofing attorney, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.