Joe Dvorak | Modern Exterior Systems (Modex) • Updated: July 2026
Twenty years of running crews, and the thing I'll never get casual about is fall protection. A roof is the most dangerous place on any job site — falls are the leading cause of death in construction, and it's not close. So when a homeowner asks me about the safety gear or why my crew is roped up, I'm glad they noticed. It tells you something about who you hired. Here's what the rules actually are, and why they should matter to you even though you're not the one on the roof.
The short answer
OSHA requires fall protection for anyone working six feet or more above a lower level. On a roof, that means harnesses tied to an anchor, guardrails, or a safety-net system — one of the three. A crew that skips it isn't just risking their own necks; they're telling you they cut corners, and the corners you can't see are the ones under your shingles. Cheap and safe rarely ride together.
What OSHA actually requires on a roof
The core rule is the six-foot threshold. Once a worker is six feet or more above the ground or a lower level, the employer has to protect them from falling — with a personal fall arrest system (a harness and lanyard tied to a rated anchor), guardrails, or safety nets. On steep roofs, the requirements get stricter.
There's more the rules cover, and a real crew handles all of it:
- Ladders set at the right angle and secured, extending above the roof edge so nobody's making a blind step.
- Anchor points rated for the load — not a nail through a bracket, an actual roof anchor.
- Clear ground zones so nobody's standing under falling debris or tools.
- Weather calls. Wet, icy, or high-wind conditions mean you get off the roof. In Minnesota that judgment call comes up a lot — frost on shingles at 7 a.m. is a slip waiting to happen.
Why this should matter to you
You might be thinking, that's the contractor's problem, not mine. It's actually both.
It's a quality tell. A crew that ignores OSHA to save fifteen minutes is a crew that'll nail off a shingle wrong to save five. Safety discipline and installation discipline come from the same place. I've never seen a sloppy-safety crew do clean flashing work.
It's a liability question. If an uninsured worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor isn't carrying proper coverage, you do not want to learn how that plays out. Always confirm your roofer carries workers' comp and liability insurance — it protects you as much as them.
It's why licensing exists. A licensed, insured Minnesota contractor is accountable to these standards. The guy who knocks on your door after a storm with a magnet sign and no paperwork is not.
Should you walk on your own roof?
Short answer: no, I'd rather you didn't. I get why homeowners want to look — you hear about hail damage and you want to see for yourself. But you don't have the fall protection, the footwear, or the practice, and a lot of roofs are more slippery and more fragile than they look.
A few specifics I get asked about constantly:
- Asphalt shingles are the most walkable, but they get slick with dew, frost, or granule dust, and steep pitches are a real fall risk.
- Tile and slate can crack or shift under your weight — you can do real damage just by walking wrong, and cracked tile is expensive.
- Wood shake and synthetic slate are easy to break or displace, and they're slippery when damp.
- Solar shingles and panels should not be walked on casually — you can crack cells and void warranties.
- Flat roofs like EPDM or TPO are walkable but easy to puncture with the wrong shoe or a dropped tool, and a puncture is a leak.
If you want to know what's going on up there, that's exactly what a free inspection is for. Let someone who's roped up and does it every day take the risk instead of you.
Joe's Note: The fastest way to vet a roofer is to ask two questions — "Are you licensed and insured in Minnesota?" and "What fall protection does your crew use?" A good contractor answers both without hesitating. A bad one gets vague. That thirty-second conversation tells you more than any review.
FAQ
What are OSHA's fall-protection rules for roofing?
OSHA requires fall protection for anyone working six feet or more above a lower level. On a roof that means a personal fall arrest system (harness and lanyard anchored to a rated point), guardrails, or a safety-net system. Steep roofs carry stricter requirements.
Do roofers have to wear a harness?
A harness tied to a rated anchor is one of the accepted forms of fall protection, and it's the most common on residential roofs. OSHA allows guardrails or safety nets as alternatives, but on a typical house a harness system is what you'll usually see a proper crew using.
Is it safe to walk on my own roof?
I don't recommend it. You don't have fall protection or the practice, and many roofs are slicker and more fragile than they look — dew, frost, and steep pitches all raise the risk. If you want your roof checked, get a free professional inspection instead.
Can you walk on a tile or slate roof?
Not safely, and not without risking damage. Tile and slate crack or shift under weight if you don't step exactly right, and cracked pieces are costly to replace. Leave those roofs to someone trained to walk them.
Why should I care whether my roofer follows OSHA?
Because safety discipline predicts installation quality, and because an uninsured injury on your property can become your problem. A crew that follows the rules is far more likely to do careful work — and to carry the workers' comp and liability coverage that protects you.
What should I ask a roofer about safety before hiring them?
Ask two things: whether they're licensed and insured in Minnesota, and what fall protection their crew uses. Straight, confident answers are a good sign. Vague ones are a red flag worth walking away from.
Want a roof looked at by a crew that does it right? Call Modern Exterior Systems at 952-206-6339 — licensed, insured, and roped up. We'll take the risk so you don't have to, and give you an honest read. No pressure. Or request your free inspection online.
Modern Exterior Systems is a women-owned, family-operated roofing and exterior contractor based in Eden Prairie, MN, serving Minneapolis, St. Paul, and 90+ Twin Cities communities. Owner Joe Dvorak brings two decades of hands-on construction experience, CertainTeed ShingleMaster and Malarkey Emerald Pro certifications, a BBB A+ rating, and a lifetime workmanship warranty to every residential project.
