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Residential roofers are scrambling to find an affordable roof safety system that keeps them compliant and lets them get on with their work. Horizontal systems are a great choice because once in place, they allow a greater area to be covered in safety. The problem with using a single fixed point roof anchor is the danger of swing falls. Once a worker moves away from the vertical line from the anchor, any fall will include not only the vertical forces, but the slapping, whip-you-around …

Gloves used to be easier. There was generally only one size. They either fit, or they didn't. They either worked, or you didn't wear them. These days there are more choices, and it's a good thing because OSHA requires hand protection as part of safety standard 29 CFR 1910.138. The Bureau of Labor Statistics places injuries to the hands, wrists, and fingers as the second-highest of all workplace injuries behind falls with more than 100,000 annually. The challenge for employers and glove …

September 15th, 2012 is the date compliance with 29 federal OSHA regulations for residential builders will be required. Under 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13) any roofer or residential builder working in an area 6 ft. or more above lower levels must be protected by conventional fall protection. In the past, roofers were allowed to work under the 25 ft. ground to eave threshold. No longer. These federal requirements, as most professional residential workers have heard about by now, also prohibit s …

Not everyone can wear a half- or full-face respirator while working. There are several conditions spelled out in the OSHA standards where respirator masks either won't work, or put the wearer in danger. The most frequent impediment to having a mask fit and therefore work properly is facial hair. OSHA is very specific in the new (1998) guidelines. In section 29 CFR 1910.134(g), Use of Respirators, it states: "Facepiece seal protection. The employer shall not permit respirators with …

September 15, 2012 is the deadline for new mandatory residential roofers' fall protection safety standards that require a guard rail system, a safety net system or personal fall safety systems for workers. If you are a roofer and don't comply with the new laws, you could be hit with heavy fines. Residential builders working six or more feet above a lower level must meet these new OSHA standards for fall protection. If you are unsure about how to comply with these new regulations, OSH …

Several of our users have asked us about the compatibility of fall protection components between different manufacturers. OSHA, in their wisdom, writes thousands of words on the subject, but in a way that only an attorney would be able to understand. We'll try to distill the issue so that everyone gets it. No. Don't use a lanyard from one company and an anchorage or other device from another company. Unless you're absolutely sure they're compatible, and unless you're an engineer, it's t …

PK is excited to offer a 15% discount on the Roofer’s Fall Protection Kit by Protecta. Simply enter the coupon code ROOFER15 at checkout before March 6, 2012 and insure that you will have everything needed for a safe roofing adventure! Beyond the obvious health risks of working outside code, OSHA regulations for roofing are numerous and the penalties for violation are costly. Unless you spend your free time wading through government documents, it is possible that recalling all of the …

Chances are all of us have some level of exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is inexpensive to produce and has a wide range of uses from building materials such as paint or the glue used to bind plywood, particle board and paneling to the Brazilian Blowout, a hair-straitening product found to contain startlingly high concentrations of this dangerous compound. For those who work in industries where formaldehyde is used regularly the dangers are quite serious. Even light contact wit …

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would like your gas detectors calibrated before each use. A full calibration for a 4-gas monitor requires about $6.60 worth of calibration gas, and takes about 5 minutes. This should be all the answer anyone needs, but in practice if your company has 500 monitors, it isn’t always practical and OSHA and ANSI know it. In text attempting to clarify the issue, the two regulatory agencies submit that it is best to follow the manufactur …

When working with dangerous chemicals, it is extremely important to have the right safety equipment. Many chemical products are available that have hidden problems. Here is a question I recently got from a customer working with dangerous vapors: What Paint Respirator should I use when spraying Urethane Paint? The information sheet I received about it says to use a NIOSH-approved activated Charcoal cartridge respirator. I would like to use a half mask if possible. You ask a …