Safety Monitor

What Does Safety Monitor Mean?

A safety monitor is a trained and competent person who is authorized to oversee safety on roofing operations. They are responsible for ensuring that employees working at heights are using the right fall protection equipment, staying within the designated safe area, and following safe work procedures.

Falls from roofs is one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry. The presence of a safety monitor ensures that roofers carry out their work safely when more effective fall protection measures are not available.

Safeopedia Explains Safety Monitor

When Is a Safety Monitor Used?

Safety monitors are required when roofing work is taking place:

• On low-slope roofs (roofs with slopes limited to 2:12)
• On roofs wider than 50 feet if a warning line system has been installed to prevent employees from coming close to an unprotected roof edge
• In Controlled Access Zones (CAZ) where work can be performed without conventional fall protection systems

Roofing work includes hoisting, storing, installing, and removing roofing materials and equipment. However, it does not include leading edge work or roof deck construction.

Safety monitors must be used as part of a fall protection plan when alternate means of fall protection are not being used as they have been demonstrated to be infeasible or create a greater hazard if used. A maximum of eight workers can be assigned to a safety monitor. This ensures that everyone on the roof is being observed and able to hear the safety monitor’s warnings or commands.

According to OSHA standard 1926.502(h), safety monitors must:

• Be able to recognize fall hazards
• Issue warnings to employees who are working unsafely or appear unaware of fall hazards
• Remain on the same walking-working surface of the workers, and within earshot and in their line of sight
• Be free of additional responsibilities that could distract them from performing their duties as a safety monitor
• Wear a high-visibility vest for ready identification
• Remain at least six feet away from any unguarded edge

When Is the Use of a Safety Monitor Not Permitted?

A safety monitor must not be used:

• On roofs with slopes greater than 2:12
• On roofs that are more than 50 feet wide (unless a warning line system is in place)
• During adverse weather conditions that could contribute to a fall, like high winds or ice
• Where the decking is loose or rotted, creating a fall hazard
• Where the surrounding noise levels could prevent workers from hearing the safety monitor’s warnings
• On roofs where mechanical equipment is used or stored

Responsibilities of a Safety Monitor

A safety monitor has two basic duties:

• Identifying actual and potential fall hazards (including skylights and other openings)
• Protecting workers against these hazards

They are also responsible for implementing and operating the safety monitoring system and have sole authority over the safety of workers being monitored.

Identifying Fall Hazards

Safety monitors must be aware of the different types of fall hazards they could encounter on the jobsite. These include:

• Unprotected Edges – This is the main hazard in roofing work and cannot be eliminated. As such, the safety monitor must be on the lookout for roofers as they work near these edges.
• Openings Greater Than 12 Inches – Skylights, elevator shafts, vents, equipment openings, and other holes in the walking-working surface that are not covered or cordoned off with guardrails must be treated as unprotected edges.
• Loose Decking – Decking that has rotten or come loose is considered a hazard until rectified. When work must be carried out around an area with unsafe decking, workers must be notified of the hazards and the safety monitor must ensure no worker comes near such an area during the course of their work.
• Clutter and Distractions – Tools, leftover materials, spilled chemicals, water, or anything else that could cause workers to slip or trip must not be present in the work area.
• Weather Conditions – Safety monitoring should not be used in adverse weather conditions like fog, ice, snow, frost, or high winds.
• Health Conditions – The safety monitor must be on the lookout for signs of dehydration or heat stress. On hot days, the safety monitor must ensure that workers take adequate breaks, rest when needed, and hydrate sufficiently. The safety monitor must not allow anyone to work while intoxicated.
• Loud Noise – Radios must not be used near the work area and workers must not wear earbuds or headphones while working. The safety monitor must periodically check that they can be heard clearly by everyone in the work area.

Safety Monitoring

The safety monitor must take reasonable steps to clear the area of fall hazards before allowing other workers on the roof. This can include clutter, poor decking, distractions, and anything that could obstruct their view of the roofers. If they identify one of these hazards while roofers are already in the area, they have the authority to stop work until those hazards are adequate controlled.

Only authorized workers are permitted in the area under the safety monitor’s control. When entering the area, they must don high-visibility safety vests, which must then be removed when leaving.

Who Can Be a Safety Monitor?

According to OSHA standard 1926.502(h), only a competent person can be designated as a safety monitor. In other words, the safety monitor must be trained to recognize fall hazards and be knowledgeable in the use of fall protection systems.

As competent persons, safety monitors must:

• Have full knowledge of fall protection equipment and safe work practices when working at heights
• Be capable of recognizing and anticipating fall hazards, including rot and slip hazards in the work area
• Be versed in the rules and standards governing safety monitoring systems
• Have thorough knowledge of fall protection regulations

In addition, safety monitors must be free from other responsibilities. They must be able to devote their full attention to anticipating and recognizing hazards as they arise during the course of work.