Residential Construction Fall Protection
Construction · Ver en español
Talking points
- Residential construction fall protection requirements are the same 6-foot trigger as all other construction. There is no blanket exemption for residential work.
- Conventional fall protection — guardrails, safety nets, or PFAS — must be used at 6 feet unless the employer demonstrates that it creates a greater hazard or is infeasible.
- If conventional methods are infeasible, the employer must develop a written, site-specific fall protection plan that explains the alternative measures used and why conventional methods were not possible.
- Common residential fall hazards include: leading edges during framing, roof edges during sheathing and shingling, floor openings around stairwells, and exterior wall openings.
- Trusses and rafters during installation create unique fall hazards. Use temporary flooring, work platforms, or PFAS to protect workers during the most unstable phase of roof framing.
Ask the crew
If we are doing residential work, what specific fall protection are we using — and is it in our written plan?
Standards this talk is built on
A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.
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Sign-in sheet
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| Name | Signature | Date |
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