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Roof hatches are a common feature on roofs and are necessary for employee access to any industrial facility rooftop. They are sometimes known as scuttles. If the term sounds nautical, that’s because it is also used to refer to the entryway holes in a ship's deck. On industrial facility rooftops, the term refers to the small opening that is big enough for a single person to fit through and which comes equipped with a lid big enough to cover the hole when not in use.
One safety risk that facility managers sometimes overlook is the fall hazard involved with rooftop access hatches. Falls are a constant risk among rooftop workers which makes managing roof hatch fall protection for industrial facilities a critically important job. Vigilant adherence to safety rules and practices is the surest way to protect workers from mishaps.
When it comes to managing fall protections around hatches and the roof access they provide, there's a lot to think about. Here are five tips that will help you improve your safety record and protect your employees.
It may seem self-evident but shutting the hatch is something that workers often forget when they are in a hurry or have their hands full of equipment. Shutting the hatch lid/door is the simplest way to reduce the chance that a worker (or tools, equipment, materials) will accidentally fall down the hatch to the floor below. Train employees to keep their own safety top of the mind and strive to shut the door every time they come in and out of the hatch. Roof hatch fall protection is everyone's job.
In addition to other roof hatch fall protection procedures, hatch doors must be clearly marked with either color-coding or emblazoned with the words "hole" or "cover".
All hatch doors must be securely fastened from wind, equipment, or worker activity and support twice the weight of workers, equipment, or materials that may be on the door at any time. Keeping the hatch closed is, of course, the simplest way to ensure roof hatch fall protection, and it helps eliminate potential wind damage to the hatch door.
Rooftops often are the location for air conditioning units or other facility operating systems that periodically require employees to use a roof hatch for access to conduct routine maintenance on those systems. Naturally, there also may be times that workers must repair the roof itself. It is natural for a building manager to want to protect workers who need access to the roof through a hatch when they engage in such activities.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations (1910.28(b)(3)(iv), et seq.) require roof hatch safety rails around the openings in rooftops, whether they are rooftop access hatches, ladder entryways, or just a hole in the roof.
In addition, OSHA requires that any rooftop opening that is within 15 feet of the rooftop edge must be secure against falls with safety guard rails. It's not enough to use personal fall arrest systems when it comes to the rooftop opening – proper rooftop safety often requires safety railing systems, and they must meet certain important specifications.
OSHA requires that managers install safety guard rails capable of withstanding 200 pounds in a downward gesture within two inches of the top edge and at any point along the rail. Roof hatch safety rails must also have a smooth surface. This requirement is so that workers will not sustain injuries when the skin comes into contact with the rails.
The answer here is fairly straightforward: given that chains are generally not considered to be an acceptable solution, self-closing gates are the better option. A complement to the roof hatch safety rails, a self-closing safety gate is a good way to protect against falls from the top of the entryway to the hatch when the hatch remains open during rooftop activity. Workers with hands full do not have to worry about closing the gate at the top, the gates automatically shut after the worker walks past the gate.
A ladder safety post is a telescoping steel post that attaches permanently to the top two rungs of a fixed ladder in the roof's access hatch. The post provides a stable place for workers to hold onto when entering or exiting the hatch and helps ensure their bodies remain upright and balanced. Body stability is a crucial factor in preventing ladder falls.
OSHA guidance says the ladder safety post should extend 42 inches above the landing (as required for guardrails) to grant safe access to the roof through a hatch.
Safety railing systems should also include grab bars. Safety grab bars placed at the outside of the roof hatch provide handholds for workers while they come in and out of the hatch. Grab bars are often applied to two corners of the safety railing system.
OSHA does not specifically require grab bars; however, OSHA requires safety guard rails around roof hatches that are left open while workers are on the roof, and grab bars prove a helpful addition to safety railing systems as well.
In addition to the obvious priorities of employee safety and avoiding costly accidents, compliance with these tips help your company avoid major fines. Fall protection violations are among the most common OSHA violations. OSHA defines a serious violation as one in which an employer knew or should have known that not remedying a situation may result in serious injury. OSHA's 2021 penalty for serious violations is a minimum penalty of $975 per violation and a maximum of $13,653 per violation. Willful or repeated violations face a penalty of a minimum of $9,753 per violation and a maximum of $136,532 per violation. These maximum penalty amounts may be indexed for inflation. OSHA inspectors may elect not to penalize a minor violation, but they must impose fines for serious violations.
OSHA violations that show wanton disregard for the possibility of serious injury are considered willful, or intentional, violations of OSHA rules. The minimum penalty for each willful violation is a minimum penalty of $5,000 for each violation and the maximum is $70,000 for each violation. For violations that result in an employee's death, the maximum penalty is $10,000, six months imprisonment, or both.
In addition, OSHA may refer willful violations to state district attorney offices. State prosecutors may bring criminal charges for the most egregious violations.
To ensure that your facility has the equipment and expert guidance you need for roof hatch fall protection and all your rooftop safety needs, partner with a proven leader in the industry. BlueWater is that industry leader, committed to excellence in safety and fall protection, and we’re ready to help you. Talk to our team of rooftop safety specialists today.