Roof Safety - Fall Protection

Fall hazards are amongst the most common causes of injury and death in construction, especially in the roofing industry.  It is important to take the proper precautions to make the job site safe by having a fall protection program. A fall protection program includes the steps you and your employees take to prevent falls.

Before any work begins on the site it is necessary to do a risk analysis to identify potential hazards. Once you have identified potential hazards, create an analysis by describing the characteristics of the hazard. As stated by OSHA the two important characteristics to determine the risk are the probability and severity of the hazard. By doing this, everyone on site will have full knowledge of the dangers they may face while working at the jobsite.

Common Fall Hazards to Look For Are

·        Holes in walking or working surfaces.

·        Elevated walking/working surfaces.

·        Skylights and smoke domes.

·        Wall Opening

·        Hoist areas where guardrails have been removed to transport materials.

·        Sides and edges that are six feet above ground.

·        Leading edges that change as work is being done. For example, continuously laying down decking at the edge.

Passive Fall Prevention

Passive fall prevention is all the protective measures in place that do not require human interaction after they have been installed to be effective. These are installed as the second line of defense. Passive protection systems include barricades, guardrails, netting, covers and more.

Safety Nets

Safety nets are installed below the working or walking surface to catch a person that has fallen. Safety nets should typically be a secondary protective measure to prevent injuries at the jobsite. However, when it is difficult to install guardrails or personal fall arrest systems, a safety net can be used to prevent fall hazards.

Guardrail Systems

Guardrail systems are installed six feet away from the edge of an elevated surface to keep workers from falling off.

Warning line

Sometimes warning line systems can be used to warn workers that they are approaching an unprotected edge. It will not physically stop a worker from passing but if done correctly it should serve as a visual cue that you are close to the edge.

Toe Boards

These are barriers installed along the edge of an elevated surface to prevent tools or materials from falling off and striking workers below.

Covers

These are used to cover holes in floors, roofs or other walking/working surfaces. Once the cover is securely installed, it provides a barrier to prevent workers from falling through the hole.

Active Fall Prevention

Active fall prevention systems require active participation from the worker to be effective.

Personal Fall Arrest Systems

PFAS are set in place to arrest the fall. These usually include a full body harness, a lanyard or lifeline, and an anchor point. If a worker falls, this system is designed to catch or stop the worker.

Positioning Device Systems

These systems allow a worker to have support on an elevated vertical surface. These are used to prevent drops on a vertical surface up to two feet.

Travel Restraint Systems

These systems prevent workers from reaching an unprotected edge or other fall hazard. A travel restraint system includes a harness attached to an anchor with a lanyard of a length that ensures the worker will not get close to the edge.

Safety Monitoring Systems

This is a method that uses an individual as the designated monitor. This individual is responsible for recognizing and warning workers of fall hazards. The monitor’s sole responsibility is to watch workers and ensure they stay safe.

The safety of everyone working on the job site is always one of Corey Construction’s top priorities. Our Safety Department has an extensive roof safety plan in place that includes fall protection and fall safety training. Working at heights comes with risks and we go above and beyond to protect everyone on the roof and below. Choose a professional roofing company with the highest safety standards. Choose Corey Construction. Contact us to learn more about our residential and commercial roofing services.

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