Roofing — Low-Slope Roofs

Talking points

1. On a low-slope roof in construction, a combination of a warning line and safety monitor is permitted in certain conditions — but PFAS or guardrails are always the safer choice.
2. Warning lines must be set back at least 6 feet from the roof edge, supported by stanchions, and flagged every 6 feet for visibility.
3. In general industry, the rules use a tiered approach: within 6 feet of the edge, conventional fall protection is required. Between 6 and 15 feet, a designated area may be used for infrequent work.
4. Roof openings and skylights are fall hazards too — they must be guarded or covered with materials that support twice the intended load.
5. Wind, rain, ice, and debris all increase fall risk on roofs. Evaluate conditions before starting work and reassess throughout the day.

Ask the crew

What additional precautions do you think are needed when working on a roof in wet or windy conditions?

Standards this talk is built on

• 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(10)
• 29 CFR 1910.28(b)(13)

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Sign-in sheet

Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.

© Jobsite. Free to read aloud, print and use in your own crew's safety meetings. Republishing, reselling or bulk-copying these talks is not permitted.