Nets must be installed a minimum horizontal distance from the building as follows.
Minimum distance from edge of roof to equipment on roof.
Net must have border rope for webbing that has a minimum breaking strength of 5 000 lbs.
6 feet from the edge.
Unprotected sides and edges.
Safe distance to an unprotected roof edge is a common area of misunderstanding when discussing fall protection.
Access away from roof edges.
There are osha rules defining safe distances from the edge of a roof and the degree of protection required.
Below the roof edge.
10 is the minimum distance of a warning line from the edge of the roof perpendicular to the travel of mechanical equipment.
Must be installed no more than 30 ft.
There is no minimum height in these situations.
This refers specifically to the edge you are driving towards not alongside.
When mechanical equipment is being used the warning line shall be erected not less than 6 feet 1 8 m from the roof edge which is parallel to the direction of mechanical equipment operation and not less than 10 feet 3 1 m from the roof edge which is perpendicular to the direction of mechanical equipment operation.
Answer background in 29 cfr part 1926 subpart m fall protection 1926 501 b 1 states.
Hatches equipped with inclined stairs or ships ladders are preferred over fixed vertical ladders.
Guards shall be provided where appliance equipment fans roof hatch openings or other components that require service are located within 10 feet of a roof edge or open side of a walking surface and such edge or open side is located more than 30 inches above floor roof or grade below.
The net s mesh openings must not exceed 36 sq.
The guard shall extend not less than 30 inches.
Minimum edge distance for mechanical equipment.
To put it plainly there isn t a safe distance.
For general industry working at a 4 foot height or a low sloped roof osha requires.
In principal i agree with those who say that as you increase the distance to an unprotected edge you decrease the probability of a fall.
All of the same rules for warning lines as stated above still apply.
Pliances equipment fans or other components that re quire service and roof hatch openings are located within 10 feet 3048 mm of a roof edge or open side of a walk ing surface and such edge or open side is located more than 30 inches 762 mm above the floor roof or grade below.
Roof hatches should be located a minimum of 10 feet from roof perimeters and oriented to direct traffic away from a roof edge or perimeter the hinge side of a hatch should be toward the closest edge.
See ibc 2006 section 1013 5 mechanical equipment.
Conventional fall protection guardrail fall restraint or fall arrest system is required.
Keep in mind that if employees are working over dangerous equipment machinery or any other hazard where they could fall then they must have roofing edge protection or machine guarding.
Between 6 feet and 15 feet from the edge.