The Inspections Department is an integral part of our company. Fall arrest and tie-back anchors (for window washing systems and fall protection equipment) are required to be inspected annually in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations and the Department/Ministry of Labour. Our mission in this Department is two-fold: To develop first hand experience and maintain an expert team of Inspectors in this highly …
Strength & Force Standards
Many people do not have first hand experience with fall arrest and tie-back roof anchors (for window washing systems and fall protection equipment) and are not versed in high-rate energy performance methods. An ideal fall arrest and tie-back roof anchor is designed to meet the strength and force standards contained in Federal OSHA 29CFR1910.66 Appendix C. To arrest a fall in a controlled …
Working With Concrete
Whether it is new construction of retrofit; there is always a way to install window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection equipment. While equipment can be installed on structural steel or even wood structure, the easiest structure to work with is reinforced concrete. It is the most cost effective and does not typically require access to the underside or localized …
Roof Anchor Design Principles
The selection of proper roof anchors is critical and requires an in depth knowledge of fall window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection codes and rigging methods. Also, recognizing that each building is different, most architects, developers, and general contractors find the selection of a professional roof anchor company a daunting task. Lifelines A standard lifeline is 5/8 inch (1.59 centimeters) in diameter …
Working At Heights
Everyone is responsible for preventing falls when working at heights. The building owner/property manager/owner’s representative, the self-employed contractor, any subcontractor and the worker are all responsible for safety considerations when on a roof. The concern for health and safety on a roof becomes critical as soon as someone steps foot on a roof (and not just when they “get close” to the edge). All …
Davit Systems
I often hear people referring to window washing systems as davit systems. While this certainly is true it is not the only way to complete window washing (see The Roof Anchor and Roof Anchors Explained for more). So what exactly are davits, davit arms, davit bases, and davit systems then? Davit Arm Assemblies Davit arms are commonly used to rig over non-structural parapets, decorative …
Basics of Fall Protection
Our industry is most commonly associated with window washing systems and suspended maintenance systems. Because of this, fall protection (specifically on low-rise buildings) is often overlooked. Fall Arrest vs. Fall Restraint “Fall protection” is actually a term that encompasses the method of either “fall arrest” or “fall restraint”. Fall arrest prevents a person from reaching the ground (once a fall …
The Roof Anchor
There are many different types of equipment that are installed for window washing, suspended maintenance, and fall protection. They can include (but are not limited to): roof anchors, wall anchors, soffit anchors, davits, rigging sleeves, horizontal trolley’s, monorail, gantry’s and roof cars. With all the customized equipment out there – nine times out of ten it is a simple roof anchor that gets the job done! …
Working Near Electrical Hazards
If you are washing windows in a downtown metropolis city, you will certainly be working close to live power lines. Whether it is working from a: Bosun’s chair Ladder Temporary platform Scaffold working near hydro lines can be dangerous! Unfortunately, some property managers and maintenance workers do not fully understand the risk that these lines present. Making the Area Safe In …
Customized Rigging Sleeve
Pro-Bel was recently faced with the problem of installing a rigging sleeve on an existing building where we had no access to the ceiling below the roof. The interior atrium of the building could not be cleaned (or maintained) because there was no lift/platform that would reach the height required (and there was no other access point to install any …