Ever since it was revised in 1998, roofing contractors have struggled to comply with OSHA’s Subpart M Fall Protection Standard (1926.500). That is because it is very difficult to accomplish — not that it’s unfair. It’s never unfair to expect roofing contractors to protect their workers from fatal falls. But let’s face it — compliant fall protection systems built on and anchored to the very structure you are demolishing or building is the opposite of easy.
The recent 2010 advent of OSHA’s Compliance Guideline for Residential Construction (STD 03-11-002) canceled the previous STD, which allowed specific variances to the regulation. In OSHA’s opinion, the necessary equipment and methods of compliance have become readily available and practical to use in recent years.