OSHA 10-Hour Construction ReviewFocus Four HazardsHard
A worker is installing a new roof on a commercial building. The roof has a pitch of 7:12 (approximately 30 degrees) and is 25 feet above the ground. Which of the following fall protection methods is required for workers on this roof?
- AWarning line system only.
- BDesignated areas with safety monitors.
- CGuardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
- DSafety nets only.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
OSHA 1926.501(b)(10) specifies that for workers on roofs with a pitch greater than 4:12, guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems must be used. A 7:12 pitch is considered a steep roof, requiring active fall protection.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A warning line system alone is typically for low-slope roofs (4:12 or less) or when combined with other systems.
- B. Designated areas with safety monitors are generally for low-slope roofs (4:12 or less) and specific situations, not steep roofs as the primary method.
- D. Safety nets are an option, but not the only one permitted.
Steep Roof Fall Protection
For roofs with a pitch greater than 4:12, workers must use guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems.
- Pitch is rise over run (e.g., 4:12 means 4 inches of rise for every 12 inches of run).
- Steeper roofs increase fall hazards.
- Warning lines alone are insufficient for steep roofs.
Memory trick: Steep roofs demand the 'GNS' (Guardrail, Net, System) to prevent the fall's blast.