re: Question for those in construction. Is it against regulations for a roofer

It is 6' not 5'

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We usually use tall road cones or temporary poles about waist height and then string a string with flags (think old school used car lot decor) between the cones.

The "rope" isn't meant to catch people from falling. It's meant to alert them that they are close to the edge.

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Yeah I've seen them done like that before on the air force base but other than that, I haven't seen any residential homes have this set up.

But it is nice to have that rope alert feature so when you are falling down the roof, you know when shite is about to get reel.

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It is against OSHA's regulations; however, a lot of companies are free from OSHA penalties because they have less than 10 employees, therefore they fall outside OSHA's jurisdiction.

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Again not true. The only complete exemption fro OSHA is a small farm with 10 or fewer employees. Other companies with under 10 are exempt from keeping Injury and Illness logs and OSHA cannot come do a safety or health inspection. However you are not exempt from anything else. If there is a complaint or they see you in violation you can and will be cited.

They enforce industrial and commercial however very little in residential. They have an office on Bluebonnet if you need more information. In almost 40 years I have paid 2 small citations and both were inspectors driving past a building going to lunch.

And one that cost $2500 was a guy standing on the top step of a six foot ladder. The other was missing 6 plastic rebar caps on a foundation with over 200 caps installed. That was about $1800.

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If you are working on a house on an 8' ladder you are required to have fall protection.

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This is false. Working from a ladder does not require fall protection unless you are working in an area where the ladder puts you above current fall protection measures such as guardrails. Broad area but, PFAS are not required on ladders at all times.

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It is against OSHA's regulations; however, a lot of companies are free from OSHA penalties because they have less than 10 employees, therefore they fall outside OSHA's jurisdiction.

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Definitely false. This makes you partially exempt from recording incidents and injuries, it does not exempt you from following OSHA standards.

To answer OP question: Based on your scenario the roofers should be using PFAS if on any roof other than a low sloped roof. Low sloped is 4:12 or less.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13),
workers engaged in residential construction six (6) feet or more above
lower levels generally must be protected by conventional fall
protection (i.e., guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal
fall arrest systems). However, if an employer can demonstrate that such
fall protection is infeasible or presents a greater hazard, it may
implement a written fall protection plan meeting the requirements of
Sec. 1926.502(k)

LINK

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), workers engaged in residential construction six (6) feet or more above lower levels generally must be protected by conventional fall protection (i.e., guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems). However, if an employer can demonstrate that such fall protection is infeasible or presents a greater hazard, it may implement a written fall protection plan meeting the requirements of Sec. 1926.502(k) LINK

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This is the way the standard reads but there are several interpretations. See below. I deal primarily with commercial and industrial contractors but would challenge most residential contractors to show me their attachment points that will support 5000lbs.

Portable ladders: fall protection is not required for employees climbing or working on portable ladders.
Neither the ladder standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart X) nor the fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, subpart M) requires fall protection for workers while working on portable ladders.

LINK