Preventing rooftop falls in the shipbuilding industry is critical. Workers may need to repair various parts of your roof, use it to access the top of large ships, or perform routine maintenance that helps to keep your facility safe and functional. But if your facility focuses on the manufacture of large ships, providing reliable, OSHA compliant fall protection for workers and maintenance crews on your roof can be a big challenge. Larger ships typically mean larger buildings, and larger buildings typically mean more rooftop space with more fall hazards. But there are solutions available to protect both your workers from falls and your facility from heavy OSHA fines.
Here is an overview of the OSHA rooftop fall safety requirements and typical fall hazards that can impact your facility and the specific types of equipment that can be used to protect people that access your roof. By installing the appropriate roof fall protection system or systems your shipbuilding facility can continue to run as efficiently as possible while keeping the people who work in and on it safe.
OSHA requires fall protection whenever there’s an elevated area four feet or more below a lower level. However, OSHA does not provide strict guidelines for the specific type of fall protection system that needs to be used in most of these situations. There are a number of rooftop fall safety solutions to choose from, and picking the right solution, or combination of solutions, depends on the specific needs of your facility.
Knowing where falls are the most likely to occur is key when it comes to taking the most effective steps to prevent them. Here are some of the most common places on a shipbuilding facility’s rooftop where workers run the risk of falling or becoming injured, as well as steps you can take to prevent mishaps in these areas.
A leading edge is the edge that runs around the perimeter of your roof. They’re found on every rooftop and are arguably the hazard that poses the biggest risk to workers and crews. To keep these workers safe and reduce the risk of leading edge falls on your facility, consider installing an industrial guardrail or horizontal lifeline system around the roof’s perimeter. HLL systems and guardrails come in a variety of designs and configurations, meaning you’re sure to find the ideal rooftop fall safety system for your facility.
Like most industrial facilities, the rooftop of your shipbuilding facility likely houses equipment like HVAC systems. This location is ideal for big manufacturing facilities to hold large equipment because it saves space inside for the production materials. But this means that maintenance crews will, at some point or another, need to safely access the rooftop. Installing the proper machine guarding equipment like guardrails helps to create easy access and increased safety for workers.
Fixed ladders and ladderways are a common way for rooftops to be safely accessed by workers, but that doesn’t mean they’re free from the risk of falls. Having guardrails at both the base and the top of the ladder protects employees from falls, while still providing access when needed. And as always, check the OSHA regulations in your area to ensure your ladderways stay compliant.
Roof openings like hatches and skylights are another area that poses serious risk of injury to rooftop workers on shipbuilding facilities. Even when properly closed, depending on their construction, these spots can only support so much weight, and a fall through one can result in significant injury to an employee. The use of an industrial guardrail around a hatchway or the installation of a skylight screen on a skylight can keep your workers safe if they encounter these hazards in the course of their duties.
According to OSHA, it’s the responsibility of business owners and managers to provide a safe working environment for employees. That means keeping employees safe from falls on your rooftop should be priority number one. But on top of that, prioritizing rooftop safety will keep your business operating on schedule, meeting deadlines, and staying profitable. Safe workers are productive workers, and eliminating the need to deal with downtime due to injuries, replacing an injured employee, or paying a hefty OSHA fine will positively impact your bottom line.
At BlueWater, we are here to help you determine the best ways to prevent falls at your shipbuilding facility. Whether you’re looking to install an industrial guardrail, need HVAC machine guarding, or require some other roof fall protection system, you can trust the professionals at BlueWater. Contact us today to learn more about the fall prevention solutions that might work best for you.
