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Winter can be daunting, especially for maintenance and repair crews on industrial rooftops. Snow piles on the rooftops can create challenges, such as blocking the facility's vital sections, damaging crucial systems, like drainage and HVAC, and risking structural failure. While snow removal is critical, it's important to do so while promoting a safe environment for the work crews performing the job.
Falls remain one of the leading causes of workers sustaining severe injuries during snow removal. All the more reason to ensure your pharmaceutical facility has the latest rooftop fall safety systems. Therefore, deploying leading edge fall protection and safety railing systems to facilitate roof work safety has never been this crucial.
OSHA has put fall protection regulations in place to ensure your employees are safe when working on the roof. These regulations provide that each employee you assign for snow removal does so safely.
OSHA 1910.28 mandates that “the employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by one or more of the following: Guardrail systems; Safety net systems; or Personal fall protection systems, such as personal fall arrest, travel restraint, or positioning systems.
If your workers are on a low-slopped roof or close to an edge, any of the following safety gear can be used together:
Guardrail system
Roof warning line system
Horizontal lifeline system
Personal fall arrest system
Safety monitoring system
Safety net system
In addition to utilizing the above safety gear, training workers on the proper use of leading edge fall protection systems and recognizing hazards that could lead to injuries or damages is beneficial in creating a safer work environment. Scheduling regular audits and testing of the safety equipment before use will also ensure it remains OSHA compliant and in tip-top condition.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that it's better not to remove minor snow accumulation to prevent damaging the roof membranes. However, when snow accumulates heavily on the rooftops, that's a different story.
Some reasonings as to why removing snow from your pharmaceutical facility's rooftop is beneficial:
Helps to avoid the formation of ice dams which can lead to water damage and water leakages inside the building and its systems.
Prevents the chance of slip and fall accidents and property damage when the accumulated snow falls on walkways.
Facilitates better ventilation by allowing hot air to rise from the facility, ensuring moisture doesn't accumulate, and eliminating the risk of mold growth.
Prevents the build-up of debris which could fall and injure staff, visitors, and passersby.
Improves the facility's curb appeal to ensure your business should always make a long-lasting impression by making the exterior of the building more attractive.
Ensures the integrity of the roof structure.
Improves the longevity of the roof system by preventing cracking and other structural problems caused by excess snow and debris on the roof.
Enhances rooftop safety for maintenance staff, employees, and visitors by eliminating potentially dangerous obstacles on the roof.
Facilitates the installation of leading-edge fall protection and safety railing systems to promote roof work safety in/on the facility.
Fall hazards are present in all areas of a pharmaceutical facility. However, the roof is one of the most dangerous places for workers, especially when there's snow and ice.
Workers who are on the roof doing snow removal should be on the lookout for common risks such as:
Snow covering a skylight.
Snow covering an uneven ledge.
Unsecured access ladders and scaffolding.
Loose or dislodged roofing materials, such as shingles and tiles, which when hidden under the snow could cause slip-and-fall accidents.
Various systems on the roof, including plumbing systems, chemical pipes, and electrical connectors, which may create tripping hazards or damages when struck or ruptured.
Aerial lift malfunctions, collapses, or tip-overs.
Potential entrapment under heavy snow drifts if a worker were to slip and fall in the snow.
Lack of leading edge fall protection and safety railing systems, such as guardrails, to promote roof work safety.
Pharmaceutical facility managers should ensure proper safety measures to protect employees and visitors. Here are the most common solutions to these types of fall concerns:
Leverage the appropriate fall protection and safety railing systems around fall hazards to ensure your maintenance workers can remove the snow in a safe environment.
Train your maintenance and repair workers on the proper use of fall protection equipment (OSHA STD 1910.132(f)(1) and 1926.503(a)(1)).
If possible, remove the snow without accessing the roof using safe and secure ladders, scaffolds, and aerial lifts to apply de-icing substances and drag lines or snow rakes from the ground.
Identify and mark rooftop features that could become potential hazards, such as electrical and power lines.
Limit your workers' time removing the snow to prevent physical overexertion and exposure to the cold.
Seek professional advice through OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program on promoting roof work safety during snow removal.
Snow removal isn't just about maintaining your pharmaceutical facility and keeping it in good condition, but also about safety.
That's where BlueWater comes in. We are experts in cutting-edge fall protection and safety railing systems to promote safe work environments for workers operating on the roof.
We provide cost-effective, ultra-modern, OSHA-compliant safety equipment to facilitate safe snow removal on pharmaceutical facilities and other industrial rooftops. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you promote rooftop safety in your facility and avoid OSHA fines and citations.