The short answer
Before rope descent work, a qualified contractor asks for your written anchor confirmation, a roof plan and your roof access rules. OSHA requires them to obtain the confirmation before anyone uses an anchorage. A contractor who never asks is skipping a required step, on your roof.
Questions a qualified contractor asks
- Can we see your written anchor certification? Required before rope descent work under OSHA 1910.27(b)(1)(ii).
- Do you have a roof plan showing the anchors?
- How do crews and equipment reach the roof? Hatch, door, stairs, freight elevator.
- What roof hazards should we know about? Skylights, fragile surfaces, edges without parapets, overhead lines.
- Has any roof work happened since the last certification?
- What are the building's rules for tenant notice and ground-level areas?
What it means if they are not asking
- They may be working without the confirmation the rule requires of them
- They may not have a site-specific safety plan
- Any incident on your roof lands on your property, not just their company
When an uninsured or undertrained crew gets hurt on your property, the exposure does not stay with them.
Questions to ask them
- Are your technicians W2 employees or subcontractors?
- Will you provide a certificate of insurance naming the property?
- Do you write a site-specific safety plan for each job?
- Are your technicians certified before at-height work?
- Do you follow ANSI/IWCA I-14.1? See ANSI/IWCA I-14.1 explained.
How S&K works
Every S&K at-height job starts with a site-specific safety plan, anchor verification and a certified crew assignment. Crews are 100% W2, and certificates of insurance are available on request. See safety and compliance.
Not sure where your building stands? Start with a free roof compliance survey, or read the full Roof Anchor and Fall Protection Compliance guide.
