protection equipment. Before work begins on a

roof, employers need to prepare the site to protect

workers from situations that could cause them to

fall.

Preventing Slip Hazards

Workers should avoid working on metal roofs

that are wet and slippery. If work must be 

performed in such conditions, have the worker

wear proper slip-resistant soles to reduce 

slipping hazards. 

Safeguarding skylights and openings: Every year,

workers die from falling through openings and

weak surfaces on roofs. Employers must protect

workers around skylights and roof openings by

using a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), covers

or guardrails. Covers, when used, must be

secured and clearly marked and must be able to

withstand twice the weight that may be imposed

on it at any one time (29 CFR 1926.502(i)).

Accessing the roof: Employers should ensure that

safe roof access and egress is established and

make sure that workers know how to get up and

down in a way that minimizes the risk of falling.

Extension ladders must extend at least 3 feet

above the roof level to ensure safe access to the

roof. Ladders must also be secured when they are

used in locations where they maybe displaced.

For full requirements on the safe use of ladders,

refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart X - Ladders.

Staging your materials: Loose material and handheld equipment can create tripping hazards on the

roof surface. To minimize exposure to fall hazards,

Workers Can Fall While Roofing

Roofers installing standing seam metal roofs risk

permanent injury or death from falls. Even experienced roofers are exposed to unpredictable fall

hazards caused by sudden gusts of wind, loose

roofing 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.

Installing Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Safely: Important Steps

Before beginning the job, focus on identifying fall

protection needs. Survey the roof to determine if

there are pre-installed anchorages available that

can be used. If not, then begin planning immediately to identify those systems needed to protect

workers from falls and have them in place before

the workers report to the job.

Preparing the Work Site

Safeguarding against hazards is as important 

to preventing fatal falls as having good fall 

FactSheet

Reducing Falls During Residential

Construction: Installing Standing 

Seam Metal Roofs

When workers install standing seam metal roofs they are at risk of falling. Using a 

personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is the most common way to control falls during 

residential construction. However, these systems are not the only way to protect 

workers. This fact sheet describes various steps that roofing contractors may be able 

to take before and during roofing jobs to keep workers from falling. 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.
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.

Performing Edgework

Roofers must work near the roof edge when

securing metal roof panels to the roofing deck.

Scaffolds, ladders, aerial lifts, and PFAS may be

able to provide workers with safe access to the

edge. 

Communicating Your Needs

The contractor who is building and sheathing the

roof structure will need fall protection equipment

for workers. At a pre-construction meeting or at

the first meeting on the work site, a roofer can ask

the building contractor to leave roof anchors or

other fall protection equipment in place after

sheathing is completed. 

Selecting the Right Equipment for 

the Job

Roofers must use fall protection equipment that

meets OSHA requirements whenever they work 6

feet or more above a lower level. Depending on

the tasks involved, where the work is taking place,

and other circumstances specific to standing

seam metal roofing, contractors can protect their

workers using the following equipment:

• Personal fall arrest systems;

• Guardrails; or

• Ladders.

Note: Fall protection requirements for residential

construction work performed on ladders are in

Subpart X, not in 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13).

Personal Fall Arrest System: A PFAS is one tool

available to workers during roofing 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.

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.

Fall Restraint: While fall restraint systems are not

mentioned in OSHA’s fall protection rules, OSHA

will accept a properly utilized fall restraint system

instead 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 a 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, as defined by 29 CFR 1926.32(m). 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.

Always follow the 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.

• Standing seam roof clamps: There are different

types of anchors available for standing seam

metal roofs. Employers need to ensure that the

type used is specifically designed for residential

roofing. Always follow the manufacturer’s

instructions for safe installation and use. These

clamps allow workers to securely anchor to 

the roof without damaging or penetrating the

finished roof. The clamps are removed once

work is complete and they can be reused, 

making them a practical option for anchorage

when installing or repairing standing seam

metal roofs.

Install an anchor above the area being built:

Choose an anchor that is appropriate for the

standing seam metal roof panels 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.

Roofing is not always the last step in the construction process. Skylight windows and solar panels

might be installed later during construction.

Workers installing those units will also need fall

protection anchors. 

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 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds. 

Written Fall Protection Plans

When working at heights of 6 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 site-specific 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 
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-3502 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

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.

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 OSHA-approved

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.