Fall Protection on an 8:12 Roof
A crew is replacing a roof on a two-story house with a 28-foot eave height. The roof is 8:12, and morning dew is still on the shingles. The foreman has two harnesses and lanyards but no roof anchors. Workers plan to 'carefully' walk the roof and use roof jacks with 2-by-10 planks as work platforms. The ladder is a 32-foot extension ladder set with its base 6 feet from the wall and not tied off. The homeowner does not want anchor points because they might 'void the shingle warranty.' A laborer will carry bundles up the ladder. There is no guardrail, safety monitor, or skylight cover; the roof has one skylight. OSHA construction fall protection applies at 6 feet, and the roof is steep enough that caution alone is not a fall-protection system.
1. Identify fall-protection and ladder violations and explain the hierarchy of controls.
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At 28 ft, fall protection is required at 6 ft. The harnesses are useless without anchors; roof jacks and planks are not guardrails. An 8:12 roof is steep, so a warning line or safety monitor alone is not enough; OSHA requires guardrail, safety net, or personal fall-arrest system. The ladder must be tied off, extend 3 ft above the eave, and be set at 4:1 (base about 7 ft for a 28-ft reach); 6 ft is close, but the unsecured ladder is a violation. The skylight must be covered or guarded. Hierarchy: eliminate work at height, use guardrails or scaffolds, then PFAS; training and a rescue plan are required.
2. Recommend a compliant fall-protection plan for the 8:12 roof, including anchors and ladder.
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Install permanent or temporary roof anchors at the ridge, rated for fall arrest, and seal penetrations. Use full-body harnesses, shock-absorbing lanyards, and a rescue plan; tie off before stepping onto the roof. For eave work, use a pump-jack scaffold or aerial lift instead of standing on roof jacks. Use roof jacks with planks only as a work platform with guardrails, not as fall protection. Tie the extension ladder at the top, extend 3 ft above the eave, and set the base at 4:1. Hoist bundles with a rope and pulley; keep workers off wet shingles. Train the crew and document the plan.
3. How should the foreman handle the homeowner's objection and the skylight?
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Explain that proper anchors are sealed and do not void the shingle warranty; manufacturer warranties exclude damage from improper installation, not anchors. If the homeowner still refuses, use an aerial lift or scaffold and do not put workers on the roof without protection. Put the safety decision in writing and be prepared to walk away. Cover the skylight with plywood or a guardrail rated for the load; mark it, and never use it as a step. The foreman has the authority and duty to stop work until the fall-protection plan is in place.