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Your commercial facility's rooftop is the perfect location for mechanicals like your HVAC systems, filtration systems, chillers, plumbing, surveillance equipment, and more. It's out of the way and protected due to its location. Performing maintenance on rooftop mechanicals is imperative for their longevity and efficiency, and the end of summer is the perfect time to prep your roof for the coming harsh weather of fall and winter. But to connect with plumbing, ductwork, or power supplies, rooftop equipment is often placed near the leading edge or by roof openings, presenting a fall hazard for workers. To keep them safe, you need to provide edge fall protection such as a safety rail system or parapet guardrail. You also need to protect rooftop equipment and roof openings with metal guardrails to be compliant with all relevant OSHA regulations and to keep maintenance workers safe.
The Importance of Maintenance on Rooftop Mechanicals
Rooftop mechanicals have an average lifespan from 10 to 30 years, depending on the equipment. That said, you want to get as much life out of yours as possible because it's expensive to replace. Annual inspections and end of summer maintenance ensure that you get a higher return on your investment increasing its useful life. Some examples of rooftop equipment that needs annual maintenance include:
HVACR Systems
Filtration Systems
Chillers
Security and Surveillance
Solar Power Panels
Rooftop Fall Hazards Maintenance Workers Face
End of summer is the perfect time to address maintenance and repairs on rooftop mechanicals. The weather is pleasant and it's easy to get multiple days in a row without rain to finish a job. But don't let the sunny weather fool you. It is always dangerous for workers to climb onto your roof, and you must be focused on keeping them safe. Some of the most common fall hazards equipment maintenance technicians face include:
The leading edge
Uneven rooftop surfaces
Open roof hatches and ladder openings
Unprotected skylights
Holes more than 2" in diameter
Loose roofing material or debris
Ductwork, conduit, and pipes
Restricted access areas
Keeping Maintenance Workers Safe on the Roof
While the best way to protect workers from falls is to eliminate the hazard, that isn't possible on a rooftop. In fact, exposure to fall hazards like the leading edge cannot be completely avoided by workers performing essential maintenance tasks. This is because rooftop mechanicals are often placed close to the edge and openings due to space constraints and budget issues. Therefore, you need to make every effort to provide OSHA-compliant protection for workers such as:
A Parapet Guardrail for Edge Protection
Many industrial buildings have a parapet surrounding the roof's perimeter. Although you may think that this is adequate edge fall protection, it may not be. Remember that parapets must meet the same height requirements for guardrails (42" plus or minus 3") to be OSHA compliant fall protection. If yours does not meet this requirement, you will need to add a parapet guardrail that brings the total height up to 42" in order to fully protect workers.
Metal Guardrails for Edge Protection
If your building is not equipped with a parapet, you will need metal guardrails or the equivalent for edge fall protection. Guardrails have to meet height and strength requirements noted in OSHA 1910.29. Notably, they must be 42" tall, capable of withstanding 200 lbs of force on the top rails and 150 lbs on mid rails. Guardrails also must be made of smooth, snag-free materials.
Metal Guardrails for Equipment Protection
A guardrail system installed around your HVAC, chillers, or filtration maintains a safe perimeter for maintenance workers as they perform their duties. The addition of a self-closing safety gate further limits and controls access to these sensitive and potentially dangerous rooftop spaces. Ductwork and pipes that pose a trip and fall hazard should also be protected with raised midrail guardrails.
A Modular Handrail System for Rooftop Walkways
Maintaining control over foot traffic on your roof is vital to protecting the roof's surface, equipment, and employees. Whether the roof is flat or there are uneven surfaces, specified walkways are essential. An OSHA-compliant modular handrail installed at walkways provides workers with a handhold that makes traversing the roof safer.
A Ladder Safety System for Fixed Ladders
Whenever maintenance workers need to climb a fixed ladder that's more than 24 feet above the previous level, you need to provide fall protection. If the ladder was installed before November 19, 2018, it must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system, ladder safety system, cage, or well. Per OSHA, fixed ladders installed after November 19, 2018 must be equipped with a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system.
Protecting Roof Access Hatches
If maintenance workers must access the rooftop from the building's interior, they'll emerge from a rooftop hatch. When a hatch door is closed, it's safe for workers to be near or walk over. However, an open hatch is very dangerous. A metal guardrail system installed around three sides as well as a self-closing gate that opens away from the roof hatch will keep workers safe.
Protection for Fragile Skylights
One of the most delicate features of any industrial rooftop are the skylights. They're designed to let in as much natural light as possible, but they are not structurally strong. In fact, skylights are often constructed of glass and plastic which isn't capable of handling weight. Skylights screens or guardrails must be installed to keep busy maintenance workers from stepping on these fragile rooftop surfaces.
Is Your Commercial Rooftop Ready for Summer Maintenance?
You know that your rooftop mechanicals need maintenance and repairs regularly. You also know that you can't send maintenance workers up on a roof that's unsafe or you'll face OSHA's wrath. Before you authorize any rooftop maintenance, perform a thorough safety inspection with a qualified safety expert. Note any hazards that need to be addressed and make a plan to install adequate OSHA-compliant fall protection equipment before anything happens that puts workers at risk.
OSHA is very clear that it's the responsibility of employers to provide a safe workplace, which includes providing fall protection at heights of 4' or more. Your commercial rooftop certainly meets these criteria. Contact the roof fall protection experts at Bluewater today to discuss your rooftop fall protection needs. Whether you need a parapet guardrail system to beef up your edge protection, a modular handrail around walkways, or metal guardrails for equipment and edge fall protection, let us provide the OSHA-compliant equipment you need to protect workers and meet regulatory requirements.
