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10 Common Rooftop Safety Hazards
Roof Holes, Such as Skylights. Review the roof plan before stepping onto a rooftop to understand where any holes, such as skylights, are located. Accidentally stepping on or into a hole could have deadly consequences, which is why building owners should consider installing skylight guardrails to ensure the safety of maintenance workers.
Roof Edge Awareness. It is important to always keep an eye on the location of the roof edge. Sometimes people become so engaged in their work that they lose sight of the roof edge, which can have some shocking consequences. To mitigate this risk, either install a rooftop guardrail system or a warning line system to make it easy for maintenance workers to notice the roof edge.
Ladder Placement. Before using any fixed access ladder check to make sure it’s safe. A fixed access ladder should have its feet secured at the bottom, either to the wall or ground, and the top should be secured to the roof (if it is practical). Annual fixed access ladder inspections can help to ensure your fixed access ladder is always safe.
Split Level Roofs and Parapet Walls. These can be especially dangerous and should be treated with extra caution as more often than not a safety system is not in place to reach the second level. Consider installing the Gargoyle Ladder Series if you have a multi-level roof and regular maintenance workers accessing your rooftop.