Re-roofing exposes workers to the hazards of demolition work at heights. With proper fall protection, the risk of serious falls can be substantially reduced. Read on to discover some of the hazards workers encounter during re-roofing and some practical methods employers can use to protect workers who replace roofs.

Risks While Re-roofing

Workers replacing roofs risk permanent injury or death from falls while they demolish old roofs and install new roofing material (for example, shingles, tiles, or slate). Even experienced roofers are exposed to unpredictable fall hazards caused by uneven sheathing, sudden gusts of wind, loose roofing materials, and surfaces that become slick when wet. Taking appropriate fall protection measures reduces risks and saves lives.

Employers must provide a training program for each worker exposed to fall hazards. The program must enable workers to recognize the hazards of falling and must train each worker in the procedures to follow to minimize these hazards. For fall protection training requirements, refer to 29 CFR 1926.503. In all cases, employers must evaluate the hazards and take measures to reduce the risk of falls.

Reducing Risks

Before beginning the job, focus on identifying fall protection needs. Survey the roof to determine whether there are pre-installed anchorages available that can be used. If not, then identify the systems needed to protect workers from falls and have them in place before the workers report to the job

Determining Structural Integrity

Many workers have been injured when the roofs they were working on collapsed under them. Employers must determine the structural integrity of the roof and take all necessary precautions to protect the workers before the job begins (29 CFR 1926.501(a)(2)). If workers notice signs of structural deterioration—such as dry rot)—a competent person should evaluate the area.

Other considerations include the following:

· Guard against falls through skylights or other roof openings. Use a guardrail system, a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), or a protective cover that will support two times the weight that may be imposed on it at any one time. For additional information on protecting workers around skylights and other roof openings, refer to 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(4) and 29 CFR 1926.502(i).

· Appropriate footwear is important personal protective equipment on any construction site, but it is critical during roof demolition. A nail or shingle-removal tool injury can cause a worker to lose balance and fall.

More than one-third of fall deaths in residential construction are caused by falls from roofs.

Workers should be careful of air hoses and power cords for nail guns and other electrical equipment. If a worker steps on one, hoses and cords can slip underfoot and lead to falls.

Staging Materials

Loose material and hand-held equipment can create tripping hazards on the roof surface. To minimize exposure to fall hazards, employers can stage materials so that workers on the roof have quick, safe access to them. While handling material on the roof, the worker should hold the material on the side of his or her body that faces the down-sloped edge to avoid being struck by the materials if they are dropped. Material can also be staged so it cannot slide off the roof edge and potentially strike workers on the ground.

Slide guards can help to keep material from sliding off the roof. Establishing a restricted area around the perimeter of the project can also keep workers out of the danger zone where debris, tools, or materials may fall to the ground. The site should be posted with signs that warn of the potential hazard.

During the demolition phase, protect workers on the ground from falling debris by controlling how debris leaves the roof. Consider using an all-terrain forklift to elevate a disposal box to the roof level. This method makes cleaning up after the job particularly easy.

Using the Right Equipment

Employers must provide fall protection equipment that meets OSHA requirements whenever roofers work 6 feet or more above a lower level. There are fall protection systems available that can provide roofers the flexibility they need during demolition and roof installation. Some are more efficient than others because, in many cases, the employer can use the same system for both processes. Each phase of roof replacement has different challenges, but the risk of falling remains constant. Contractors may be able to protect their workers using the following equipment:

PFAS: A PFAS is a tool available to roofers during replacement jobs, and is the system of choice for many roofers. However, a breakdown in any component of a PFAS could be disastrous for a worker.

The system includes three major components:

1. An anchorage to which the other components of the PFAS are rigged

2. A full-body harness worn by the worker

3. A connector, such as a lanyard or a lifeline, links the harness to the anchorage. A rip-stitch lanyard, or deceleration device, is typically a part of the system.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on selecting, installing, and using PFAS components correctly. Some PFASs include special elevated anchor assemblies that permit the system to protect workers even when they stand near the anchor locations. Certain anchorage assemblies rotate or offer extension arms to improve mobility and prevent lifelines from contacting the roof surface. This is particularly useful during roof demolition when a line could catch on a nail or debris.

For more information on the requirements for a PFAS, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(d).

Remember that workers must use full-body harnesses in fall arrest systems. Body belts can cause serious injury during a fall, and OSHA prohibits their use as part of fall arrest systems.

