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Ensuring Compliance

Most fall protection equipment manufacturers offer complete roofers’ kits that include everything you need to be compliant. These kits usually contain a full body harness, a length of rope and a rope grab, and a roof anchor.

Full-body harnesses are available in different sizes. It’s important to select a harness that fits the worker properly. You want the harness to be snug, but not too tight, and have enough adjustment to accommodate multiple layers of clothing as the weather changes. You will also have a choice of D-ring configurations, leg strap connections, and chest straps. For most residential roofing work, all you will need is a harness with a back D-ring for attachment of your fall arrest system. However, models are available with hip D-rings for work positioning/travel restriction applications and chest D-rings for personnel riding applications. Choosing between the various leg strap connections and chest strap options on a harness all comes down to worker preferences. Most people prefer tongue buckle style leg straps and vest style (H style) harnesses for ease of donning and doffing.

A rope and rope grab are common connecting elements used in residential construction. Rope grabs provide freedom of movement around the work site and protection against falls from the roof. Virtually any length of rope is available for purchase, but common lengths are 25 feet and 50 feet. You want to use the shortest length of rope possible for your application. There are two types of rope grab devices on the market - manual rope grabs and trailing rope grabs. Manual rope grabs are always in a locked position in the rope. They require the user to manually position the rope grab on the rope as they moves around the work site. Trailing rope grabs will automatically move along the rope (in one direction) as a user moves around the work site. While trailing rope grabs are more convenient to use, they do cost more than a manual rope grab.

There are many types of roof anchors available on the market. Roof anchor selection is dependent upon the type of work being performed and the type of roof structure available. Permanent roof anchors are most commonly used on new construction or when the entire roof structure is being replaced. The advantage of a permanent type of roof anchor is that it remains accessible for future maintenance of the roof after the initial project is complete. Temporary roof anchors can be installed and removed quickly and easily multiple times and are available for a wide array of roof structure types. Temporary roof anchors are commonly used for roof repair or maintenance activities where a preexisting permanent roof anchor doesn’t exist.

To help you determine what you need to be in compliance with this new OSHA directive, just remember you’re ABC’s: A = Anchorage (such as a roof anchor), B = Body support (full body harness), C = Connector (rope and rope grab). Complete kits are available for simplified product selection or each component element can be ordered separately to ensure the perfect kit for your unique application.