Top Environmental Factors Leading to Falls and How to Prevent Them

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to protect workers from falls due to a variety of hazards. Although any type of fall can result in serious injuries, falls from heights are the most dangerous. As a result, any employee who works on a roof is at risk of bone fractures, spinal cord injuries, concussions, internal organ damage and other injuries.

Commercial roofs also present some unique challenges, as they often have uneven surfaces, maintenance hatches, skylights and other hazards. Even flat roofs can be hazardous, as they often support air conditioning units and other large items, making it more likely that workers will trip. The presence of clutter makes a commercial roof more dangerous than a residential roof, which is why it's so important for employers to take appropriate preventive measures.

To provide adequate protection, you must tailor safety measures to the specific dangers found in your work environment.

Identifying Common Environmental Factors on Roofs

Many factors contribute to falls, but these are some of the most common:

• Unguarded skylights and openings
• Unprotected roof edges
• Poor Equipment and safety accessory management

Although they're often overlooked, each factor requires proactive identification and mitigation to keep workers safe. These risk factors are especially prevalent in distribution centers, industrial buildings and other commercial environments.

Unguarded Skylights and Openings

OSHA classifies a skylight opening as a type of hatch, so each one must have a skylight fall protection system or a cover. Workers should also use personal fall arrest systems when working around skylights installed more than 6 feet above a lower level.

Unfortunately, not all companies comply with these regulations. Unprotected skylights are just as dangerous as unguarded roof edges, especially if they're not properly marked. To protect your workers, it's essential to install screens, rails, or other fall-protection systems.

Unprotected Roof Edges

Sloped roofs are more hazardous than flat roofs, but there's no such thing as a hazard-free roofing surface. Without edge protection, it's possible for workers to fall from great heights, resulting in serious injuries or even fatalities. While working on a roof, it's easy for employees to lose their sense of location, especially if they're carrying heavy items that block their view. To overcome these challenges, you must install OSHA-compliant railings or other rooftop fall protection measures.

Under the OSHA guidelines, employers must provide guardrail systems, personal fall arrest systems, safety net systems or some combination of the three. It's also advisable to color-code your safety equipment to enhance visibility and prevent accidents. For example, you can use yellow railings to make workers aware of unprotected roof edges.

Poor Equipment and Safety Accessories Management

Even on sunny days, commercial roofs don't always offer excellent visibility. For example, large equipment like air conditioning units and returns cast shadows, making it difficult to see hazards such as equipment, power tools, and hand tools. This poor visibility increases the risk of tripping, which can cause serious falls. To combat these visibility issues, it's crucial to use highly visible safety products such as warning lines and yellow guardrails. These bright, easily recognizable barriers make it easier for workers to identify hazardous areas and navigate around equipment safely.

Beyond equipment visibility, a lack of appropriate safety accessories—such as fixed ladders or harnesses—can also put workers at risk. Employers must not only provide these safety accessories but also ensure that workers are trained in their correct use. Supervisors should monitor employees to verify that they are following the manufacturer’s instructions for each safety item, such as ensuring that warning lines are properly positioned to highlight fall risks around equipment and ventilation units.

However, even when the correct measures are in place, employees may avoid using safety gear due to discomfort, poor fit, or a lack of understanding. To reduce these risks, employers should regularly assess the work environment, fix any damaged roofing, and confirm that all safety measures are functioning as intended. By implementing and maintaining visible and well-managed safety accessories, employers can significantly reduce fall hazards for their workers.

Preventive Measures for Fall Hazards

When it comes to fall protection, it's best to be proactive rather than reactive. A proactive approach to roofing hazards makes it possible to prevent serious injuries and ensure your company remains compliant with all relevant OSHA regulations.

To protect your workers and maintain a positive reputation in your community, implement these practical solutions:

• Perform a detailed walk-through with a roofing expert: A roofing expert can help you identify all potential risks. To maximize the value of the walk-through, make sure it includes every aspect of the roof, including skylights, unprotected edges and areas with equipment.
• Review relevant OSHA regulations: Study all relevant OSHA codes, such as CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i) for skylights, to ensure you understand them. Once you know the codes, take steps to make sure your job site complies with each one, including regulations related to railings for roof edges and proper screens for skylights.
• Verify compliance and identify new risks: Conduct regular assessments to ensure your roof complies with OSHA standards. During each assessment, look for new risks or problem areas that could affect your compliance plan.
• Develop an action plan: Create a detailed plan for acquiring and installing necessary fall-protection equipment. Your plan should include timelines, responsible parties and specific safety measures to implement.

Utilizing Protective Equipment

When working on commercial roofs, fall protection is crucial. A range of safety equipment can help prevent serious injuries. Guardrails and edge protection are the first lines of defense, providing critical barriers between workers and the risks posed by unprotected edges, skylights, and other hazards.

• Guardrails: Guardrails are essential for preventing workers from accidentally stepping or falling off a roof. Installed along the perimeter or around hazards like skylights and roof hatches, these bright, visible barriers reduce the risk of falls from elevated surfaces.
• Skylight screens: Skylights may not seem like an immediate threat, but they are a significant risk if left uncovered. Installing screens over skylights ensures that workers don’t accidentally step on them or fall through, particularly in low-visibility conditions where these openings can be hard to spot.
• Roof hatch safety equipment: Roof hatches, often used for access to rooftop areas, can also be dangerous if left unprotected. Hatch guardrails and self-closing gates provide a protective boundary around these entry points, reducing the risk of falls during access or egress.
• Crossover stairs: For roofs with changes in elevation or multiple levels, crossover stairs allow workers to safely navigate the different roof surfaces without stepping over obstacles or trip hazards. These stairs provide a secure and stable path across areas with pipes, ducts, or uneven surfaces, preventing slips and falls.
• Harnesses: While guardrails and other fixed safety measures are vital, harnesses offer an additional layer of fall protection. Safety harnesses, which wrap securely around a worker's torso and legs, are connected to an anchorage system. If a fall occurs, the harness keeps the worker upright, minimizing the risk of severe injury.
• Safety belts: Unlike full-body harnesses, safety belts are designed to protect against falls of no more than 6 feet. They fit snugly around the waist and are often used when the risk of a significant fall is minimal.

Sustaining a Safe Environment

Commercial roofs have a variety of safety hazards, but it's possible to protect workers with appropriate safety equipment, regular site assessments and other preventive measures tailored to your work environment. Safety Rail Source is ready to help you find just the right fall-protection products. Contact us today for expert guidance.