the truss sections are on the ground. The truss

sections can then be hoisted into place. Peak

anchors and lifelines can be pre-installed before

the sections are lifted onto the frame. Scaffolds,

ladders and lifts can provide workers stable walking/working platforms to stand on to secure the

pre-fabricated truss section to the building frame.

When installing roof sheathing in elevated 

locations, employers should be aware that roof

structures generally are unstable until they are

properly braced according to industry standards

or some sheathing is in place. If conventional fall

protection cannot be used due to unstable 

conditions, employers should consider using 

ladders, scaffolds or aerial lifts until the first row

of sheathing has been installed and until a 

qualified person, as defined by 29 CFR 1926.32(m),

determines that the roof can be used as an

anchorage point for a personal fall arrest system.

A qualified person can be the owner, the 

supervisor, or any other worker who has 

extensive knowledge, training and experience

with fall protection and is able to solve problems

relating to fall protection.

Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS): A PFAS is a

tool available to workers during roof sheathing

jobs. In fact, a PFAS is the system of choice for

many workers at heights. However, a breakdown

in any component of a PFAS could be disastrous

for a worker. Always follow the manufacturer’s

instructions on selecting, installing and using

PFAS components correctly.

Risks While Installing Roof Sheathing

Workers installing roof sheathing risk permanent

injury or death from falls. Even experienced 

workers are exposed to unpredictable fall hazards

caused by uneven sheathing, sudden gusts of

wind, loose materials, and surfaces that become

slick when wet. Taking appropriate fall protection

measures reduces risks and saves lives.

The employer must provide a training program

for each worker who might be exposed to fall 

hazards. The program must enable each worker 

to recognize the hazards of falling and train each

worker in the procedures to follow to minimize

these hazards. For fall protection training requirements, refer to 29 CFR 1926.503. In all cases,

employers must evaluate the hazards and take

measures to reduce the risk of falls. 

More than one-third of fall deaths in residential

construction are caused by falls from roofs.

Roof Sheathing Safely: Important Steps

Pre-planning for the use of fall protection 

equipment can help employers protect workers

from falls. Before beginning the job, focus on

identifying fall protection needs. Plan ahead and

identify those systems needed to protect workers

from falls and have them available before 

sheathing begins.

Reducing Risks

Workers’ risk of falling can be greatly reduced if

sheathing is installed onto truss sections while 

FactSheet

Reducing Falls During Residential

Construction: Roof Sheathing

After a roof has been framed, workers can begin installing roof sheathing. Because this

work often occurs at great heights, it involves serious fall hazards. This risk makes it

important that fall protection systems be used properly during these activities. This

fact sheet highlights some of the hazards associated with installing roof sheathing 

and lists some practical methods that employers may be able to use to protect workers. The fall protection methods in this fact sheet may not be suitable in all situations.

Employers are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable OSHA requirements.
Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS)

A PFAS is designed to safely stop a fall before

the worker strikes a lower level. It includes three

major components: 

A. An anchorage to which the other components

of the PFAS are rigged.

B. A full body harness worn by the worker.

C. A connector, such as a lanyard or lifeline, linking the harness to the anchorage. A rip-stitch

lanyard, or deceleration device, is typically a

part of the system. 

For more information on the requirements for a

PFAS, refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(d).

Remember that workers must use full-body 

harnesses in fall arrest systems. Body belts can

cause serious injury during a fall, and OSHA 

prohibits their use as part of fall arrest systems.

Numerous employers have found that for most

roofs, a PFAS can be used once the proper bracing and/or an appropriate amount of sheathing

has been established. Anchor points established

during truss erection can prove useful during roof

sheathing. When placing sheathing on trusses,

workers should keep sheathing in front of them 

as a barrier to protect themselves from falling

between truss openings. Once in place, the

sheathing can be tacked and nailed down to 

prevent movement and reduce fall exposures 

to the inside of the building. 

Fall Restraint: While fall restraint systems are not

mentioned in OSHA’s fall protection rules, OSHA

will accept a properly utilized fall restraint system

in lieu of a personal fall arrest system when the

restraint system is rigged so that the worker cannot get to the fall hazard. In effect, (if properly

used) the system tethers a worker in a manner

that will not allow a fall of any distance. A fall

restraint system is comprised of a body belt or

body harness, an anchorage, connectors, and

other necessary equipment. Other components

typically include a lanyard, and may also include a

lifeline and other devices.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions or

consult a qualified person to ensure proper installation of anchor points. Fall restraint may be a

viable way to provide fall protection in situations

in which the employer has concerns about the

adequacy of available anchorage points for fall

arrest equipment. 

Attaching Anchors

OSHA requires that anchors for PFAS be able to

hold at least 5,000 pounds of weight per person,

or maintain a safety factor of at least two (twice

the impact load) under the supervision of a 

qualified person. Always follow the anchor 

manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified

person when installing anchors to ensure they are

strong enough to hold the sudden weight of a

falling worker. OSHA believes that anchorages

available on the market will meet the strength

requirements if they are installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions, with the right number of

properly sized nails or screws through the roof

sheathing and into one or more roof trusses.

When choosing an anchor to use for fall protection, employers have a number of options; 

for example,

• Peak anchor: At the top of the roof, peak

anchors are typically solid, non-moving pieces

secured to the trusses underneath. 

