Safety and Codes
Safety and Codes tests fall protection, ladder and roof access, jobsite hazards, and Minnesota code requirements that affect roofing. Expect practical scenarios set on a residential roof, plus permit and inspection questions.
Fall protection
- MNOSHA follows the federal construction fall-protection rule: employees exposed to a fall of 6 feet or more need guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall-arrest systems.
- A personal fall-arrest system needs a proper anchor, harness, lanyard, and rescue plan; roof brackets or slide guards alone are not fall arrest.
- Set ladders at about a 1:4 angle, extend them 3 feet above the landing, and secure them. Do not stand on the top two rungs.
- Keep walkways clear, control nail-gun discharge, and use eye protection when cutting or nailing.
Code and permits
- Most jurisdictions require a permit for re-roofing; inspections may cover deck condition, ice barrier, underlayment, flashing, and ventilation.
- Maintain ice-dam protection at eaves, attic ventilation, and proper flashing at walls, chimneys, and skylights.
- Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions; code minimums do not override stricter listing requirements.
Worked example
A crew is installing shingles on a 7:12 roof with a 20-foot eave. No guardrail or fall-arrest system is in place. Because workers are exposed above 6 feet, MNOSHA can cite the employer. The fix is a written fall-protection plan, anchor points rated for the load, harnesses, training, and rescue arrangements-not a warning line alone.
Traps
Believing residential roofing is exempt from fall protection; using roof jacks as fall arrest; skipping the permit because the job is “just a re-roof”; covering soffit or ridge vents; flashing a chimney with sealant instead of proper counterflashing.