Caution workers about safety hazards using warning lines

• Warning lines are used to delineate a designated area.
• Warning lines can consist of rope, wire, tape or chains, as long as certain criteria are met.

The term warning lines describes the barrier used on a roof to warn workers when they are approaching an unprotected side or edge. Warning lines delineate a designated area in which employees may work without additional fall protection. Warning lines can consist of rope, wire, tape, or chains that meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds.
• Are, at their lowest point, including the sag, not less than 34 inches and not more than 39 inches above the walking-working surface.
• Are supported so that if one section of the line is pulled it will not take up slack in an adjacent section, causing the line to fall below the limits specified above.
• Are visible from a distance of 25 feet.
• Are erected as close to the work as possible without interfering with the tasks.
• Are erected no closer than 6 feet from the roof edge for work that is temporary and infrequent.
• Are erected no closer than 15 feet from the roof edge for work that is NOT temporary and infrequent.