Osha Required Roof Parapet Holddown

This is in response to your fax submitted on september 2 2003 to the occupational safety and health administration osha and as a follow up to a telephone conversation on september 22 2003.

Osha required roof parapet holddown.

1 every building constructed 3 stories or 36 feet or more in height shall have roof tie backs or other permanent devices installed at the roof level for the purpose of securing or tying back suspended scaffold hooks or clamps and safety lines. Midrails when used must be installed midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking working surface 29 cfr 1926 502 b 2 i. An exception to these measures is that the parapet must be at least 36 inches high and perpendicular to the direction of travel. The fall protection measures listed above are required for workers who operate felt laying machines or other equipment that is pulled backward no matter the potential fall height.

Fall protection requirements for construction workers doing work while on a roof. To meet osha requirements in the construction industry employers must provide workers with fall protection whenever they work at heights of six feet or more above a lower level 29 cfr 1926 501 b 1. If a parapet wall is a minimum of 30 high and the height plus the width of the wall is a least 48 then it was determined that the fall hazard was removed and this was a compliant method to protect construction employees. Intermediate structural members for example midrails or screens must be installed when there is no wall or parapet wall at least 21 inches high 29 cfr 1926 502 b 2.