When dealing with roof heights, certain products and procedures need to be used and maintained. To ensure the safety of your team working at heights, be it carrying out repairs on roofs or cleaning windows on skyscrapers, the correct equipment needs to be made available. In countries such as Australia it’s also a requirement by law to provide height safety at all times.
Besides wearing the right gear when working on roofs, your team will also benefit from secure roof anchor point installation, both permanently and temporarily. And the best way to ensure this installation is done properly is to use the experts. Professionals in the height safety industry are trained and equipped to give you the best advice and products for your particular roof safety needs.
Inspection before and after installation of roof safety anchors and other height safety equipment is essential if you want to keep your team safe whenever working above ground level.
Why Inspection of Site is Essential Before Installing Roof Anchor Points
Roof anchor points and other height safety equipment are designed to be used in a variety of jobs. To get optimum safety when using these products, the site should be fully inspected by professional experts in the height safety industry.
These experts are trained to assess every situation and advise you on the right gear and equipment. This way, you have peace of mind your team is as safe as possible. Before installing roof anchor points, the height safety expert will examine the rooftop for any structural faults such as rot, damage, or decay. This includes inspecting the condition of the rafters and trusses.
Trained experts will also inspect the type of roof covering and determine if it’s solid enough for installing roof anchor points. This means the roof structure needs to be strong enough to hold a specific minimal tensile load stipulated within the safety standards for roof anchor points.
A trained expert will also need to inspect the area surrounding the point of installation. Risk factors such as swing fall hazards and free fall limits need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to install roof safety anchors or not.
Inspection before installing roof anchor points also includes identifying the type of work being done. In addition, they need to determine if the right personnel are available to use the safety equipment and how often the roof anchor will be used. Other considerations include system design and maintenance.
Inspections: What Needs to be Done?
Inspecting Roof Anchor Points Before Installation
When the site has been approved for installation of roof anchor points, the height safety expert should also inspect all equipment before installing it. This means inspecting the roof safety anchors and ensuring they’ve been manufactured according to the safety standards stipulated by the local regulatory or authority board.
To meet Australian height safety standard requirements stipulated by AS/NZS 5532:2013, the supplier of height safety equipment needs to ensure all roof anchor points:
- Meet both performance requirements and test methods
- Are properly marked and labelled
- Able to pass both static and dynamic tests to be compliant
A trained expert will only use top-quality products. Before installing roof anchor points, they’ll ensure these items have been manufactured correctly and are traceable to the factory they originate from.
When inspecting the roof anchor system, the expert will check for any defects, damage or missing parts before installation. By checking all is in good working order, you can rest assured your team will be safe once the system has been installed.
Regular Inspections After Installation
In order to stay compliant with height safety regulations and to keep your team safe whenever they’re working on roofs, regular inspections of roof anchor points should be performed. A qualified technician should carry out annual inspections of all roof anchor systems to ensure there’s no damage or wear and tear.
Regular inspections will also ensure that maintenance is properly performed to keep the roof height safety equipment working optimally. Repairs and maintenance need to be done by certified technicians in order to meet the safety standard requirements.
All fall protection systems should also be inspected after there has been a fall. This will determine if any damage has occurred and if repairs or replacements of parts need to be performed. This includes checking if the roof anchor points are still solid, properly anchored and functioning as they should be.
Final Thoughts
Roof height safety is essential if you want to keep your team safe and your business reputable while being compliant with the Work and Health Safety Act, 2011. By hiring the professionals in height safety equipment, you can have peace of mind you’re working with the best equipment. The right inspections, before and after installing roof anchor points, mean you’re covered knowing your height safety team are safe whenever working above.
