Safe maintenance at height

Working at height means additional risks. There are several ways to reduce the risk of falling. Secured work and installing hanging ladders and fences along edges can make the difference between safe and unsafe work.

Security

If the fall hazard exceeds 2.5 meters, provisions must be made that involve fall protection. Source approach is the most desirable solution and personal protective equipment is the last option. This strategy therefore involves trying as much as possible to eliminate the problem at the source.

Hanging ladder

A commonly used safeguard is the hanging ladder. Suspended ladders can be mounted directly on an existing roof. Suspended ladders come in different types and can be expanded with work platforms. By the way, suspended ladders may be used up to a maximum height of 10 meters. Above 10 meters, a permanent stair facility is required.

Building Code

The current Building Code specifies that in new construction, measures must be taken from the time of construction to safely maintain a building. The minimum requirements for a safe roof can be a fixed roof edge protection that allows the roofer, chimney sweep, lightning protection technician, air conditioning and installation companies to perform safe maintenance.

Opinion

An independent safety expert should conduct a Risk Inventory and Evaluation as early as the design phase of a building. They can then determine exactly what should be present for your building as a minimum.

The measures to be taken when working at height for maintenance can then be included in the Risk Inventory. This could be a fixed aerial work platform or a permanent roof railing. At Roof edge protection.co.uk there are specialists who are knowledgeable about the risks and provide targeted advice to prevent fall risks.

There are places at higher elevations where installing permanent or temporary collective fall protection is not feasible. There are other solutions for this, such as individual fall protection. These include a cable system with anchor points and the use of personal protective equipment. A PPE kit for working at height includes: a harness, fall block, work line and a walker. There are many choices in harnesses, for example.