Fall Protection in Residential Construction
Falls are the leading killer in home building, from framing second floors to setting trusses and roofing. Since 2011, OSHA has required the same basic rule on houses as on other construction: fall protection at 6 feet. There are practical ways to meet it on every phase of the job.
- Construction
- Roofers
- Framers
Photo: framing crew on a second floor deck with perimeter guardrails and a roofer tied to a ridge anchor next door
The rule
- Workers 6 feet or more above a lower level must be protected by guardrails, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems.
- Only if the employer can show those are infeasible or create a greater hazard may it use other measures, under a written, site-specific fall protection plan prepared by a qualified person. See Fall Protection Basics.
- OSHA’s old policy that allowed slide guards and other alternatives without a plan was replaced in 2010.
Residential construction means the building’s end use is a home, and it’s built with traditional methods and materials, like wood framing.
Practical protection by phase
| Phase | Ways to protect workers |
|---|---|
| Foundations | Guardrails or covers around deep excavations and wall forms; ladders and stairs for access |
| Floor framing | Cover or guard stair openings and holes as soon as they’re created; install guardrails on the deck edge |
| Wall framing | Build walls on the deck and tilt them up; attach guardrails to walls before raising; brace walls |
| Trusses and roof framing | Set trusses from interior scaffolds or lifts; use truss anchors or fall arrest systems designed for trusses; pre-assemble on the ground |
| Sheathing and roofing | Roof anchors (permanent or temporary) with harness and lifeline; guardrails or scaffold at the eaves; safety nets |
| Siding, windows, gutters | Scaffolds with guardrails, aerial lifts, ladders set up correctly |
Roof anchors
- Install the anchor per the maker’s instructions, into framing, with the right fasteners. Nailing it to sheathing alone won’t hold.
- Install anchors from a protected position (from a ladder or before reaching the edge).
- Place anchors near the ridge, as directly above the work as possible, to limit swing. See Swing Falls.
- On low roofs (one story), check fall clearance; a self-retracting lifeline may be needed.
- Leave permanent anchors for future roofers when the owner allows.
Daily residential fall checklist
- Floor and stair openings covered or guarded, covers marked and secured
- Guardrails on open deck edges 6 feet or more above the ground
- Anchors installed and inspected before roof work starts
- Harnesses fitted and inspected; lanyards or SRLs right for the height
- Ladders extend 3 feet above landings and are secured
- Workers trained on the fall hazards and the systems in use
- A rescue plan for a worker hanging in a harness
Free help: OSHA’s residential fall protection guides show step-by-step methods for each phase, and small builders can get a free, confidential consultation. See Free OSHA On-Site Consultation.
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13): Fall protection in residential construction
- 29 CFR 1926.502(k): Fall protection plans
- OSHA: Fall protection in residential construction guidance
- See also: Roof Work · Holes & Floor Openings · Carpentry & Framing
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