As a safety manager, you know that rooftop fall protection devices are required by OSHA to keep employees safe, even if the work being done is infrequent or for a short time. That means you'll need to make sure there's an adequate barrier to keep employees from reaching the leading edge where they are exposed to the most danger. Perhaps you’re thinking that since your building has a parapet, it’s enough to provide fall protection and keep you OSHA compliant. The truth is, that may not be the case. You could be placing your workers in a dangerous situation or risking a fine without even realizing it.
A roof parapet is a permanent wall that surrounds the roof's edge and extends above the roof's surface. Many roofs are equipped with a parapet around their edge. Historically, parapets were used to defend a building against military attacks. These days, however, they're used to modify the wind flow, prevent objects from falling over the edge, to provide fire protection, and to improve the building's aesthetics. A parapet can also provide a certain degree of rooftop fall protection, but is it sufficient to keep workers safe and avoid OSHA compliance violations? The answer to that question is: it depends on the parapet.
Parapets can range from a few inches to a yard tall, depending upon the design of the building. The height of a parapet also varies depending on its intended purpose. For example, when a parapet is designed to hide rooftop equipment such as an HVAC unit, it may be more than 3 feet tall. In some cases, the parapet may be as short as a few inches. And, of course, some building roofs don't have a parapet at all.
Some parapets can help keep employees safe by protecting them from the roof's leading edge. According to OSHA guidelines, parapets have to meet the same height requirements for fall protection as any other rooftop fall protection device. The regulations state that parapets, guard rails, and roof safety railings have to be 42 inches tall, plus or minus 3 inches, to provide adequate fall protection. If your parapet is shorter than 39 inches, it's simply not high enough to meet the guidelines and isn't considered sufficient.
A short parapet is a potential fall hazard for workers who need to get close to the roof's edge while they're performing their work. Not only that, but a short parapet without additional fall protection devices could result in fines and penalties for being non-compliant. If your parapet doesn't meet the OSHA height requirements for fall protection devices, it's not adequate fall protection and you're going to need to find another way to make sure your employees are safe on the roof. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, depending on your specific needs and wishes for the building.
A short parapet doesn't have to mean a dangerous rooftop for workers. While the parapet height is set, there are ways to increase its height to make sure it's compliant. In many cases, guard rails can be mounted on the inside or on top of the existing parapet to bring it up to the required height. A great example of this type of device is a parapet roof safety guardrail extension, which is OSHA compliant and is considered a permanent passive fall protection solution.
Another way to increase the height of your parapet is to install a temporary parapet railing system. Parapet safety guardrail systems are designed to be OSHA compliant, versatile, easy to install, and easy to relocate if needed. The system is put together using C-clamps that are designed to work on a parapet. The posts are installed 8 feet apart and 2 x 4 lumber is used as the railing in between the posts.
If you're looking for a rooftop fall protection device that doesn't rely on your roof's parapet, full-height guard rails may be your answer. These non-penetrating roof safety railings are tall enough and strong enough to be OSHA compliant, and they can be customized to any color to suit your building's aesthetics. You can install this type of device as a temporary or permanent fall protection solution on your building.
It's necessary to perform maintenance and repairs on your facility roof and the systems it holds in order to keep it in good condition. That may mean sending workers up on the roof on a regular basis, or it could be something that only needs to be done a couple of times a year. No matter how often workers access your building's rooftop, you know that the OSHA regulations state that it's your duty to provide fall protection anytime work is being performed. You also know that if you fail to do so, you're putting your workers in unnecessary danger and that you're putting your company at risk as well.
Your employees are your most valuable asset and your business simply wouldn't exist without them. You already make sure that they are paid a competitive salary, provide benefits like health insurance, and you offer a great retirement package. Those things are all great, but remember that they also depend on you to provide them with a safe working environment, both inside and on top of your building. That means you have to take fall protection seriously—for their safety and for your bottom line. When it comes to rooftop fall protection, that means making sure your parapet is either tall enough, or that it's protected with guard rails and roof safety railings that increase the height.
If you have questions about whether your parapet meets OSHA standards, feel free to reach out to the BlueWater team. We’ll help you get your roof up to code so you can focus on more pressing issues, like running your business.
