Apply fall protection and load limits for roof snow removal

Steps

1. Assign a competent person to assess roof hazards (skylights, power lines, HVAC or chemical lines hidden under snow, load-bearing condition) before work begins.
2. Apply fall protection (guardrails or a personal fall arrest system) for work on surfaces at or above OSHA's height thresholds, following OSHA's published guidance on rooftop snow removal hazards.
3. Remove snow to keep roof loading roughly uniform across the structure, and avoid creating unbalanced snow piles during the removal process itself.
4. Base load decisions on the structure's service load — the safe, sustained-use capacity — rather than its ultimate load, or failure point, since service load already builds in the necessary safety margin.
5. Determine which OSHA framework governs the job: 29 CFR 1910 (general industry/maintenance) typically applies to routine roof snow removal, while 29 CFR 1926 applies on active construction sites.