Choosing the Right Fall Protection System for Building Safety

Why Choosing the Right Roof Anchor Matters

The safety of workers who perform maintenance tasks on rooftops is a critical concern for building owners and those who are responsible for designing the building. A compliant and efficient fall protection system is needed to ensure no accidents occur.

For commercial or multi-story residential buildings, it’s recommended that a permanent rooftop anchorage system is put in place when certain conditions are present.

Considerations for Fall Protection on Rooftops

Before determining what type of rooftop fall protection system is needed, a few considerations need to be made. The roof's layout must be taken into account to determine if permanent roof anchors are required.

Is there equipment on the rooftop that will require a worker to perform maintenance at some point?

When a commercial building has equipment that will need maintenance and does not have an adequate parapet, a fall protection system needs to be installed. Rooftop equipment such as HVAC, solar panels, water tanks, drains, etc., need maintenance, and if they’re within 6 feet of an unprotected roof edge, there needs to be a fall protection system in place.

Does the rooftop have a substantial fall distance?

A fall from any height poses the risk of injury. Any unprotected roof edge with a significant drop, typically over 6 feet, requires a fall protection system. The greater the fall distance, the greater the risk for potential images.

Is there an adequate parapet?

The height requirement for a parapet to not need fall protection is 42 inches (although it varies by region). Any area of the rooftop with a parapet under this height needs either a guardrail or tieback anchors to prevent a fall.

If the building doesn’t meet these requirements, you should consider a temporary fall protection system. This article explains the difference between temporary and permanent.

Importance of fall protection systems

Liability and worker safety: A proper fall protection system protects workers and minimizes the building owner’s liability in the event of an accident.

Reducing Workplace Fatalities: It’s a leading cause of workplace deaths: Falling from heights is one of the most common causes of serious work-related injuries and fatalities. A fall protection system is needed to reduce this risk of an incident.

Safety regulations: Compliance with OSHA and other safety regulations mandates the use of some form of fall protection for any fall risk.

Types of Fall Protection Systems for Rooftop Safety

Single-point tie-off anchor

As the name suggests a single point tie-off is a permanent roof anchor situated next to rooftop equipment within a hazard zone. It’s usually comprised of one tieback anchor (or sometimes two)that workers tie themselves on to approach equipment that's close to the roof edge.

This is typically incorporated on rooftops that only have few areas in the hazard zone where a worker may need to traverse.

Horizontal lifeline system

A horizontal lifeline system is a series of multiple tieback anchors with a cable running through them. Workers attach themselves to the cable and traverse the rooftop while being restrained from approaching the roof edge by the system. Below is an example of what an HLL system looks like:

When a single point anchor system is not viable for the rooftop set up, a multi-span anchored cable system is used to provide workers with travel restraint or fall arrest. This system consists of several tieback anchors aligned to be able to reach all areas of the roof via the attached horizontal lifeline. These provide more freedom for workers while simultaneously preventing them from going over the edge.

These systems are best for roofs that don’t have an adequate parapet and have equipment set up near the hazard zone throughout the roof.

Choosing the right fall protection system is vital for maintaining the safety of workers and meeting regulatory requirements. Permanent rooftop anchorage systems, such as single-point tie-off anchors and horizontal lifeline systems, provide reliable and continuous protection. By incorporating these systems, building owners can significantly reduce the risk of falls and ensure a safer working environment for maintenance personnel. Prioritizing the installation of effective fall protection systems is essential for safeguarding workers and mitigating liability.

More on the Blog