Skylights add a great deal of aesthetic appeal to the interior of any industrial facility by letting in abundant natural light. Brighter work areas are not only better to look at, they're also healthier places for employees. In fact, skylights can help boost employee morale, improve employee satisfaction, increase productivity, and decrease your operating costs. However, along with the benefits of having skylights comes the increased risk to workers and maintenance crews for rooftop falls. It's essential that you provide adequate skylight fall protection to both protect your workers and to remain compliant with OSHA regulations.
Your facility is full of potential fall hazards and at the end of the day, it's up to you to minimize or eliminate as many as you can. And it's not just the interior of your building that you need to be concerned about. It's also about your rooftop, and in particular the potentially dangerous openings, including holes in the roofing, access hatchways, and skylights. While OSHA doesn't specifically say which roof fall protection systems you should be using, it does set forth requirements for each type of device, whether passive or active.
Your level of compliance depends solely upon the type of fall protection devices you're employing to keep workers safe. If you're using guardrails to protect the skylights on your facility's rooftop, and they meet the following criteria, you're likely in compliance with OSHA fall protection regulations. If not, you may want to consider making adjustments to your fall protection setup to improve safety and decrease the likelihood of fines and penalties for non-compliance.
Whenever using safety railings as a form of fall protection, they must satisfy the minimum OSHA requirements stated for that circumstance or specific hazard. This includes being constructed of a strong material that is smooth and won't snag worker's clothing or skin. Skylight guardrails must be at least 42” (+ or - 3”) above the working/walking surface and be able to withstand a sustained force of 200 pounds applied in a downward direction.
There are several benefits to installing skylight guardrails, not the least of which is they won’t restrict the light that comes in through the opening. When safety railings are in place, they're a highly visible warning to employees, contractors, and other rooftop visitors to steer clear of the area. Because of their height, they're highly effective at arresting a fall without any action on the part of the employee or anyone else.
If you're already using skylight safety screens, and you haven't updated them recently, there’s a chance you may be out of compliance. Prior to 2017, the OSHA regulations said that skylight screens had to be constructed and mounted in such a way that they could handle a load of at least 200 pounds applied perpendicularly at any one area on the screen. The rule also stated that the skylight screen could not deflect downward sufficiently to break the glass below.
The newest skylight screen requirements still say that employers are responsible for making sure that each skylight or other hole in the walking/working surface is protected. But the language used to describe screen requirements has changed. The new rule states that covers have to be “capable of supporting without failure” twice the maximum intended load expected to be applied to the surface, which is a broader interpretation of the fall protection provided by the device. Also, it’s now stated that the cover must also be secured to prevent accidental displacement.
In addition to the rooftop fall protection systems noted above, it may also be necessary to provide your workers with personal fall protection devices. This may include a harness, lanyard, anchor points, and either temporary or permanent lifelines. Whatever combination of personal fall protection devices you choose to use, you must make sure that they're OSHA compliant for the application.
Employees should be trained to consistently and properly use any personal safety equipment whenever they're at risk. It's necessary to provide ongoing training to ensure safety is the number one priority among workers. In addition, every piece of safety equipment must be thoroughly inspected before use. If any defects, tears, frays, or abrasions are noted, the equipment shouldn't be used.
Once you understand your options for protecting the skylights on your facility's roof, you need to decide what option is right for you. Will you go with safety railings that surround the perimeter of each skylight or a screen cover for each? Is it necessary for workers to use personal fall arrest devices in addition to the passive fall protection? Are your current fall protection systems adequate or do they fall short of meeting the requirements for fall protection?
Some of these aren't easy questions to answer and if you get it wrong, you're not only putting your people at risk, you're also setting your company up for potential financial and legal issues. You're going to need a qualified individual to advise you on the best course of action to keep your employees safe and to make sure that your facility’s fall protection is OSHA compliant. Ultimately, though, it's up to you to choose the appropriate devices and fall protection systems based on the building and your needs.
Fulfilling your safety obligations as an employer isn't always easy. This is especially the case when OSHA regulations change or are difficult to understand. If you aren't paying close attention, you could find yourself out of compliance. Not only is that a dangerous situation for your employees, it could end up costing you in terms of fines, penalties, and potential injury claims.
You know that rooftop fall protection is vital and that it's your responsibility to make sure every inch of your roof is safe. At Bluewater, we also understand how important it is to protect your employees from fall hazards in your facility. We're industry experts who have the experience, training, and products to maintain the highest levels of safety both inside your building and on its rooftop. When you partner with us, you can be sure that your skylight fall protection, and all of your other fall protection measures meet or exceed the OSHA standards for safety.