• Permanent D-rings: Inexpensive D-ring anchors

are attached to the truss frame; they can be left

permanently on the roof for future use.

Spreader: Employers may be able to use 

engineered spreaders as anchor points. When

installed in accord with the manufacturer’s
instructions, these devices distribute the force of a

PFAS across multiple trusses. The roof trusses do

not need to be sheathed to use a spreader. These

engineered anchorage devices are reusable and

can be uninstalled and reinstalled quickly. A 

qualified person should decide if the spreader is

suitable for use as an anchor.

Install an anchor above the area being built:

Choose an anchor that is appropriate for the type

of roof and anchor location. Depending on the

roof design, the best location might be at the peak

of the roof, directly over a truss.

Consider leaving anchors in place: Where practical, employers may consider leaving anchors in

place. This can make the current job simpler and

reduce the burden for roofers in the future.

Scaffolding: Workers installing

roof sheathing may be able to

use scaffold systems. Bracket 

scaffolding systems, including

top-plate scaffolding systems,

can provide workers with stable 

work platforms. Workers may be

able to install the bottom row of

roof sheathing while they are

standing on these scaffold 

systems and leaning over the

sheathing. Always follow the manufacturer’s

instructions or consult a qualified person to

ensure proper scaffold assembly and use. For

requirements on scaffolds, refer to 29 CFR 1926

Subpart L - Scaffolds.

Ladders (A-frame and platform): If the floor below

has been established, A-frame and platform 

ladders can provide stable work platforms for

workers who are installing the first row of 

sheathing on a roof. Always ensure that a ladder

has good footing before mounting it. Consult 29

CFR 1926 Subpart X, Ladders for ladder safety

requirements. 

Safety net systems: In some situations, safety nets

can be placed underneath unsheathed trusses to

prevent workers from falling between the trusses

to the level below. Safety nets must be installed to

prevent contact with the surface or structures

below them. For requirements for safety nets,

refer to 29 CFR 1926.502(c)-Safety Net Systems.

Staging Material

Loose material and hand-held equipment can 

create tripping hazards on the roof surface. To

minimize exposure to fall hazards, employers can

stage materials so that workers on the roof have

quick and safe access to them. While handling

material on the roof, the worker should hold the

material on the side of his or her body that faces

the down-sloped edge to prevent being struck by

the materials if they are dropped. Material can

also be staged so it cannot slide off the roof edge

and potentially strike a worker on the ground.

Slide guards can help to keep material from 

sliding off the roof. Establishing a restricted area

around the perimeter of the project can also keep

workers out of the danger zone where debris,

tools or materials may fall to the ground. The area

should be posted with signs that warn of the

potential hazard.

Other considerations: Some employers have

found success in eliminating fall hazards by using

scaffolds and aerial lifts when site conditions 

permit their use. Fall protection requirements 

performed on scaffolds and aerial lifts can be

found in Subpart L – Scaffolds.

Written Fall Protection Plans

When working at heights of six feet or greater, if

the employer does not use ladders, scaffolds, 

aerial lifts or fall restraint systems and can 

demonstrate that it is not feasible or would 

create a greater hazard to use conventional fall

protection equipment (guardrails, safety nets or

PFAS), the employer must develop a written sitespecific fall protection plan in accord with 29 CFR

1926.502(k). The plan must be prepared by a 

qualified person. This person could be the owner,

the supervisor, or any other worker who has

extensive knowledge, training and experience 

with fall protection and is able to solve problems

relating to fall protection. 

The site-specific fall protection plan must 

document, for each location, why the use of 

conventional fall protection equipment is not 

feasible or will create a greater hazard. The plan

must also describe the alternative methods that

the employer will use so that workers are protected from falls. Workers and their supervisors must

be trained on the proper use of those other fall

protection methods. 

Conventional fall protection equipment can reduce

or eliminate the chances of a fatal fall. Otherwise,

a written site-specific fall protection plan ensures

that protection continues, even when conventional

fall protection methods are determined to not be

feasible.
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

DOC FS-3501 1/2012

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA (6742)

For assistance, contact us. We can help. It’s confidential.

Occupational

Safety and Health

Administration

OSHA Standard: 

29 CFR 1926 Subpart M – Fall Protection 

Available online at

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_

document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10922.

OSHA Residential Fall Protection Web Page:

www.osha.gov/doc/topics/residentialprotection/

index.html.

OSHA Compliance Guidance:

Compliance Guidance for Residential 

Construction – STD 03-11-002 (dated 12/16/2010)

Available online at

www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_

document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=4755.

State Plan Guidance: States with OSHAapproved state plans may have additional

requirements for Residential Roofing. For more

information on these requirements, please visit:

www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/statestandards.html. 

Help for Employers: OSHA’s On-site Consultation

Program offers free and confidential advice to

small and medium-sized businesses in all states

across the country, with priority given to highhazard worksites. On-site Consultation services

are separate from enforcement and do not result

in penalties or citations. Consultants from state

agencies or universities work with employers to

identify workplace hazards, provide advice on

compliance with OSHA standards and assist in

establishing injury and illness prevention 

programs. To locate the OSHA Consultation

Program nearest you, call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742)

or visit www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/

index.html.

Almost every OSHA area office has a Compliance

Assistance Specialist to assist employers in 

complying with OSHA standards. To find the

Compliance Assistance Specialist nearest you,

call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit:

www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html.