From warehouses to architecturally complex office or education buildings, no two roofs are alike, meaning their fall protection solutions won't be either. For a complete roof safety system, it's necessary to continually seek creative and custom solutions to outlier situations, such as unique structural elements that standard fall protection systems can't always navigate.
Even with a customizable, non-penetrating metal guard rail, it can be difficult accommodating oddly sized parapets, ductwork crossing the leading edge or any other irregular structural elements on a flat roof. But no matter the circumstances, the safety manager's responsibility to comply with all safety regulations is unchanged.
Designing your complete rooftop fall protection system is non-negotiable for staff working on one of the highest elevated surfaces. This is true of all roofs accommodating OSHA-designated "general industry work," including:
Warehouses
Distribution centers
Food processing facilities
Educational institutions
Office buildings
Commercial & industrial buildings
Manufacturing facilities
Government buildings
High-rise buildings
Single-level structures
Fall protection regulations apply to these surfaces not because of their exact height, but because a rooftop’s height from the ground is enough to present potential fall hazards that workers need protection against. This means that the same types of fall protection systems are often suitable for any roof or walking working surface.
A comprehensive roof safety system will usually require 100% complete leading edge fall protection, simple and effective guardrails, and any specially designed components unique to your structure. Above all, what's important is that you find compliant fall protection equipment that functions as intended regardless of a structure's specific features.
It's important to see fall protection and any workplace safety matter as more than a single task, challenge or regulation to fulfill. Rather, a more complete job will only come by looking for (A) the most effective fall protection solution and (B) opportunities to meet fall safety requirements in multiple ways.
This leads most safety managers or facility owners to the world of modularity, which can be adjusted as needed to accommodate not just new safety requirements, but more efficient workflows and changing equipment layout.
The full array of rooftop edge protection equipment encompasses a wide range of safety devices, including:
Non-penetrating modular guardrails, having become ubiquitous with modern rooftop fall protection, work on virtually any building type or elevated surface. They fulfill the widest possible range of fall protection and access control functions, such as leading edge fall protection, machine guarding, skylight, interior opening protection and more
Self-closing safety gates, which are required for rooftop hatches, are also the simplest way to maintain easy access and maximum fall protection at exterior ladders, dangerous equipment and stairwells
Horizontal safety cables, made to securely integrate with standing-seam metal or concrete rooftops between 0° and 15° of slope. These are useful when structures (such as scaffolds) have limited space that would preclude guardrail base plates
Warning lines, which easily function in parallel with guardrails and are sometimes required at six feet (1.8 m) or 15 feet (3.7 m) from a leading edge. On roofs smaller than 50 ft (15.25 m) wide or when a controlled access zone has been established, a control line is adequate (see OSHA's 1926 Subpart M Append. A and 1926.501[b][2][ii], respectively)
Solar-powered safety lights, which maintain construction area lighting requirements (see OSHA 1926.56[a]), for any after-hours maintenance emergencies or other low-light conditions
Non-penetrating industrial metal guard rail solutions are becoming increasingly popular because they preserve roof materials and allow for fast repositioning with minimal tools, even without outriggers. That's possible because the vertical rails install into heavy base plates instead of cutting into the roof's surface. This not only makes for faster installation times and reduced costs, but for building owners, it often preserves the roof's structural integrity, whereas standard penetrating guardrail installations can immediately void a warranty. Modular railing also functions as a temporary fall protection system, due to their ease of repositioning.
Most building owners will also have their eye out for the aesthetic quality of the building's features. For instance, bright yellow railing could be seen from below, and not every railing is made with form in mind as much as function.
However, there's no conflict between safety and style with the right non-penetrating metal guardrails, such as:
Portable folding guardrails, in the event the building owner wishes to maintain clean sightlines until rooftop activity is required
Architectural roof guardrail systems, which have sleek, clean lines and are devoid of unnecessarily attention-grabbing design elements. They also come in three styles, namely (A) a curved incline, (B) a straight backwards incline and (C) straight, upright stanchions
Just as usability and accessibility are important elements for workflow and safety, maintaining a roof's aesthetic qualities does not always conflict with the need for a complete roof safety system—if you're relying on the most innovative leading edge fall protection systems, that is.
Finally, always know your local, OSHA and/or CCOHS regulations. Because fall safety regulations don't mandate specific products, countless innovative fall protection devices are now available.
However, this presents an added responsibility for safety managers and employers to know both their equipment and regulatory standards forwards and backwards. Always look for a fall protection product's official test results to be sure the device meets its intended function and compliance standards.
Today, roofing structures and their materials vary widely. So too do many fall protection systems on the market today.
When comparing any metal guard rail or other rooftop safety device, you will be able to better resolve your long-term needs if you thoroughly understand (A) your rooftop's unique and nuanced fall protection challenges and (B) the regulatory standards that apply to your region and industry. BlueWater can help on both fronts, and do what it takes to ensure our customers receive nothing but fully vetted, tested and compliant fall protection systems.
BlueWater is a leader in the fall protection equipment industry and we engineer all of our products both to order and the customer's satisfaction. To start working toward your complete roof safety system solution, contact us and tell us about your rooftop's specific fall protection challenges.
