(1) You must ensure that all surfaces on which employees will be working or walking on are structurally sound and will support them safely prior to allowing employees to work or walk on them.

(2) Inspection criteria.

(a) You must inspect all components (including hardware, lanyards, and positioning harnesses or full body harnesses depending on which system is used) of personal fall arrest systems, personal fall restraint systems and positioning device systems prior to each use according to manufacturer's specifications for mildew, wear, damage, and other deterioration. You must remove defective components from service if their function or strength has been adversely affected.

(b) You must inspect safety nets at least once a week according to manufacturer's specifications for wear, damage, and other deterioration. You must also inspect safety nets after any occurrence which could affect the integrity of the safety net system. You must remove defective components from service. You must not use defective nets.

(3) You must only use personal fall arrest systems, personal fall restraint system, positioning device systems, and their components for employee protection and not to hoist materials.

(4) Exemptions. Employees are exempt from WAC 296-155-24609 and 296-155-24611 only under the following conditions:

(a) During initial installation of the fall protection anchor (prior to engaging in any work activity), or the disassembly of the fall protection anchor after the work has been completed.

(b) An employee directly involved with inspecting or estimating roof-level conditions only on low pitched roofs prior to the actual start of construction work or after all construction work has been completed.

Examples of activities the department recognizes as inspecting or estimating include:

• Measuring a roof to determine the amount of materials needed for a project.

• Inspecting the roof for damage without removing equipment or components.

• Assessing the roof to determine what method of fall protection will be provided to employees.

Examples the department does not recognize as inspecting or estimating under this exemption include:

• Delivering, staging or storing materials on a roof.

• Persons estimating or inspecting on roofs that would be considered a "hazardous slope" by definition.

Examples of what personal fall arrest, personal fall restraint and positioning device systems look like: