How to Stay Safe with Pitched Roof Platforms

Sloped Roof Walkway with Guardrail

The edge is not the only danger on your sloped roof.

Every time you send someone on your roof to perform maintenance or an inspection, you expose them to various slips, trips, and falls. Slips, trips, and falls were the second leading cause of workplace fatalities in 2021 and 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

These slips and trips can happen while walking across a sloped roof to get to the HVAC unit or when you move from one sloped roof to another. 

Here are 4 areas you need to have a work platform to protect your workers from slips, trips, and falls on your sloped roof. 

Ladder Access Platform for Your Sloped Roof 

Sloped Roof Ladder Access Platform

I’ve climbed many ladders to inspect customers' rooftop safety and rarely are the ladders protected well. Thankfully, the revision to OSHA’s fall safety standards in 2017 has given more attention to these areas. 

Ladder access points are even more dangerous on sloped roofs because angled roofs are easier to slip on. This is especially true when wet, frozen, or covered with debris like leaves.

Provide a flat and stable surface for workers to transition from or onto the ladder. The worker can also use this platform with the proper guards to lift tools and other needed items using the appropriate equipment. 

Other safety equipment that you should install would be roof edge guardrails and ladder safety systems

Roof Walkway Systems for Your Sloped Roof 

Pitched Roof Walkway

Walking across a sloped roof can be sketchy at the best of times.

Just like with the ladder access points, the angle of the roof makes it easier to slip on. Except there are more opportunities for this to happen depending on how far you have to go to get to the work zone.

If you have a metal roof, like an r-panel or standing seam roof, then you also have the ribs to contend with. Most often, these are anywhere from 12 to 24 inches part. This means that every step is a potential tripping hazard.

Installing a rooftop walkway system will remove these hazards from the workplace, allowing the workers to travel around the roof without fear of slipping, tripping, or stepping through weak areas on the roof. A proper walkway system will also allow you to incorporate a guardrail with it to maximize your safety. 

Crossover Platforms for Your Sloped Roof 

Metal Roof Pipe Crossover Platform

Sometimes the walking path isn’t straightforward, and you have some obstacles to overcome.

This can take the form of a level change, conduit, or transition to another sloped roof. These types of obstacles are dangerous even on a flat roof and should be seen with extra care when a sloped roof is involved. 

There are so many variations on rooftop crossover platforms and steps that will help your workers navigate these obstacles. This includes standard crossover platforms to custom-designed platforms to meet your unique needs. 

Equipment Work Platforms for Your Sloped Roof 

Platform for RTU on Pitched Roof

You’re not in the clear once you make it to your work zone. 

Even though the worker is in a single location and may not need to move much to finish the job, a single step to the side to grab a tool or a filter is all that is needed to slip. Also, placing a tool on a sloped surface could cause it to roll down the roof. The worker may lunge to get it quickly and injure themselves in the process. 

Providing a flat surface for your workers will give them the stability they need to work efficiently and safely. This can take the form of a walkway system or an elevated platform, depending on what you need. Include a guardrail for even better stability and safety. 

Conclusion 

We have a responsibility to help our workers get home safely at the end of every day. Sloped roofs increase the possibility of harm. However, there are many solutions available to prevent this from happening.

If you’re ready to take the next step or need someone to help you think through your specific application, then contact an expert today. We can help you assess your roof and the work being done to find the solution that fits your goals and safety requirements.

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