Whether you are the worker climbing that roof or a roofing contractor, it is in your best interests to have roof falling safety measures in place. When workers are safe, business booms and lives are saved. Every year, workers and contractors fall while carrying out roof projects, resulting in injuries and sometimes death. The good news is that there are many ways to mitigate the risk of roof falls happening to you and your workers. Read on to find out more.
Specific Fall Protection Equipment
There are federal guidelines that mandate for specific fall protection equipment and electronic systems to be used by construction workers. Most fundamentally, any contractor setting out on a vertical venture should have a guard rail system, a safety net, and a personal fall arrest (PFA) system planned for, taken seriously, and set up. For lower sloped roofs, a warning line system and additional safety monitoring systems should be installed.
All these systems and equipment should be chosen depending on the circumstances of the project. When in doubt, keep to federal guidelines, otherwise you run the risk of lawsuit if something goes wrong. For example, properly employing safety nets is a complicated venture. There are weight limits and material requirements to be decided depending on the project being undertaken.
For the equipment being given to each individual worker, such as harnesses, ensure that they are the right fit and have workers sound off if their harnesses are too loose or are damaged. It goes without saying that regular inspection of all this equipment should be carried out.
Fall Protection Training
Employers are mandated to instruct their workers on how to use the safety equipment issued to them and have them trained them on rescue techniques in case the worst happens.
Fostering a Safety Culture
Never rush a risky roof job. Contractors who trap themselves in a corner with deadlines have no choice but to push workers harder, and when that happens, the odds of an accident multiply. Effort should also be put into ensuring risky areas are cordoned and all the relevant people informed. Discuss safety often, and don’t do it in wishy-washy ways either, that only has the opposite effect.
All these come together in a major way in building a culture of safety. Safety culture must always be implemented from the top down, so it is the responsibility of business owners to foster it. They also stand to gain the most from promoting a culture of safety. However, it does not mean that workers don’t have a part to play. If a contractor is playing hard and fast with the rules, let them know you’re not willing to risk your life.
For more details on roof safety solutions, come to Starr Industries. We are a leading provider of scaffolding and construction solutions. Contact us today to learn more.
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