Residential Roofs

Because of difficulties in training residential roof workers, elimination of hazards seems to be the most feasible goal.  A large enough crane capacity and boom length, plus pre-assembly at ground level, can go a long way toward the elmination of fall hazards.

Residential roof installations should be viewed as opportunities for creative fall protection, particularly using the upper wall studs and cross members as a railing rather than a working surface.  This can be accomplished through the use of temporary plywood floors and stepladders.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 339.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!

Cable System Anchorages

Cable systems used for anchorages around buildings or structures on the roof should be made of stainless steel, with fittings attached according to the wire-rope manufacturer’s instructions or standard rigging handbooks.  Cable systems used for anchorages should be designed, installed and tested by a licensed professional engineer experienced in such design, prior to being used for the attachment of suspension or fall arrest lines.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 346.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!

Ladder Types

Ladders comprise an almost infinite combination of steps and handholds for ascent and descent from one level to another. In general, there are 12 inches between each level, and the horizontal gripping element and foot placement are called “rungs”.  Rungs can be supported by side rails at each end, typically 16-18 inches apart.  If ladders can be moved by hand or crane, they are called portable.  If they are bolted or welded to the structure, they are called fixed.  Sidestep refers to rungs that continue up and the climber steps to a platform at the side.  A walk-through is a series of rungs that stop, but the side rails continue up and the climber exits to a platform between the side rails.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 121.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!

Hazards – Lanyards used for Fall Protection

It is common practice for a worker to wrap a lanyard around a structural steel section for protection against falling.  It was discovered during laboratory testing that 5/8-inch-wide (16 mm) 3-strand nylon lanyards lost up to 90% of their original strength when arresting a fall.  The test was performed according to CSA Standard Z259.1-M1976.  Similar tests on 7/8-inch-wide nylon web lanyards ended with no arrest at all.  In both cases the lanyards’ loss of strength was caused by cutting action of the edges of the I-beam.

See “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” page 92.

Order your copy of “Introduction to Fall Protection, 4th Edition” today.  This invaluable resource will take you from the structure design stage to post construction maintenance. Click to find out more!