When you are working on elevated positions like roofs, you should have proper safety gear to protect yourself from accidents and unexpected falls. You can see professionals wearing proper safety systems when working in elevated positions. From ladders to hatches and guardrails, there are multiple ways you can protect yourself from roof accidents and falls.
If you are wondering how many safety systems there are, then this blog is for you. Here, you can learn both permanent and temporary safety systems that you can use when in need.
Knowing the differences between permanent and temporary systems will help you decide which one to use when an emergency arises. Reading this blog will make you understand why investing in proper safety access systems is smart and not an expensive obligation. If proper safety systems are not there for your roof, then you can find yourself paying hefty fines. So, it’s always better to be prepared to create a safe environment for employees and prevent damage that will happen due to accidents and falls.
Here is the list of roof safety systems that you should know to keep your workers safe:
Roof guardrails
Guard rails are the primary source of protection that prevent accidental falls and injuries while working on the roof. Depending on the need, there are different types of guardrails, and they all serve a different purpose. You can have a temporary guardrail that comes with added safety features, or you can have a permanent one that everyone can make use of in the future. You can choose a guardrail with different features like padding, different assortments of floor mounting, easy-to-fit features and many more. It all depends on the kind of purpose it serves on the roof.
Roof anchors
There are two major types of roof anchors – non-penetrating portable and fixed roof anchors. The first one is an extremely heavy weight that can be moved easily. The portable option allows workers to work on rooftops one section at a time.
There are also fixed roof anchors that are permanent and smaller. It is drilled into the rooftop so that workers can attach themselves to it during work mode.
Depending on the usage, you have to select the one suitable to your needs. If you have a permanent roof anchor, you can use it anytime you want without depending on others to fix a temporary one. However, you should have a suitable spot for it.
Ladder fall arrest
Ladders are one of the common devices used for climbing onto the rooftop. There are various kinds of ladders such as steel, wood, etc., and every type has a fall arrest mechanism to ensure protection to those climb on it.
For instance, steel ladders come with fall protection to avoid falls while climbing on poles, towers, etc. Roof hatch ladders also have cable protection for climbing and transitioning into an upper level. There is a wooden ladder that has a vertical lifeline system to ensure protection while climbing. Finally, steel and fixed ladders have a self-retracting lifeline that you can use to fix at any point.
Roof hatch systems
Roof hatch systems come with two major types of protection and are popular roof access systems in Melbourne. The first one has a four-sided guardrail that has a closing gate at one side. The other has a portable railing system that is made for roof hatches and hatch penetrations for installation.
Roof skylight guards
Skylight guards are important for your workers to ensure their safety and to prevent people from having major falls during working. There are different types of skylights, such as screens, cover guards, guardrails, standing steam and corrugated skylights.
Using these guards will help workers to work productively without worrying about falls or accidents that otherwise might occur.
Roof horizontal lifeline
Roof horizontal lifelines come with temporary and permanent modes. Temporary ones hang in the air while fixed to the object, and permanent lifelines require an anchor to attach to the ground. Whether it is temporary or permanent depends on the kind of usage you have on the rooftop.
Roof warning line systems
Roof warning line systems also have two main types that are designed to prevent falls by roping off dangerous areas on the roof. The first one is a non-penetrating roof warning line that can be placed on most roofs. The second is a fixed roof warning line that is used for standing seam roots, R-panel roofs and corrugated decks.
You can also contact a roofing attorney to decide which safety systems you have to use on your roof. You can get proper advice that will enable you to invest in protection mechanisms. Having an idea about roofing systems will help you to build an effective roof access system. You can also contact your architect for further important information so that you can have a proper safety system on the roof.
