Fall Protection for Roof Work

Once every few issues, a JLC reader takes exception to the misused ladders, unsafe scaffolding, and sketchy fall protection sometimes depicted in our photos. “You are doing contractors and tradesmen a disservice and making yourselves look foolish when you let this stuff through,” wrote one reader recently, a union roofer from the Chicago area.

So I contacted this reader — who asked to remain anonymous — to find out how his company tackles fall protection. To get some other perspectives on the subject, I also talked to several contractors about how they keep their roofing employees safe and productive while complying with OSHA fall protection guidelines. In addition, I’ve attended...