An engineered horizontal lifeline system, when used as part of a PFAS, is another way to increase the area in which a worker is protected. Install the system following the manufacturer’s instructions and under the supervision of a qualified person. Horizontal lifelines must be designed to maintain a safety factor of at least two (twice the impact load). For requirements for horizontal lifelines, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(8).

Instead of attaching themselves to a fixed anchor, workers may be able to use adjustable rope grabs, another available component of a PFAS. This inexpensive and very popular system is the fall protection system of choice for many roofers. Rope grabs allow workers to adjust the length of the lifeline and can be helpful when workers are moving about the roof frequently.

The anchored ropes can be as long as necessary, making this form of fall protection highly versatile. Roofers who use rope grabs need to constantly take up the slack out of the line. Too much slack could allow a worker to free fall more than 6 feet off the roof if he or she slips. Training and monitoring are critical for the safe use of rope grabs.

Fall Restraints: While fall restraint systems are not mentioned in OSHA’s fall protection rules, OSHA will accept a properly utilized fall restraint system in lieu of a personal fall arrest system when the restraint system is rigged so that the worker cannot get to the fall hazard. In effect, if properly used, the system tethers a worker in a manner that will not allow a fall of any distance. A fall restraint system is comprised of a body belt or body harness, an anchorage, connectors, and other necessary equipment. Other components typically include a lanyard, and may also include a lifeline and other devices.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions or consult a qualified person to ensure the proper installation of anchor points. Fall restraint may be a viable way to provide fall protection in situations in which the employer has concerns about the adequacy of available anchorage points for fall arrest equipment.

Removable guardrail systems can offer roofers effective protection when installed around the roof perimeter. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified person, as defined by 29 CFR 1926.32(m), for proper guardrail installation. This person could be the owner, the supervisor, or any other worker who has extensive knowledge, training, and experience with fall protection and is able to solve problems relating to fall protection. For requirements for guardrails, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(b)—Guardrail Systems.

Some employers have found success in eliminating fall hazards by using scaffolds and aerial lifts when site conditions permit their use. Fall protection requirements for scaffolds and aerial lifts can be found in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L—Scaffolds.

Attaching Anchors: OSHA requires that anchors for PFASs be able to hold at least 5,000 pounds of weight per person or maintain a safety factor of at least two (twice the impact load) under the supervision of a qualified person. Always follow the anchor manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified person when installing anchors to ensure they are strong enough to hold the sudden weight of a falling worker. OSHA believes that anchorages available on the market will meet the strength requirements if they are installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, with the right number of properly sized nails or screws through the roof sheathing and into one or more roof trusses.

When choosing an anchor to use for fall protection, employers have a number of options:

· Peak anchor: At the top of the roof, peak anchors are typically solid, non-moving pieces secured to the trusses underneath.

· Permanent D-rings: Inexpensive D-ring anchors are attached to the truss frame. They can be left permanently on the roof for future use.

Choose an anchor that is appropriate for the type of roof and anchor location. Depending on the roof design, the best location might be at the peak of the roof, directly over a truss.

Where practical, employers may consider leaving anchors in place. This can make the current job simpler and reduce the burden for roofers in the future.

Written Fall Protection Plans

When working at heights of 6 feet or greater, if the employer does not use ladders, scaffolds, aerial lifts, or fall restraint systems and can demonstrate that it is not feasible or would create a greater hazard to use conventional fall protection equipment (e.g., guardrails, safety nets or PFAS), the employer must develop a written site-specific fall protection plan in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.502(k). The plan must be prepared by a qualified person. This person could be the owner, the supervisor, or any other worker who has extensive knowledge, training, and experience with fall protection and is able to solve problems relating to fall protection.

The site-specific fall protection plan must document, for each location, why the use of conventional fall protection equipment is not feasible or will create a greater hazard. The plan must also describe the alternative methods that the employer will use so that workers are protected from falls. Workers and their supervisors must be trained on the proper use of these other fall protection methods.

Conventional fall protection equipment can reduce or eliminate the chances of a fatal fall. Otherwise, a written site-specific fall protection plan ensures that protection continues, even when conventional fall protection methods are determined to be unfeasible.

There are many homes and commercial projects going on in Chattanooga these days. Please give us a call to make sure you're covered. Protect your project, workers, your wallet, and your company by contacting RISE Insurance at 423-541-1111 or chad@riseins.com to discuss builders’ risk or worker’s compensation insurance today.