Protecting your employees is important. Workplace falls are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities. You can eliminate the risk of workplace falls by properly securing your rooftop. When seeking rooftop fall protection there are a few things to consider. First, you will want to choose the protection that best fits your needs. There are different types of rooftop fall protection and not all of them will apply to your business specifically. Another important consideration is recognizing all of the rooftop hazards. There are a lot of falling hazards that go unnoticed until it’s too late. Lastly, of course, you should determine the frequency of your rooftop access. Whether or not employees are visiting the rooftop on a daily basis will have a direct result in the type of protection you need.
Let’s start with the different fall protection choices. When securing your rooftop you will have options that are both permanent and temporary. Temporary options are often also referred to as portable safety equipment like safety rails. The appeal of portable or temporary safety equipment is usually found with construction sites. When you are having a specific construction project performed on one area of the roof. The permanent safety railing will be needed on every roof. This safety railing will need to line the perimeter of your rooftop. In most cases, safety guard rails are an inexpensive option. Another wonderful benefit is their ability to be replaced. Each portion of the safety guard rail works independently. Should one specific piece of the guard railing be damaged you will be able to replace it independently.
There are a lot of hazards that aren’t considered when securing a rooftop. Some of these hazards include staircases, holes and overlook areas. You need a permanent or portable guardrail around all of these areas. Another often-overlooked safety hazard is skylights. When employees are working on top of a roof a skylit can be a potential fall. Using a portable railing or permanent railing around the skylight is a great option. Keeping the roof place clear of any clutter is also important. A safely organized rooftop is necessary for safety.
Finally how often are your employees accessing the roof? It’s important to be aware of the frequency of rooftop visitation. Will your employees need to go up to the roof frequently to clean the skylights or gutters? Write down a list of reasons employees will have to need to visit your roof. This will help when you consult a professional in determining the level of safety procedures you should be installing.
Get more ideas here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railing
Roof Fall Protection Systems 