Roofing
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Description
Working on roof or terrace construction or maintenance implies risks of slipping and consequent falling from the edge of the roof or breakthrough of the treading structure. There is a series of operational methods both for positioning and for fall arrest which can be combined with one another to obtain the most suitable solution for each activity and type of structure.
A – On roofs and terraces horizontal anchoring lines (which can be already pre-installed or temporary) or individual anchoring points can be used. For movement and the work a rope with a fall arrest device can be used. The operator can move freely and the device intervenes in case of falling (fig.A1). Near the lateral edges of the roof/terrace where there is a possibility of falling and the consequent pendulum effect (fig.A3-A4), deviation anchors must be provided for the fall arrest rope (fig.A2) or the use of an additional lanyard connected to anchoring points appropriately prepared at a proper distance from the edges of the roof/terrace.
B – The correct use of a retractable fall prevention device allows optimum freedom of movement in safety on the roof/terrace. A lanyard with energy absorber must be placed between the operator’s harness and the device cable, certified specifically for the purpose of preventing shearing of the cable in the event of a fall from the edge of the roof/terrace (fig.B1). During work near the lateral edges, there is also a risk of falling with consequent pendulum effect (fig.B3-B4). In this case the retractable device must be combined with a lanyard with energy absorber which can be connected to an additional anchoring line (fig.B2) or to appropriately prepared anchoring points on the edges.
C – In some cases an adjustable positioning lanyard can be used which allows the operator to keep the device under tension (fig.C1). The adjustable lanyard does not carry out the function of fall arrest, therefore the restraint technique should be used (positioning lanyard of a length such to prevent reaching the edges of the roof) (fig.C2) or collective protection to the edges of the roof should be provided (fig.C3). If the risk of falling persists, it is indispensable to combine a fall arrest device to the work positioning lanyard (fig.C4).
