Fall Protection Roof Access
This is roof access on a 30ft roof.
Does this need something around it for fall protection?
"1910.28(b)(7)
Openings. The employer must ensure that each employee on a walking-working surface near an opening, including one with a chute attached, where the inside bottom edge of the opening is less than 39 inches (99 cm) above that walking-working surface and the outside bottom edge of the opening is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level is protected from falling by the use of..."
I have another access for a 15-foot roof that is guarded. I am trying to figure out why they didn't do this one.
Comments (17)
Here is the guarded one.
Technically, no, since you have a hatch cover on it, but that's assuming they close the hatch as soon as they exit the roof access. However, I would recommend it just in case someone does leave it open because then you'd have a floor opening.
I'd also put fall protection on the roof edge since the place where they get out of the roof access is so close to an unprotected edge.
You are getting way ahead of me, Drew Hinton. Check this picture out. They work on these stacks 1x/a month.
I know the consensus is 15 feet from the leading edge. These are 10ft and some other areas are closer.
I have purchased roof hatch access from the safety rail company.
I have also put-up guard rails systems in areas that made me uneasy when working on stacks, hvac systems, or anything of the like. I never cared for the warning systems. Most workers, unless watched like hawks, typically disregard them.
Fall Protection is not my strength but in my opinion, Drew and John are spot on! But if I was charged to protect my employees I would put guard rails up around the hatch. You might want to consider some sort of hoist for the material they need to bring up with an arm so employees do not need to stand near the hole.
As far as working near the edge I would recommend a Fall Restraint system that will not allow the employees to get within 6' of the edge. In your written policy make it mandatory and make sure the employees are trained!
If John and Drew have better ideas, I would defer to them!
The hatch is the least of your concerns. Unless your workers are going up for inspection purposes only, you need to designate this area as a controlled access zone. The hatch, if left open, must have guardrails around it especially if it will be heavily trafficked for a short period of time. The controlled access zone requirements are simple to follow but you must adhere to Federal OSHA or your state OSHA regulations.
You need a anchor point to attach a harness too and follow above standards everyone is referring too.