Best Practices for Fall Protection in Commercial Roofing
There are thousands of different kinds of jobs in this country. But did you ever stop to think about which ones are the most dangerous?
According to Roofing Contractor magazine, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) says working in the roofing industry is one of the top three most fatal occupations in the US. The BLS’ 2024 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary report showed the roofing industry experienced 134 workplace fatalities in 2023, which is an 8 percent increase from 124 in 2022.
Since logging and fishing & hunting workers are the only other two civilian occupations with higher fatality rates—98.9 percent and 86.5 percent respectively, it’s paramount to hire a roofing company that puts safety first.
Thankfully, Capital Roof Care (CRC) is at the forefront when it comes to commercial roof worker safety and fall protection, regardless of the commercial roof type. CRC takes a consultative approach when it comes to recommending a roof fall protection system for its customers.
“We look at a facility, assess the roof, and determine the OSHA and other requirements, while also considering our customer’s budget,” said Merv Fisher, CEO at CRC. “Then we propose solutions that will make the most sense for our customers’ situation. Our goal is to provide the best solution for the best price.”
To prevent accidents from occurring, there are three best practices facility managers should implement when it comes to fall protection in commercial roofing. This includes developing a plan and selecting the right equipment, ensuring your roofers are properly trained, and monitoring your roof regularly.
Planning & the Right Equipment
The best defense is a good offense; so, the first best practice when it comes to fall protection in commercial roofing is to develop a plan. “The site-specific safety plan for your facility should detail potential hazards, risk management strategies, and safety protocols that protect everyone from employees to visitors,” said Fisher. The plan should specifically include the identification of fall hazards, roof pitch, roof access points, and weather considerations.
As part of this plan, facility managers should also select the right fall protection system for their facility. There are two basic types: active and passive. An active fall protection system has dynamic parts and requires workers to use/wear specialized equipment to prevent or stop a fall.
The two most common active fall protection systems are:
Fall Restraint System
Typically uses a fixed-length safety line to prevent a worker’s center of gravity from extending past the roof’s edge.
Fall Arrest System
This system stops a fall in progress before a person hits a lower level, such as another roof or the ground. This system often consists of a safety harness, retractable lanyard, and anchors.
Building owners should provide tie-down or anchor points on the peak of a roof, where workers can clip in and attach their personal safety equipment. These anchor points should be rated for 5,000 pounds per worker or engineered to meet OSHA criteria.
Passive fall protection systems, on the other hand, feature stationary devices that do not involve the worker using personal fall protection equipment (although workers still need an active system if they are working beyond the boundaries of a passive system).
There are five types of passive fall protection systems:
Guardrails
Guardrails are primarily used for rooftop perimeter fall protection and safety around roof hatches. Permanent guardrails are built into a building at the time of its construction or retrofitted (cemented in) later.
OSHA-compliant fixed/permanent guardrails include:
- Steel Fixed Mounted
- Steel Metal Deck Mounted (Modular)
- Aluminum Top Mounted (Modular)
- Aluminum Side Mounted (Modular).
OSHA-compliant non-penetrating roof guardrails include:
- Steel Guardrails
- Steel Guardrails (Modular)
- Aluminum Guardrails (Modular)
- Steel Grate & Guardrails.
Portable systems, such as those consisting of cast-iron plates with guardrails attached, provide building owners with the flexibility to take their fall protection system with them if their business relocates to another location.
Parapet walls
A parapet wall is a low protective wall along a roof’s edge. It serves as a barrier to prevent people from falling off a building. Parapet walls also have other advantages; they offer some protection against wind and help block debris from landing on the roof.
Warning lines
Warning lines serve as a visual barrier to alert workers that they are approaching an unprotected roof edge. OSHA requires warning lines to be erected on all sides of a roof work area.
The warning lines should be set up to keep workers back at least 15 feet from an unprotected edge. Since the setback distance must eliminate exposure and the risk of a worker falling over the edge, you may need to increase this distance to mitigate risks in certain situations. Factors such as weather, visibility, the slope and condition of the work surface, and roofer experience can all increase the risk of a fall.
Screens and covers
Covers or metal screening are solutions used to prevent workers from stepping into skylights, vents, and other roof openings.
