Fall Protection Focus: Rooftop Fall Protection Systems
The activity on a building’s rooftop may go unnoticed to most, but it’s often critical maintenance that keeps the building’s operations running smoothly. Often, rooftops house many HVAC components, lighting, safety, security, and other equipment that employees will have to service periodically. Responsible building owners and employers ensure their rooftops are safe from fall hazards and their workers are properly trained on all corporate safety policies. This article will discuss rooftop fall protection requirements and help determine the effectiveness of various solutions.
Rooftop Fall Protection Requirements
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) 1910 General Industry standard requires employers to provide fall protection to employees exposed to a fall of four feet or greater. Since rooftops are not exempt from this requirement, one might be led to believe that fall protection might be required everywhere on a rooftop! However, when it comes to rooftops, OSHA differentiates which methods of fall protection are permitted based on the worker’s proximity to the perimeter of the roof and the frequency in which the work is being performed. “Infrequent and temporary” work refers to tasks that take two or fewer hours to complete and are sporadic or not part of a typical routine. All other tasks are considered “regular and routine.”
When workers are less than 15 feet from the roof’s edge, OSHA requires passive or active fall protection systems to be put in place for all regular and routine workers. A warning line is permitted for regular and routine workers only when they are 15 feet or farther away from the roof’s edge. However, the warning line is permitted for infrequent and temporary tasks occurring within 6 feet of the roof’s edge. Infrequent and temporary tasks require no fall protection if they are being performed greater than 15 feet away from the roof’s edge and a safety monitor is present.
Rooftop Fall Protection Solutions: Passive Systems
Once it is determined that regular and routine work will be performed within 15 feet of the roof’s edge, a decision must be made on what fall protection method to utilize for workers. Passive systems, like guardrail, are considered more effective than active systems in keeping workers safe from falls because they can physically prevent the user from reaching the fall hazard. Additionally, passive systems require no input from the user once the equipment is installed. Workers simply must stay behind the physical barricades, and they will be prevented from being exposed to a fall.
In theory, if an OSHA-compliant guardrail is installed along the entire perimeter of a building, that building would be virtually free of all rooftop fall hazards. (Of course, any unprotected holes, openings, or skylights would still have to be addressed if they existed within the guardrail.)
Guardrail and other passive systems can also benefit building owners with short-term projects needing to be performed on the roof. Many manufacturers offer guardrail options with weighted baseplates that require no permanent mounting to the roof structure and still maintain OSHA compliance. Further, many safety vendors have temporary guardrail panels available for rent, which can be removed after finishing the job.
Rooftop Fall Protection Solutions: Active Systems
However, installing guardrails may not be feasible or effective to protect workers, depending on the nature of the work being performed on the rooftop. In those cases, active fall protection systems can help maintain OSHA compliance within 15 feet of the roof’s edge. An active fall protection system is any system that requires a user to don a body harness and attach their personal connection device to a nearby anchorage. Two primary styles of active fall protection systems exist: single-point and linear anchorage systems.
Single-point systems consist of workers attaching to a single anchorage with their connective device. Per ANSI Z359 guidelines, workers must maintain a working radius of no more than 15 degrees within their anchor when working at heights. Any greater distance from the anchor could prove dangerous for equipment as it slides along the roof’s edge during fall arrest, or workers risk encountering other objects during their fall. Single-point systems are ideal for scenarios with few workers or smaller work zones.
When workers must walk wide spans to finish performing their tasks, a linear fall protection system might be more straightforward and more effective in keeping workers safe. Horizontal lifelines are the most popular form of linear anchor systems. These systems have a cable running between two or more anchor points that users can easily connect/disconnect into the system when needed. The user connects to a trolley or shuttle device that glides their connection along the horizontal lifeline as they work and perform their tasks. If a fall occurred at any time, the user would be in line with their connection device, and it could begin arresting their fall immediately. Additionally, linear systems allow for multiple workers to connect to the same system, likely decreasing the total number of anchors that would be required for single-point systems with just as many users.
Remember, while the inherent safety of various fall protection systems may seem similar, the safest choice is always the equipment that workers will use correctly every time. Neglected or improperly used fall protection equipment helps nobody and can cause unanticipated injuries or fatalities.
Rooftop Anchor Inspections and Certifications
Once the fall hazards are identified and solutions are installed, it is essential to ensure proper maintenance occurs for all rooftop fall protection equipment. While every piece of equipment should be thoroughly inspected before each use, OSHA requires annual inspections to be documented. All pieces of fall protection equipment are subject to a yearly inspection by the organization’s Competent Person.
Fall protection anchors are included in pre-use and annual inspection requirements as well. However, equipment owners should know if their anchors were subject to certification upon installation. Suppose the anchor in question was purchased from a safety vendor or directly from a fall protection manufacturer, and installation was followed to the exact instructions set by the manufacturer. In that case, it’s likely to be a non-certified anchor. In some ways, the name is a misnomer because these anchors are simply pre-certified by the manufacturer before being made available for sale. They will be tested and compliant with all applicable OSHA and ANSI requirements.
Certified anchors are either rated for structures that cannot withstand a load of 5,000 pounds or are part of an active fall protection system. Very commonly, these are formerly “non-certified anchors” simply being used in scenarios that warrant further verification of structural or system capabilities. Certified anchors must be “recertified” by a Qualified Person or engineer every five years. The recertification process includes a visual inspection, a horizontal load pull-test, and several other factors.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, since 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported an increase in the number of fatal falls occurring year over year. Over the past 3 decades of data, there has been a 17% increase in the number of fatal falls that occur each year. Moreover, fall protection requirements have led OSHA’s Most Cited Violation list for the past 14 consecutive years. Until falls are entirely prevented by engineered or controlled means, the best we can hope for is to lessen the severity of injuries during fall arrest. Completely eliminating fall hazards is the only surefire way to prevent fall injuries and fatalities.
Providing robust rooftop fall protection can be a tedious task requiring thoroughness and attention to detail to ensure organizations adhere to OSHA regulations and workers are being properly protected from avoidable injury. When assessing rooftops for fall hazards or proposing fall protection solutions, companies like Diversified Fall Protection can provide valuable insight for employers and business owners who desire to maintain a safe building and healthy workforce.
