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Roof edge protection
Hello all
Is there a legal height for edging around a roof to be classed as an open edge? the reason i ask is that at the college where i work, i have conducted a risk assessment for working on our flat roof, and
stated that anyone working within 2mtrs of the "unprotected edge" must have a safety harness on (which we will have to purchase along with a mobile man-anchor). Management have indicated that the parapet wall around the roof (which is approx 1.5ft to 2ft high) surely means that the edge isn't open?
As usual trying to protect people (which incurs a cost) always meets resistance.
Since i started looking at "working at height" at our college, i have had nothing but negative feedback.
sorry to moan, but aggggghhhh!!!
heat08
You need a copy of HSG33 - 'Health and Safety in Roof Work'. At present a min height of 910mm is required for edge protection to a workplace for construction work - although permanent parapets need to be higher when required for buildings under the Building Regulations (currently generally 1100mm or whatever was required at the time of construction). If your roof is only accessible for maintenance/repair work and this is within 2m of the inadequately protected edge you will need temporary edge protection or fall-arrest/restraint. Further than 2m it's a matter for risk assessment as to whether these are needed. If generally accessible (eg to staff, at least 1100mm would be needed and possibly more (eg if children are present) depending upon risk assessment.
Rooftop Edge Protection
Hi
Workplace regs state a minimum toprail height of 1100mm
Construction regs state 910mm
New work at height regs state 950mm universally.
Forget the 2m rule the new work at height regs state that a fall from any height liable to cause harm should be risk assessed.
Accessing an unprotected edge would constitute a work restraint course.
Construction and telecomms companies regularly use restraint techniques.
For a longer term construction type project, temporary edge protection such as scaffolding type would be necessary.
Work restraint requires minimal training and basic equipment.
Accessing an unprotected edge would constitute a work restraint course.
The HSE publication HSG33 is a useful booklet to give guidance to people such as yourself.
Hope this helps.
Jurgen Burnard
Working at height trainer
e-mail accessfacilities@supanet.com
Forget the 910 mm that appeared in the Construction Regs. This is height now superseded by the Work at Height Regs.
Confusion exists about what was termed the '2m Rule'. This was a height above which one had to provide edge protection or other effective fall-protection measures. All potential fall risks now require assessment and adequate control measures. In assessing the risk of a fall from a flat roof, one should take into account where on the roof the work will take place and where workers have to travel to reach that place of work, etc. If they never get more than 50m from an unprotected edge it would probably be unnecessary to provide temporary edge protection, etc. If they get within 50mm it will be essential. So where do we 'draw the line'? Many of us will consider a distance slightly greater than the height of most persons to be a point before which fall-protection will be essential and beyond which it will be a matter for assessing taking into account all the circumstances of the work. In this respect 2m has previously been a guide figure from the HSE and others and still seems useful to some of us.
