F.A.Q
10 Things every Facilities Manager needs to know about Roof Safety Compliance!
Safety at roof level might is non-negotiable and also involves a maze of laws, codes and standards. Below are the top 10 questions we are asked by Property Owners and Managers that want to ensure they are staying on the right side of the law and meeting compliance.
- What are the general design requirements for roof access systems?
The need to provide a safe workplace under HSE legislation applies to roof access and it is the responsibility of the “controller of the workplace” to ensure this happens. HSE detail specific requirements for access and fall prevention. The legislation requires a risk assessment conducted in accordance with the hierarchy of controls, which is different for fall prevention than other areas of risk. Fall prevention hierarchies are prescriptive and stipulate the control measures to be used. - Is there a legislative requirement to upgrade the roof access systems of older buildings that conformed with the HSE and Building Regulations when they were built?
The overriding legislative requirement is to provide a safe workplace and to comply with current HSE legislation – irrespective of when the building was erected. - What are the legal requirements to update ladders if the roof access system does not comply with HSE regulations
Failing to meet an HSE Standard referenced in a regulation is effectively a breach of the law, Under the HSE regulations, there are no exemptions from the ongoing requirements to assess risk, consult, train and so on. - What are the general requirements when it comes to the provision of walkways and handrails on the roof? Do walkways need to be provided to plant located on the roof?
Begin with a risk assessment and let the hierarchy of controls guide equipment selection. Guardrails eliminate high and medium-level fall hazards. Walkways matched with guardrails eliminate high-level fall hazards presented by brittle surfaces. Walkways alone eliminate low/medium-level trip hazards on flat roofs and high-level fall hazards on pitched roofs. They also provide a designated path of travel to plant and equipment. They also protect the roof surface. - Is a Mobile Man Anchor a suitable form of Fall Prevention?
When required in a location where it’s not viable to fit a Guardrail system, or there isn’t a regular requirement for roof access, Mobile Man Anchors provides a cost effective solution, without compromise to safety. Easy to manoeuvre and assemble, a system weighs approx 280kg, constructed from galvanised mild steel and weighted down with a rubber and steel weights, and is considered a suitable form of Fall Protection. - What is defined as an “unprotected edge”? What is the distance that a person can safely work from an unprotected edge?
An unprotected edge is any area which presents a fall hazard of more than 2 metres from the ground. The lineal distance from the fall hazard varies with the pitch of the roof and the legislation refers to eliminating fall hazards “in close proximity” to unprotected edges.
While 3 metres from the edge of a flat surface may be perceived as a low risk, the same distance on a 15 degree pitch would present a high risk because, if anyone fell, they would keep on rolling over the edge. Having said that, it’s a good idea to establish quantifiable guidelines for audits and risk assessments, to prevent them from becoming too subjective. - What height should the parapet be to ensure adequate fall protection?
A minimum of 1100mm measured from the standing surface. - Should roof access be restricted and, if so, to what level?
The level of restriction depends on the type of fall prevention equipment available and the tasks performed on the roof. A high level of user skill is required for roof anchors and static lines, however much lower skill levels are required for edge protection guardrail systems, which justifies less restrictive access. - Is a permit system required to control roof access?
A permit system is the best way to control roof access. The complexity of the permit is determined by the control measures. Easy to use controls (eg: guardrail) allow a simpler permit system but controls requiring a higher level of skill (eg: anchors and static lines) are more complex and require a lot more administration. - What is the role of signage in a roof access system?
Signage is the least preferred control measure for fall prevention. It is a level 5 control, that should only be used to complement higher order controls, rather than as a primary control measure. Danger signs are most commonly used for roofs.
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