CSLB General Building (B)SafetyMedium
A general building contractor is supervising a crew working on a roof with a slope of 7:12. The eave height is 22 feet. According to Cal/OSHA regulations, what is the minimum fall protection requirement for employees performing roofing work on this structure?
- ASafety nets must be installed no more than 20 feet below the working surface.
- BA fall protection plan is required, and employees must use personal fall arrest systems or guardrails.
- CNo fall protection is required as the slope is less than 8:12.
- DWarning lines are sufficient, provided they are erected 10 feet from the edge.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. A fall protection plan is required, and employees must use personal fall arrest systems or guardrails.
Cal/OSHA requires fall protection for roofing work when the fall distance exceeds 7.5 feet or the roof slope is greater than 4:12. Given the eave height and slope, personal fall arrest systems or guardrails are mandatory, along with a fall protection plan.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Safety nets are an acceptable form of fall protection, but the specific requirement for this scenario is broader, including personal fall arrest systems or guardrails.
- C. This statement is incorrect; a slope of 7:12 is steeper than 4:12, and the fall distance exceeds 7.5 feet, thus requiring fall protection.
- D. Warning lines alone are generally not sufficient for slopes greater than 4:12 or fall distances exceeding 7.5 feet; they are typically used in conjunction with other systems or for low-slope roofs under specific conditions.
Cal/OSHA Roofing Fall Protection
Cal/OSHA requires fall protection for employees on roofs with a fall distance of more than 7.5 feet or a slope greater than 4:12.
- Fall distance > 7.5 feet requires protection.
- Roof slope > 4:12 requires protection.
- Acceptable methods include guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.
Memory trick: Roofers need to 'See-7.5-Slope-4' to stay safe.