Fall protection while cutting a roof opening

April 16, 1997

Mr. Dennis Lydon
Vice President
Baker Mechanical, Inc.
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Lydon:

This is in response to your letter of September 6, 1996, in which you requested an interpretation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standard on fall protection in a situation regarding floor/roofing openings.

Your specific Question is as follows:

Case in Point:

Where the roof curb is already set in place and the roof deck is not cut out. A man is sent to the roof to cut out the roof deck. He is to put a cover over the opening as soon as he has completed the work. Another man is placed below the opening to act as a spotter, so that no one walks below the hole and into the line of any loose material that may fall. As soon as the work is complete, the cover is nailed down over the opening so no one could fall down through the hole.

The practice you have described is acceptable in meeting the requirements in Section 1926.501(b)(4) to protect workers exposed to falling through holes, provided that the cover meets the criteria in Section 1926.502(i) Covers (enclosed).

Sincerely,

Roy F. Gurnham, Manager
Office of Construction Standards
and Compliance Assistance