Roof hatch rails
The roof hatch is where people climb up to access the roof. Unfortunately, this area is often overlooked as a fall hazard, especially if the hatch door is left open. According to OSHA, a guardrail must be present at any opening on a rooftop. This includes hatches, ladderways, and holes. By creating a barrier, rails prevent falls.
Netting
Roof safety netting serves as an additional measure around guard rails to catch workers if they fall. Fall protection nets significantly enhance roof safety by acting as a barrier to prevent and minimize potential injuries. According to OSHA, safety nets must be installed as close as practical under a working surface to effectively arrest the fall of any worker who may inadvertently slip or lose their balance. Regular inspections and adherence to safety regulations and standards are essential for maintaining the effectiveness of personnel safety nets.
Another item that should be considered when it comes to roof fall protection is access ladders, which are permanently fixed or portable and designed to provide rooftop access. Unfortunately, falls from ladders can cause major injuries and fatalities. As such, roofers must ensure they are using the right ladder, which also adheres to OSHA guidelines. Moreover, when a roofer uses a ladder, they should check to ensure it is secure and that they maintain three points of contact.
The roof type you have will help determine what active and passive fall safety systems you should implement for your commercial roof. Knowing the pitch of your roof is critical for following appropriate safety standards. According to OSHA, a low slope roof (4:12 slope or less) should follow this OSHA standard: 29 CRF 1926.501(b)(10), while a steep roof (above 4:12 slope) should follow this OSHA standard: 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(11).
Training
The second best practice when it comes to fall protection in commercial roofing is ensuring roofers are properly trained. In addition to providing fall protection and the right equipment, employees must be trained in how to use roofing equipment safely. “More specifically, employers must train workers in hazard recognition and in the care and safe use of ladders, scaffolds, fall protection systems, and other equipment they will be using on the job,” said Fisher.
The four specific areas roofers should be sufficiently trained in include:
- Understanding the requirements of OSHA’s Fall Protection standards at 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M, to protect workers exposed to falls six feet or more above a lower level
- Implementing safe work practices to reduce the possibility of falls
- Supervising workers to ensure fall protection equipment is used and maintained correctly
- Leading by example – all employees must follow the rules they are responsible for enforcing.
Fall protection training must be conducted by a competent person and include information on:
- How to recognize fall hazards and what procedures to follow to minimize them (29 CFR 1926.503(a)
- How to inspect, erect/disassemble, and maintain fall protection equipment (29 CFR 1926.503(a)(2)(ii)).
Retraining will be necessary if any employee indicates a need for it or when previous training becomes obsolete, due to changes in working conditions, fall protection systems, or equipment.
Monitoring
The third and final best practice when it comes to fall protection in commercial roofing is monitoring your roof regularly with an industrial roof assessment.
“A regular commercial roof maintenance program can help prevent someone from falling through the roof or tripping on loose roofing material or other debris,” said Fisher. “Roofs with a wood substrate or metal decking can also easily succumb to water damage and pose a fall-through risk.”
Regularly scheduled industrial roof inspections will ensure roof elements are intact and identify if anything needs to be repaired to ensure performance and safety. Finding and fixing minor leaks before they compromise the integrity of a roof and the structure beneath it complements other fall protection measures.
Optimally, building owners should consider a commercial roof maintenance plan in addition to a fall protection plan. A roof maintenance plan will ensure regular inspections take place and small problems are detected and repaired early on—before they create larger issues, like an emergency roof repair service.
As you can see, there’s much to consider—forming a plan and selecting the right equipment, training, and monitoring—when it comes to following the best fall protection practices for commercial roofing. Thankfully, CRC is here to help you! We will look at your facility, assess your roof, determine OSHA and other requirements, consider your budget, and propose solutions that make the most sense for your situation. Our goal is to provide the best solution for the best price.
Moreover, we walk the walk! At CRC, we require our employees to wear active, personal safety gear, and all our workers undergo intense safety training. You can rest assured that your company is in the most capable hands when we’re at your site and on your roof.
Contact us today, so we can schedule an appointment to discuss the best fall protection practices and fall protection systems for the type of commercial roof at your facility.
Sources:
https://www.procore.com/library/site-specific-safety-plan
https://caisafety.com/guardrail-fall-prevention-systems
https://simplifiedsafety.com/blog/roof-hatches-overlooked-roof-hazard
https://therooftechnician.ca/roof-safety-tips/what-is-the-role-of-fall-protection-in-roof-safety