When there is some kind of construction work going on, especially at a height, then safety of the workers is of utmost priority and need to be ensured at all times. Working at height involves danger risky worker’s life a stake. As a business owner you are expected to provide safe working environment to your workers otherwise you are liable criminally. While working on roof there are high chances of falling from height. Uneven roof surface and height doubles the danger involved in falling. So, several guidelines and safety measures need to be imposed and followed in order to ensure safety and protection of workers.
Among many safety measures, there is one that is implemented while working on roof and that is roof anchor point. Roof anchor point is basically used in combination with other saftey personal protection equipment (PPE) like harnesses and landyard fall protection systems. Installing roof anchor point Is highly crucial for worker’s protection and safety. Let us try and explore the basics of a roof anchor point and some other associated information that will help us understand this concept.
What is a Roof Anchor Point?
A roof anchor point is a device where workers can attach harnesses, ropes, and other safety equipment on the rooftop where they are working. This is the equipment that is used by construction or maintenance workers as part of their fall protection system. The installation of a roof anchor point has to be done at a certain space from the point of access as well as between two roof access points.
How does it Work?
Installing a roof anchor point is a simple job for any construction worker. Any kind of roof anchor points works on how much energy is used up by them to provide the fall protection that it is designed for. They try to minimize the impact of fall of a person by holding up the rope and absorbing the energy that was used up in the fall.
What Kind of Roof and What Anchor to Use?
Roofs are generally made from different types of materials like concrete, tiles, or even metal. There are mainly two roof categories that need to be considered while you are installing a roof anchor point- - one is metal roofs and other is tiled roofs.
In the case of metal roofs, holes are drilled into the roof at a particular spacing as required and then secured with rivets. These types are usually called 1-ma fall arrest anchors, though they can handle the impact of up to 2 men.
In the case of tiled roofs, a tile is removed from the required space and anchors are attached at the same place, thus fitting them in between two tiles. This type is also capable of handling the impact of a 2-persons fall.
What are the Types of Roof Anchors?
When the matter of installing roof anchor points is being spoken of, there are mainly two categories that should be discussed, depending on the situation and requirement of a particular site.
These two main categories are:
A fall arrest system is a type which, as the name suggests, arrests the fall of a person by taking the impact of the fall and stopping mid-air.
A rope access system which is a little more efficient and has a more complex working system. These have ropes attached to them that not only takes impact but also work as a harness. It helps the workers to ascend and descend as per their requirement. Often, they have a seat attached to them and are used in much larger construction sites.
Professions like construction and maintenance require a special focus on the safety of people who are working at great heights. There are very high chances of accidents which might even result in fatalities. Therefore, installing a roof anchor point, using proper harnesses, and sticking to the safety guidelines regarding construction is very important when some kind of project is being undertaken. This is to ensure that the project is carried out in a safe manner and has proved fruitful to the people on the receiving end and also to the ones who buit the whole thing from scratch.
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