Employers can use railing systems around roof openings and around the perimeter of the roof to protect workers from fall hazards. A breakdown of OSHA requirements for roofs related to fall protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), stair safety, and more.
Commercial roofs may require the installation of anchors on the top, allowing inspectors and contractors to place safety cords when performing roof work.
People who do not build roof roofs (for example, a facility manager who works in the roof air conditioning unit) must respect a 15-foot limit, so they need protection against falls whenever they are less than 15 feet from an edge or danger of falling. These anchors, also called roof openings, must be placed at several points, especially in buildings that do not have walls around the edge of the roof.Recent changes in OSHA regulations have brought roof safety issues back to the forefront, explains Kirk Dighton, safety manager at roofing contractor D. The best commercial roofing companies are regularly inspected and audited by internal and external inspectors. Your equipment needs fall protection whenever it is at least 4 feet off the ground, unless they are professional roofers, in which case the requirement It starts at 6 feet. By implementing safety measures such as perimeter railings, skylight cages, roof hatch protection, perimeter warning lines and mooring points, you can help prevent falls and ensure the safety of everyone who works on your property.
The right equipment is essential for working on a rooftop, but this equipment can vary depending on the roof you're working on. It is important that companies and roofing workers are well aware of OSHA standards and implement appropriate safety practices to protect the well-being of everyone involved in roofing projects. The right fall protection for your staff depends on many factors, such as roof pitch, specific roof fall hazards, and staff compliance with roof safety best practices. When using a ladder to access the roof, it must be placed with the top resting against a surface that provides adequate support to prevent the ladder from sliding backwards while a worker climbs.
On the rooftop, workers must take care of each other and ensure that everyone meets the requirements. These railing systems allow workers to access the roof from a staircase located inside the building, which includes a support bar for the climber. It's easy to lose track of how close you are to the edge of the roof, especially when you focus on looking for damage to the roof or are busy repairing the rooftop equipment. GSM Roofing is a private, family-owned professional services company that specializes in the installation and maintenance of commercial and specialty roofs.
Employers in the roofing industry must identify any hazardous materials used in roofing works; provide workers with appropriate training on how to handle, store and dispose of these materials safely; and ensure that workers have access to the MSDS to detect any chemicals in the that may be exposed.
