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 for fall arrest systems, workers

must use full-body harnesses. Body belts can

cause serious injury during a fall and so OSHA

prohibits their use as part of fall arrest systems.

requirements beyond OSHA requirements.

Depending on the tasks involved, where the work

is taking place, and other circumstances specific

to tile roofing, contractors may be able to protect

Workers Can Fall While Tiling Roofs

Roofers installing tiles risk permanent injury or

death from falls. Even experienced roofers are

exposed to unpredictable fall hazards caused by

uneven sheathing, sudden gusts of wind, loose

roofing materials, and surfaces that become slick

when wet. Taking appropriate fall protection

measures can reduce these risks and save lives.

The employer shall provide a training program 

for each worker who might be exposed to fall 

hazards. The program shall enable each worker 

to recognize the hazards of falling and shall train

each worker in the procedures to be followed 

in order to minimize these hazards. For fall 

protection training requirements, refer to 29 CFR

1926.503. 

Tiling 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 available before

the workers report to the job. 

Communicating Your Needs

The contractor that is building and sheathing the

roof structure will need fall protection equipment

for workers performing these jobs. At a preconstruction meeting, or at the first meeting on

the work site, ask the building contractor to leave

roof anchors or other fall protection equipment in

place after sheathing is completed. 

Using the Right Equipment 

Roofers must use fall protection equipment that

meets OSHA requirements whenever they work 

6 feet or more above a lower level. States with

OSHA-approved State Plans may have additional 

FactSheet

Reducing Falls During Residential

Construction: Installing Tile Roofs

When workers install tile roofs they are at risk of falling. Using personal fall arrest 

systems (PFAS) is the most common way to control falls during residential 

construction. These systems are not the only way to protect a worker and there 

are other options. This fact sheet describes various steps that roofing contractors 

can take before and during roofing jobs to keep workers from falling.
their workers using the following equipment:

• Scaffolds

• Aerial lifts

• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

• Guardrails

Preparing the Work Site

Safeguarding against hazards is as important 

to preventing fatal falls as having good fall 

protection equipment. When work begins on a

roof, employers must prepare the site by 

protecting workers from situations that could

cause them to fall.

Wet or windy weather

Roofing should only be performed when 

weather permits. Wind and rain put workers at

a greater risk for falling. In damp or windy

weather, put work on hold until conditions

improve.

Skylights and openings: Every year, workers die

from falling through openings and weak surfaces

on roofs. Employers must protect employees

working around skylights and roof openings with

covers, PFAS or guardrails.

Accessing the roof: Safe roof access is as important as having effective fall protection while on

the roof. Employers must provide safe access and

make sure that workers know how to get up and

down from a roof in a way that minimizes the risk

of falling. Extension ladders must extend at least

three (3) feet above the roof level to ensure safe

access to the roof. For other requirements on the

safe use of ladders, refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart

X – Stairways and Ladders.

Stage your materials: Preventing falls is as much

about reducing the risks around workers as it is

about having the right fall protection equipment.

Be sure to put all working materials in safe spots.

Loose tiles and hand-held equipment create tripping hazards on the roof surface. Workers can fall

after tripping or slipping on something they did

not see. While walking on the roof and carrying

materials, the worker should keep the materials

on the down-sloped edge to prevent the materials

from falling into the worker if the materials are

dropped.

Performing Edgework

When installing the first rows of tile near the roof

edge, workers have several fall protection options.

In addition to a PFAS, scaffolds and aerial lifts can

provide safe access to the edge.

Scaffolds: When properly constructed and used,

external scaffolds can provide suitable protection

for roof repairs along the edge of the roof. Pumpjack scaffolds offer a secure platform from which

to work and can be raised and lowered for specific

tasks, such as working from underneath the

eaves. Guardrails along the scaffold will provide

fall protection. For other requirements for scaffolds, refer to 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds. 

Aerial lifts: A portable boom lift can allow roofers

easy access to the leading edge of the roof. The

adjustable angle is useful for working on roofs of

all grades. It offers an easy place for workers to tie

off their lifelines and to work from within the basket. Care must be taken when loading material.

Do not overload the lift. For other requirements

for lift, refer to 29 CFR 1926.453 – Aerial Lifts.

Anchorage

When working in an area where a scaffold or 

aerial lift is not practical, workers can use a PFAS

with a secure anchor. OSHA requires that anchors

for a PFAS are 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 [29 CFR

1926.502(d)(15)]. Anchors must not be attached to

sheathing alone, because it may not be strong

enough to hold the sudden weight of a falling

worker. Anchors should be fixed to a strong structural feature (like a sheathed truss). Always follow

the manufacturer’s instructions or consult a qualified person when installing anchors. 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, nonmoving pieces

secured by the anchor to the trusses underneath.

• Permanent D-rings: Inexpensive D-ring anchors

are attached to the truss frame; they are often

removed after the job is done, although they

can be left permanently on the roof.

Install an anchor above the area being built:

Choose an anchor that is appropriate for the tile

type and anchor location. Depending on the roof
design, the best location might be at the peak of

the roof, directly over a truss.

Leave anchors in place: Where practical, consider

leaving anchors in place. It will 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. 

Written Fall Protection Plans

If the employer does not use ladders, scaffolds, 

or aerial lifts, 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) when working at heights of 

6 feet or greater, 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 as defined by 29

CFR 1926.32(m). This person could be the owner,

the supervisor, or a worker who has extensive

knowledge, training and experience with fall protection and is able to solve problems relating to

fall protection. States with OSHA-approved State

Plans may have additional requirements for 

written fall protection plans.

The site-specific fall protection plan must 

document at 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. Written sitespecific fall protection plans ensure 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

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

document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10922

OSHA Residential Fall Protection Web Page:

http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_

protection.html

OSHA Compliance Guidance:

Compliance Guidance for Residential 

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

Available online at

http://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 within State Plans. For more

information on these requirements, please visit:

http://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 safety and health management 

systems. To locate the OSHA On-site Consultation

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

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

index.html

NIOSH Prevention Through Design

Program

Available online at

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ptd
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-3478 9/2011

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