Do you know the 4 methods of fall protection? For all employers who have workers who carry out work on a flat roof, it’s crucial to keep these methods in mind to ensure that your employees are protected. Each year, falls from heights are responsible for more than 18% of fatal accidents. This is why it’s crucial to know the right methods to prevent a tragedy.
So, without further ado, here are the 4 most effective methods of fall protection to protect your employees who work on the roof.
Methods of Fall Protection: Prevention, Awareness, and Training
One of the most overlooked methods of fall protection is prevention and awareness. If you have employees who work at height, it’s important to make them aware of the risks. Take the time to hold awareness-raising sessions where you remind them to properly inspect their work area. After all, a poorly placed tool can cause a misstep and lead to a fall.
Some employers wrongly assume that employees will always remember to inspect their work area. Unfortunately, to err is human, and this can have tragic consequences. Refreshing the memory of your workers through drills, training, or prevention and awareness-raising sessions is a great way to prevent accidents.
Knowing the Standards and Regulations
Whether you’re an employer or an employee, knowing the standards and regulations in effect in the province is crucial. In Quebec, it is permitted to work without fall protection on a flat roof more than 2 metres from any place that poses a fall risk. However, a warning line must be installed to mark off this at-risk area.
Warning! Although the statistics are true, low risk doesn’t mean no risk. We therefore still recommend the use of guardrails to protect workers from falls.
Methods of Fall Protection: Protect the Means of Access
When we talk about fall protection methods, we’re not just talking about protecting the edge of the roof. There are many other places where workers can fall and injure themselves. For example, we recommend always using guardrails to protect:
- Skylights;
- Access ladders;
- Access hatches.
You also have several types of guardrails, because some are specifically designed to protect these elements of your roof. By protecting the entries and openings in your roof, you increase the level of safety during the work and reduce the risks of falls.
An extension ladder can also be stabilized using an extension ladder stabilizer. The stabilizer poses no risk to your roof, since it is installed without perforations. It therefore ensures that your extension ladder is stable and protects your employees from falls.
The Right Protection Systems
Finally, in addition to prevention, knowing the laws, and protecting the at-risk areas, having the right protective equipment is an undeniable advantage. Here are some suggestions from our experts to ensure the safety of your workers around the edges of your roof.
Temporary Guardrails
If you have work to carry out on your roof, temporary guardrails are for you. You simply have to install this fall protection device according to your needs on job sites or during short-term work. Thanks to their carrying handle, you can easily move them where they are required.
They will provide much more effective protection than a few planks of wood nailed together. Don’t make the mistake of building an ineffective wooden guardrail that doesn’t meet any safety standards. Temporary guardrails meet all Canadian OHS standards.
Freestanding Guardrails
Time and again, a freestanding guardrail system remains the most effective solution to protect your employees from falls. There is no better method of fall protection for flat roofs.
While temporary movable guardrails are perfect for work, Delta Prevention’s freestanding guardrails are ideal if you want to install permanent fall protection around the edge of your roof.
In addition, despite being permanent, these systems pose no risk to your roof. They can be installed quickly, easily, and without perforations, since the material that makes up their base adheres to the surface.
If you want to learn more about the methods of fall protection, contact us. One of our experts will be pleased to take your call and answer all your questions.