Spring Rooftop Maintenance & Horizontal Lifelines - The Ideal Safety Combo

With that in mind, one of the best times of the year to perform general maintenance and cleaning on an industrial roof is in the spring. The snow has generally melted, but left behind may be a variety of materials and debris accumulated during the fall and winter months that need to be cleared. In spring the temperatures are pleasant and the weather is fair, making it more comfortable and safe for workers to get the job done. However, the risk of falls increases anytime maintenance activities occur on the roof. Therefore, rooftop fall protection is still a must during spring cleaning.

In this article we’ll cover the places on your roof that need the most attention and how the help of one of the most effective, versatile, and affordable fall safety devices, a horizontal fall arrest system, will make the job that much easier.

Rooftop Spring Maintenance Tasks That Put Workers at Risk

During the winter months, snow, ice, and debris all collect and compact on your commercial roof. In early spring, the snow and ice melt leaving behind piles of wet debris and puddles. It's not only unsightly, but it can also cause severe damage to your roof such as leaks. Even a small leak can lead to major damage to the building. The only solution is for workers to climb onto the roof to manually remove debris and clean, which puts them at risk of falls in several ways:

Climbing Stairs and Ladders

In order to access the roof, workers will often need to climb a set of stairs or a fixed ladder. Throughout the winter, however, they've accumulated a layer of debris and are slippery and hard to navigate. Ladders or stairs that are exposed to the elements may be coated in ice or water, which can result in a worker falling. Carrying tools, supplies, and equipment when traversing dangerous stairs and ladders is even riskier. It is recommended that you give the stairs leading to your roof a good clean before even beginning with rooftop cleaning.

Cleaning and Flushing Gutters

As the snow and ice melt and the spring rains begin, your building's gutters may get clogged with dirt and debris. With nowhere else to go, the water will back up and stay on the roof, causing damage. Workers must clear the length of the gutter to ensure water flows freely. This puts them in a precarious situation that could end up in a nasty fall from the roof that results in severe injuries. There is also a risk of injury to those below if tools or equipment are dropped.

Clearing Debris from Skylights

Another area that must be attended to on your commercial rooftop are any present skylights. Because they allow natural light to penetrate the interior, it's important that they are clear of snow and debris throughout the year. It can be difficult for workers to see skylights that are covered with debris and it's easy to step on one and fall through. The risk increases when supplies, materials, and other items are near or on the skylight.

Roof Membrane Maintenance and Repairs

One of the most important aspects of rooftop maintenance for commercial buildings is addressing the membrane. Although designed to withstand the elements, the membrane can be torn, punctured, or slashed by the harsh winter weather. Inspecting the membrane requires workers to get close to the leading edge as well as skylights, roof hatches, uneven surfaces, and other hazards, risking a fall and serious injury.

How to Protect Workers During Spring Roof Maintenance

While rooftop maintenance is important, the safety and well-being of your employees is even more so. You're already aware of your obligation under OSHA 1910.28 to provide fall protection anytime workers must perform their duties at a height of 4 feet or more. You also likely realize that OSHA doesn't say what form of rooftop fall protection you must use in a given situation. In fact, OSHA fall safety equipment must be chosen by the building owner or manager based on the roof structure and the needs of workers. Here are some recommended forms of rooftop fall protection to ensure your workers get the job done safely and efficiently.

What Is the Best OSHA Roof Fall Protection Option?

The answer to this important question is, it depends upon your roof size, shape, and style. Guardrails are a common form of OSHA fall safety equipment for flat roofs, but depending on the particulars of your rooftop, and the work being done, this may not be the proper solution to keep your employees safe. One of the most effective ways of ensuring workers are safe on the roof in these cases is to use a horizontal fall arrest system. In fact, there are several reasons a horizontal fall arrest system is the ideal roof fall protection solution during spring rooftop maintenance:

• Prevents workers from falling over the leading edge while performing gutter cleaning and other maintenance tasks. The benefit of a horizontal lifeline is that it won't impede the workers like a guardrail would.

• Extremely large roofs that are not generally accessible to unauthorized individuals may not be good candidates for a guardrail system. However, a horizontal fall arrest system can be used to protect workers on the rare occasion they enter the roof.

• Extremely large rooftops typically have ample leading edge areas. Installing guardrails may not be the most cost-effective solution in these scenarios – meaning a horizontal fall arrest system may be the more ideal way to provide maintenance workers with fall protection safety.

• During these spring cleanups, maintenance crews typically consist of multiple workers. While guardrails provide OSHA compliant fall protection in most scenarios, when multiple employees are on a rooftop at once in a concentrated location, a horizontal lifeline system can provide more reliable fall protection.

• Sloped, architecturally intricate, and crowded rooftops are not suitable for standard guard rails. Any rooftop slope greater than 2:12 isn’t compatible with a guardrail system. However, a horizontal lifeline can be installed down the center or along the edge of the roof, regardless of the slope, obstacles or design. Workers can then safely take care of the tasks at hand.

Any time that installing a permanent or modular guardrail on the rooftop is not feasible, a horizontal lifeline system is a good choice.

How to Get OSHA Fall Safety Equipment You Can Rely On

As your employees take on spring rooftop maintenance jobs, you need to take action to ensure that they are protected from falls by providing OSHA-compliant rooftop fall protection. If you fail to do so, someone could get hurt and you'll wind up paying OSHA fines and penalties. That's the last thing you need or want. Don't put your employees or company at risk, contact Tractel® today to talk to one of our qualified safety experts about how a horizontal fall arrest system can protect and benefit your employees.