Photo: Our new V-3.5 Permanent Roof Truss Anchor - for lifting roof assemblies into location, and left in place for permanent fall protection .
DON'T SKIMP
Your anchor point is the most critical part of your fall protection system. Other workers may hook into when you are not using it, so be picky about what and how you install any roof anchor. Regardless of what the manufacturer may claim, think it through before you install it, or clip into it.
My criteria for choosing an anchor:
My criteria for choosing an anchor:
- Inspect the anchor for damage or corrosion.
- Inspect the fasteners. Is the anchor installed according to the manufacturer's installations with the proper fasteners?
- Are the fasteners installed into a roof rafter?
- Will the anchor hold 2 times the maximum possible applied load?
- Will the anchor be side-loaded, and if it is, will it pull free and send the user plummeting?
Specified by architects regularly, our V-8 permanent (shown above), and our V-18 patent-pending permanent anchor (shown below) each meet a 5,000 load requirement in any direction and is fully inspectable from the safety of the attic.
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Learning from other's mistakes is better than making them yourself.
HERE: Too Many Users, Side Loads, and Improper Fasteners:
This photo was taken during a consultation visit for permanent anchors. Notice the water stains; they run downhill.
- The anchor is side-loaded and installed exactly 90 degrees in the wrong direction. It is 80 feet to the ground.
- The wrong fasteners are used and the decking here was 3/4" plywood (no rafters accessible) - the directions call for screws in all 32 holes.
- The anchor is rated for 1 user only and 3 people were using this simultaneously, if 1 person fell, anyone else attached to this anchor would join them in a heap on the ground in about 1.4 seconds.
- The rope condition is deteriorated, and I suspect the yo-yos have not been inspected and certified.
If you are concerned about safety, use this photo as a teaching tool.
If you are concerned about OSHA, use this as a teaching tool for safety and avoid paying a lot in fines. If an OSHA inspector witnessed 3 people on this anchor, I suspect the fines would add up quickly. Although they vary, at the moment the minimum fine per violation is $13,000 but could go as high as $130,000 depending on the severity and is this a repeat offender?
3 users with "improper fall protection" x $13,000 = $39,000.
3 "lack or training" x $13,000 for another $39,000. FYI: OSHA requires documentation of proper training.
That's $78,000, and an invitation to inspect the rest of your job site.
All your ladder decals intact? Everyone wearing safety glasses? Hardhats? Frayed electrical cords? Grounding plugs intact? Scaffolding perfectly installed? All of the sudden you may have $400,000 in fines, that unfortunately ... you earned.
Train your team well.
Have them keep (and turn in) signed daily safety checklists.
Have them send you daily site safety photos.
Keep a record of your training sessions.
Reward them during spontaneous, random inspections if they earned it.
If you are concerned about OSHA, use this as a teaching tool for safety and avoid paying a lot in fines. If an OSHA inspector witnessed 3 people on this anchor, I suspect the fines would add up quickly. Although they vary, at the moment the minimum fine per violation is $13,000 but could go as high as $130,000 depending on the severity and is this a repeat offender?
3 users with "improper fall protection" x $13,000 = $39,000.
3 "lack or training" x $13,000 for another $39,000. FYI: OSHA requires documentation of proper training.
That's $78,000, and an invitation to inspect the rest of your job site.
All your ladder decals intact? Everyone wearing safety glasses? Hardhats? Frayed electrical cords? Grounding plugs intact? Scaffolding perfectly installed? All of the sudden you may have $400,000 in fines, that unfortunately ... you earned.
Train your team well.
Have them keep (and turn in) signed daily safety checklists.
Have them send you daily site safety photos.
Keep a record of your training sessions.
Reward them during spontaneous, random inspections if they earned it.
Rope Anchors - Best, Most Versatile, Quickest Option.
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Rope anchors are absolutely critical for our 1st safe ascents, last descents, and small repair jobs (like the one shown above).
If I can do the repairs off a rope anchor in half a day or less, generally I'll use the rope anchor entirely and avoid any additional roof penetrations. Generally, I can set one in place in about 15 minutes. We use the Big Shot slingshot (Amazon) and the Petzl gear shown below. The two videos below, illustrate how we set up rope anchor systems and may answer most of your questions. If you have more questions, simply contact us and we'd be happy to answer them. There's no need for anyone to ever get hurt trying to fix a leaking roof.
