How To Be OSHA Compliant

Residential
21

I’d rather not call them, because I’d really be embarrassed.

What you are saying makes absolutely zero sense.

Look, its not about being compliant. It’s about keeping people from getting hurt and people being able to go home at the end of the day. Thats why its there, thats the spirit in which the reg’s were created.

Sometimes I write stuff that I forget will be here long after I’m gone, and years pass…I read it again and be like “man I was so retarded” and trust me it was. Reason I say that is because WCR is a pro window cleaners place that helps school those just beginning, and some of the stuff I said years ago was based on my own opinion not fact.

Trust me, if you did a search, you will see where more experienced ones gave me a verbal smack down when I needed it.

Again, not trying to offend.

However, to the new ones who read this later remember this:

If it ain’t written then it ain’t so.

You can read the regulations yourself, and unless there is a new revision that must have been overlooked, I’ve been wrong before…then there is no such thing as a 30 minute to comply rule.

Okay, so you’re about to get into your 130’ boom lift, you got your harness on, your spotter gives you the all clear, did your radio check, you pull up the kill switch and step on the dead mans pedal and fire her up.

You start to raise the boom.

oops, you forgot to tie in to the anchor for your harness.

no problem, you have 30 minutes

See where I’m going with this?

Still calling bull

2 Likes
22

I agree, everything you read on the Internet isn’t true. But forgetting to tie off on a boom lift and setting up an anchor point are oranges and apples.

Being embarrassed to call an OSHA office is silly. That’s what they’re there for.

23

Eh, just do your gutter cleaning at night. OSHA is a 9-3 job so wait till the sun sets and get it done.

But yeah, the compliance can be stupid.

24

Not really man. Same principal. If setting up the anchor point means putting your life at risk, THATS silly. I get what you’re saying bro, and I also realize that falling from that roof in the photo more than likely ain’t gonna happen. But if you wanna be technical about it, he needs to find another way to set up that anchor.

He’d get kicked off of any prevailing wage site if he did that. You know I’m right.

2 Likes
25

Bingo!

26

In my opinion, forgetting to anchor on to a boom is negligence. Setting up an anchor point to anchor yourself on is different.

So to be technical, when you climb a ladder above 6 feet your supposed to be magically connected to an anchor point that can withstand 5,000 pounds?

How would you know that the anchor is in good working order? Why aren’t roof inspectors required to wear fall protection?

I get what your saying, but it’s real easy to get lost in the books and not think about reality.

27

Did anyone notice that the ladder setup is not in compliance with OSHA regulations of 3 rungs above the eave?

1 Like
28

Maybe he’s self employed and doesn’t need to comply with OSHA? :grin:

Honestly I didn’t even look at the ladder.

29

Dude.
Forget the boom thing, I was trying to make a comparison. Maybe a bad one. Here’s a better one:

Your in a boom, and you need to get onto a ledge to do windows that has a dog line on the ledge so you can walk it. You are supposed to be tied in at all times for fall protection right? So how do you do it?

Its not a trick dude. You FIND ANOTHER WAY or create one. The other way in this case is get a double hook lanyard.

That way you are always tied in.

How would you know the anchor is “in good working order”? Oh boy.

They’re called inspections bro. What did you just start yesterday or what? It’s not about getting lost in the books, its about knowing what the hell you’re doing man.

Why aren’t roof inspectors required to wear fall protection?
THEY ARE.
You know what, I’m shutting up. You’re absolutely right. My bad.

T out…lates

1 Like
30

They give you 15 min? You can have the work done and back down the ladder in 15 min. Right?

31

Lol. My point was how are you going to be tied off immediately when you get past 6 feet. In order to complete an inspection on the anchor, what are you going to tie off on?

This thread isn’t about booms and you continue to bring them up. With a boom you always have a tie off point, yes we understand that. Not to be tied off at any point is inexcusable. This thread was asking about how to comply with OSHA while cleaning gutters.

I shouldn’t have said 15 minutes but rather than a short duration. I was just repeating what I was told. Here is a link:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=27314

Most homes don’t have anchor points, and in order to install one you probably won’t be tied off to anything. Are you “technically” not in compliance while your setting up an anchor point? Ask your local OSHA office. Don’t be “embarrassed”. There are no dumb questions when it comes to safety.

And no roof inspectors don’t need fall protection.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24801

32

And this would be one of those times I just was talking about thinking I know everything. Some things are hard to change I guess, and jeez I did it again.

I’m sorry for being a huge Mr. Know it all when I don’t know jack. Sorry dude. See? After this many years I still get pimp slapped!

I’m never the pimp!

Thank you for the links man. I had no idea.

I refuse to answer any more questions on grounds I may look like a complete idiot.

I owe you a free shot to the chin. Just let me know before it comes ok, I’m not young anymore. G’night man. My apologies

1 Like
33

I appreciate that this topic is being discussed. My 29 year old son died December 14th 2022 while cleaning gutters. He leaves behind a 20 month old son. His boss was a piece of shit. No regard for safety. Not even an attempt at providing any safety equipment or training. I’m trying to educate myself on OSHA standards and have joined forums similar to this one to gain knowledge from both sides. It seems having an open forum where topics of safety can be discussed and experience and ideas shared is a good thing.

2 Likes
34

In my 15 years of window cleaning I have yet to see ONCE any anchor point to tie off or connect to on any roof here in Florida. Not one. They just do not exist in the construction of homes. Occasionally (yes I said occasionally, meaning not often) during construction I have seen home construction workers wearing a harness and tied off to something - I imagine a temporary anchor or something, but roofers? I think once or twice I may have witnessed that. Even if you wanted to, there is no roof anchors to be found.

35

I’m so sorry for your loss.

1 Like
36

Thank you. He was amazing young man.

37

Same here in NJ, aside from commercial buildings. I will never see the top of my own roof in person because of this. Super steep, and 3 stories up.

I know 2 people that fell cleaning residential. Both have long lasting ailments because of it. Don’t risk it.

@degilgor, I’m sorry for your loss.

38

I used to take risks with some jobs and still have two regulars that I walk their roofs to access the windows, but the pitch is doable so I feel safe. Very easy for me to say “Nope” these days on some of these crazy builds.

39

Lot’s of things I wont do that i use to do. It would be good to checkout the OSHA videos that IWCA has for window cleaners. It’s good stuff and only takes a few hours to go through.

I also like to checkout the OSHA incident reports that are free to read online. I can’t believe how many people fall thru skylights every year…pretty wild!