Working on roofs comes with its fair share of risks. A fall from a high enough height can not only cause damage to your body, but also to your livelihood. There are several measures that must be taken to enable workers to work safely from rooftops, scaffolding, and ladders. The workers’ safety is the employer’s responsibility and should guide the worker on roof safety and fall prevention.
Here are a few tips to help:
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Understand the categories of Fall Protection
Understanding the Fall Protection categories will enable the worker to choose the correct equipment. The right height safety equipment should be used when one is working in heights. Fall Restraint System, Guard Rail System, and Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) are the three most common categories in fall protection.
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Fall Restraint System
A Fall Restraint System is a means of fall protection that prevents workers from reaching dangerous edges in working areas. An ideal fall restraint system should be able to withstand a weight of 3,000 pounds.
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Guard Rail System
The Guard Rail System acts as a physical barrier between a worker and a fall hazard. Guard rails can be permanent or temporary and are installed along roof edges, ladder access points, roof hatches, and many more. The ideal guardrails should withstand a force of 200 pounds in any downward or outward direction, have a height of 39 to 45 inches above the working surface, with the height of intermediate rails being at least 21 inches high.
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Personal Fall Arrest Systems
The PFAS is a system designed to prevent a worker from coming into contact with a lower level. There are three links to a PFAS chain. These are a body harness, a connecting device, and an anchor. The worker wears a harness with a connector such as a lanyard or a self-retracting lifeline that links the harness to the anchor. The anchor point should be able to withstand double the weight of a free-falling person.
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Workers should undergo safety training
Employers should incorporate regular safety training sessions to educate the workers on the potential fall hazards in the workplace and the safety practices to prevent these dangers. Safety officers should monitor and implement safety training to ensure that all workers follow it. Safety training incorporates the work environment, the people, and equipment. So, the safety training can include toolbox meetings to remind the workers of the potential hazards and prepare a proper work procedure and equipment and materials for working in new areas.
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Know how to use the equipment
Having the right equipment is not enough. A worker should be trained on how to use this equipment correctly. A competent person should inspect all fall protection equipment before use. To prevent falls from the roof, always wear a fitting harness and stay connected. Workers can prevent a fall from a ladder by using the right ladder, always facing the ladder, and maintaining three contact points. Never, in any case, place a ladder on a scaffold. Ensure stable footing on a scaffold by using fully planked scaffolds
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Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The first line of defense for a worker if something should go wrong is the Personal Protective Equipment. PPE includes gloves, hard hats, goggles, and other gear specific to the worksite or weather, such as a safety belt when working in height. While performing specific tasks at a worksite, a worker should have the appropriate PPE.
Safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. Accidents when working in height can be prevented once everyone prioritizes safety. Everyone benefits once accident rates drop to zero.
