Safe first ascents and final descents and setting rope anchors on roofs
Q: When will you fall?
A: Exactly when you don't want to.
Fact: Falls off roofs and ladders are common and a leading cause of death and injury in the workplace.
Fact: You don't have to take the risk of falling if you have the knowledge, tools, and skills to set up safe access and working conditions. And, if you don't have these ... it's ok to pass the job onto someone else who does and then you can take the time to learn.
Opinion: Almost every roofer knows someone who fell, or has fallen themselves. Often, I see fall survivors in ABC, Lowe's or Home Depot and you pick them out by their visibly painful walk down the roofing or painting aisles. Yes, painters take crazy risks, and suffer often.
Q: What will stop you when you fall?
A: Reflexes ... perhaps and good luck. Snow guards or the gutter ... perhaps and good luck. A tight rope ... yes. Ground ... yes. You actually get to choose what will stop your potential fall each time before you climb.
I've witnessed (multiple times) tough, talented, agile men totally lose their composure when bees/wasps appear and reflexively begin swinging at them with their hammer ... eyes wide. So, anchor in. Live long.
Current Fact: OSHA does not require fall protection for roof inspections and the first ascent.
Fact: They do require employers provide safe working conditions.
Opinion: Who cares if you get a free pass from OSHA on inspections and first ascents. A fall is just AWFUL physically, fiscally, and emotionally whether or not fall protection was required. We set up safe 1st ascent systems on almost every job and it usually takes about 30 minutes. As of this moment, we've had 3 falls by 3 different people, on 3 different job sites in the last 20 years. Our ropes have saved us 3 times.
Below are some videos that show how we set up our systems.
Ecclesiastes: "There is nothing new under the sun." Arborists have been doing this for years. We have chosen to learn from them and adopt some of their techniques into our roofing practice.
A: Exactly when you don't want to.
Fact: Falls off roofs and ladders are common and a leading cause of death and injury in the workplace.
Fact: You don't have to take the risk of falling if you have the knowledge, tools, and skills to set up safe access and working conditions. And, if you don't have these ... it's ok to pass the job onto someone else who does and then you can take the time to learn.
Opinion: Almost every roofer knows someone who fell, or has fallen themselves. Often, I see fall survivors in ABC, Lowe's or Home Depot and you pick them out by their visibly painful walk down the roofing or painting aisles. Yes, painters take crazy risks, and suffer often.
Q: What will stop you when you fall?
A: Reflexes ... perhaps and good luck. Snow guards or the gutter ... perhaps and good luck. A tight rope ... yes. Ground ... yes. You actually get to choose what will stop your potential fall each time before you climb.
I've witnessed (multiple times) tough, talented, agile men totally lose their composure when bees/wasps appear and reflexively begin swinging at them with their hammer ... eyes wide. So, anchor in. Live long.
Current Fact: OSHA does not require fall protection for roof inspections and the first ascent.
Fact: They do require employers provide safe working conditions.
Opinion: Who cares if you get a free pass from OSHA on inspections and first ascents. A fall is just AWFUL physically, fiscally, and emotionally whether or not fall protection was required. We set up safe 1st ascent systems on almost every job and it usually takes about 30 minutes. As of this moment, we've had 3 falls by 3 different people, on 3 different job sites in the last 20 years. Our ropes have saved us 3 times.
Below are some videos that show how we set up our systems.
Ecclesiastes: "There is nothing new under the sun." Arborists have been doing this for years. We have chosen to learn from them and adopt some of their techniques into our roofing practice.
60 second video.
10 minute detailed video and our most popular video on YouTube.
2.5 minute video.
Continuous fall protection while coming down using the V-18 ridge anchor.
