Case Study: Lewisville ISD Enhances Campus Safety with Lift & Lock® Roof Hatch Openers
Location: Lewisville, TX
Date: July 2026
Problem Statement: Rooftops are vulnerable "soft targets" for accidents, falls, vandalism and even criminal activity. Leaving a roof-access hatch unlocked can enable curious students or trespassers to climb onto the roof and gain access to the building's interior. In addition, school roofs generally lack perimeter railing which creates an extreme risk of accidental falls or even suicide attempts. School rooftops are isolated and highly dangerous environments. Securing roof edges and access points is a foundational requirement for campus-life safety and liability.
An additional component of roof hatch safety is the OSHA requirement (29 CFR 1926.1053) that workers maintain a three-point contact grip on the ladder at all times. However, locked roof hatches force a technician to stand near the top of a vertical ladder while using two hands to fumble with a padlock, key or latch. This is an extremely dangerous situation and needs to be mitigated to ensure a safe climb.
Matthew Garrett, the Executive Director of Safety & Security for the Lewisville School District, contacted Safety Rail Source® in search of a solution to safely secure 213 roof access hatches in his district.
Problem Resolution: SRS recommended the Lift & Lock™ Roof Hatch Opener. This patented, state-of-the-art product enables users to open, close, lock and unlock roof hatches quickly and easily while standing at the base of the ladder. Lift & Lock is designed with a hand operated winch at the bottom of the ladder that is connected to a lifting arm affixed to the hatch lid. When you crank the winch, the lifting arm raises the hatch lid and simultaneously extends a safety-post above the roof surface for easy egress and ingress.
The State of Texas provides grant money to school districts to keep roof access openings - including roof hatches, skylights, and ladder doors - closed, latched, and locked when not in use. Lewisville Safety Director, Matthew Garrett used the grant money to purchase 213 Lift & Lock Roof Hatch Openers from SRS. The material was delivered in late June, and the installation was carried out by Patrick from Belmont Safety Products. The project was successfully completed by the end of July in time for the new school year.
About Safety Rail Source®: For more than 20 years we’ve been manufacturing state-of-the-art, OSHA-compliant safety products including railings, skylight screens, hatch railings and ladder safety devices. All products are made in the USA. We offer a Turn-Key Service which includes a site visit, safety assessment, solution design, product delivery and installation.
Contact Us: Call our experts at (877) 723-3766 today to discuss your specific needs. We’ll review and assess your safety concerns, design a customized solution for your facility and determine if our Turn-Key Service is right for you.