Be it maintenance or repairs, renovations or inspections, there are ample reasons why roofing professionals and property stakeholders require access to their roofs. Whatever that reason, it’s essential that ladder safety remains top of mind.”Roof access ladders are a piece of equipment that can be taken for granted on a roofing job site, but there are best practices that need to be understood and followed to keep everyone free from harm,” says Vincenzo Cutrone, marketing manager with Skyline Group Intl.
When it comes to roof safety, nothing can be taken for granted. And while the topic of ladder safety may seem common sense, it pays to brush up on ladder safety basics.
Know the regulations
Many of the best practices for roof access ladders are defined by local regulations. These typically spell out requirements for a ladder’s height, loading limits, and the maximum allowable distance between the rungs, as well as how far back the ladder can be from the building itself. In addition, jurisdictional regulations will also guide users as to whether or not various safety systems are required when using an access ladder.
For example, says Conor Delaney, specification & design consultant with Skyline: “If you’re going to be using a tall ladder, say, one that is 30 feet or higher, then you will likely need to have a resting platform. At the same time, the regulations might state that you also need a safety cage around the ladder or a lifeline system attached to it.”
“Just knowing what you’re required to do when it comes to roof access ladders is step one,” He adds.
Maintaining contact
No matter where you climb or what ladder you use, it’s essential to maintain three-points of contact. For example, consider a scenario wherein a roofing professional uses a hatch ladder. The ladder height may be dictated by the hatch door when it’s closed, but as Delaney notes, “You still need to provide a means for the person climbing the ladder to maintain their three-points of contact while exiting the ladder.”
Maintaining those three points of contact can be achieved in several ways. The first option is to install extending side rails on the field ladder so that the user can extend these rails and maintain their three points of contact while climbing. Another method is to provide grab bars on the exterior of the roof hatch so climbers have something to grasp onto once they’ve opened the door.
Guard the space
Guardrail systems are also highly effective for protecting individuals as they climb onto the roof.
For example, says Cutrone, “Say you have a fixed access ladder placed on the inside of an exterior wall. As you come through the roof hatch, the roof hatch is now very close to the leading edge of the building. In that instance, you need to ensure that there’s a guardrail system placed between the roof hatch and the leading edge of the building to ensure that anybody coming to or from that ladder in the hatch is going to be safe.”
No doubt, coming off of a ladder can be risky. One wrong step or imbalance can send workers off their path. Here’s where having a guardrail in place to counter these risks can be nothing short of life-saving.
Protecting the public
Keeping unwanted climbers from accessing a roof is a constant challenge for property stakeholders. Only those that are approved to be on the roof of your building should have access. Fortunately, there are very simple ways to continue providing safe ladder access for approved personnel, while restricting access to unwanted visitors. One is to install a lockable door in the front of the ladder that restricts access to the first six feet of ladder rungs. If a cage is present, you can install a small lockable door to the bottom of the surrounding cage.
The last thing you want to do is cut the ladder to discourage unauthorized access.
As Vernon Ghinn, vice president of sales with Skyline, explains: “When a specified welded ladder is cut on-site to be 6 feet off the ground, it can automatically make the ladder non-compliant to code. This means that your brand-new ladder would need to be replaced. Our modular roof safety solutions adapt to any building design and material, so that they can easily be installed to any roof layout, while restricting access the right way. If restricted access is required, we simply add a lockable gate/door to the rungs of the ladder”
No doubt, cutting ladders creates instant health and safety risks by removing the ability to have three points of contact and making it difficult to come back down. Not to mention, in many circumstances, you will see maintenance personnel use 6 to 8 foot step ladder in order to step off and climb onto the roof access ladder.
“I was on a roof the other day where the bottom portion of the ladder had been cut off,” Ghinn recalls. “While being on the roof, the step ladder leading to the roof access ladder was removed.”
Using a modular safety solution
Investing in a modular roof access ladder has its benefits. For one, modular ladders are easy to transport to the site, and can easily be carried to the roof via an interior stairwell or elevator, eliminating the need for a crane rental.
“They’re also easily customizable to any building that may need a fixed access ladder,” adds Delaney. “No matter the building’s shape or height, you can add as many sections as you need to a modular ladder to make it fit your building. The ladder can easily integrate a platform and/or lifeline for added safety, while also configuring it to work with your building’s design.”
Additional safety is another plus, he adds. Specifically, Skyline’s modular ladders feature grippy rungs to ensure solid footing, especially when dealing with rain, snow, or other slippery elements.
Trusted equipment
As with any piece of rooftop safety equipment, there’s value in working with solutions that are trusted and tested by the industry.
“There are no compromises in height safety,” says Cutrone. “It’s why our products are all designed to meet the most current codes across Canada, and why industry professionals’ partner with us on every one of their job sites. We always try to take that experience a step further, making roof access and compliance both safe and easy”.
Don’t discover safety by accident! Reach out to our rooftop safety specialists to learn how you can create a safe and compliant rooftop environment. Ask about Skyline Group’s complimentary lunch & learn program and virtual roof safety assessment to help with your height safety training needs.