If I can do the repairs off a rope anchor in half a day or less, generally I'll use the rope anchor entirely and avoid any additional roof penetrations. Generally, I can set one in place in about 15 minutes. We use the Big Shot slingshot (Amazon) and the Petzl gear shown below. The two videos below, illustrate how we set up rope anchor systems and may answer most of your questions. If you have more questions, simply contact us and we'd be happy to answer them. There's no need for anyone to ever get hurt trying to fix a leaking roof.
You can learn about the Petzl gear and purchase it directly at Petzl.com via the photo links below.
CONNEXION VARIO
Adjustable anchor strap. ANSI Z359.18 $84.95 - $99.95 |
JET Throw-bag
Buy 2 of these because you'll get one stuck in a tree sometime. Retail $20.95 
AIRLINE
Throw-line Retail $34.95 
ECLIPSE
Storage for throw-line. Retail $79.95 |
Temporary Roof Anchors
Boy! This is a fascinating topic and I could spend half a day discussing this with you, or at least until your eyes glazed over.
How many roof types do we have ... ?
Now, for our mathematicians, how many combinations of the support system and roof types do we now have?
Yikes! All of this guides our temporary anchor choice.
Now, what are our other concerns ... ?
How many roof types do we have ... ?
- asphalt shingle
- 10 kinds of metal profiles and styles or more
- slate
- cedar
- many kinds of tile
- imitation slate (rubbers, resins and plastics with some UV resistance)
- roof rafters and 1 x sheathing
- rafters and 3/4" plywood or 7/16" OSB
- 2 x 4 engineered roof trusses
- Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
- concrete/gypsum decking
- timber framing and 2 x decking
Now, for our mathematicians, how many combinations of the support system and roof types do we now have?
Yikes! All of this guides our temporary anchor choice.
Now, what are our other concerns ... ?
- Is there a ridge vent present?
- How long will the anchor be needed?
- You generally are allowed only 1 user per anchor, how many anchors do you have to install?
- Where will you install them to avoid tangles, swing hazards, and dangerous suspensions
Are you dizzy yet?
Hahahaha.
It's no wonder why folks just give up and give the team a bucket with a harness, anchor and rope ... and call it done.
It's also no surprise falls from roofs have been the leading cause of injury and death in the workplace since OSHA began keeping score.
Fall protection is a complicated subject that cannot be solved by handing someone "compliance in a bucket".
For temporary anchors, we pretty much only use 2 types.
Rope anchors, and our V-1 temporary anchor.
Hahahaha.
It's no wonder why folks just give up and give the team a bucket with a harness, anchor and rope ... and call it done.
It's also no surprise falls from roofs have been the leading cause of injury and death in the workplace since OSHA began keeping score.
Fall protection is a complicated subject that cannot be solved by handing someone "compliance in a bucket".
For temporary anchors, we pretty much only use 2 types.
Rope anchors, and our V-1 temporary anchor.
Permanent Roof Anchors
Roofs require maintenance and periodic replacement.
Permanent anchors points are standard in Europe, and in the USA for flat roof projects.
They are becoming much more common in the USA on steep pitch projects as well.
Don't let every worker navigate the dizzying field of temporary fall protection anchors.
If we learn from history, it tells us that roofers don't want to learn any more about fall protection anchors than a cook wants to learn where their electricity is coming from. Cooks just want to turn the oven on, and roofers just want to clip in.
So, when you are ready to dig in, read the following items to get a thorough understanding of permanent roof anchors.
Permanent anchors points are standard in Europe, and in the USA for flat roof projects.
They are becoming much more common in the USA on steep pitch projects as well.
Don't let every worker navigate the dizzying field of temporary fall protection anchors.
If we learn from history, it tells us that roofers don't want to learn any more about fall protection anchors than a cook wants to learn where their electricity is coming from. Cooks just want to turn the oven on, and roofers just want to clip in.
So, when you are ready to dig in, read the following items to get a thorough understanding of permanent roof anchors.