As a building manager or commercial property owner, you are legally obliged to protect workers from the many risks they face when working at height. While elements such as guardrails, bumplines and access ladders are essential, roof anchors can also form a significant element of your building’s safety plan. In a comprehensive safety guide from Skyline Group, we explore how to choose the most suitable roof anchors for your commercial building and how they contribute to creating a safe working environment.
In our work with organizations across Canada, we regularly discuss the importance of safety solutions like walkways, crossover bridges and roof hatch safety installations. But what are roof anchors?
What are Roof Anchors?
Roof anchors are designed to provide a secure point of attachment for lifelines, harnesses and other safety equipment used by workers at height, and can form a vital element of your overall approach to mitigating the risk of injury in the event of a fall. While they can prevent falls by keeping workers safely tethered, they can also protect those at ground level from falling equipment.
Highly versatile and with temporary or permanent options available,roof anchors are typically installed on flat or sloped roofs, as well as more complex rooftops to ensure safe work at height.
How do Roof Anchors Enhance Rooftop Safety?
Roof anchors lend a number of safety advantages to the many individuals who may need to access your rooftop, from general contractors to facility maintenance teams and more. From enabling safe movement and access to supporting regulatory compliance, we’ve highlighted some of the key benefits these solutions provide:
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Fall Prevention & Fall Arrest
Roof anchors provide a dual purpose of both preventing falls, and arresting them if they do occur.Connected to a safety harness or lifeline system, the anchor’s secure point of attachment prevents workers at height from falling off the edge of the roof, or through potentially dangerous rooftop features such as open skylights.
Where falls do occur, a roof anchor catches workers mid-fall and reduces the impact of the fall. Whilst the risk of a fall isn’t totally eliminated, the impact of a fall is reduced, along with the risk of catastrophic injuries or fatalities. This benefit is particularly significant in rooftops with multiple elevations or complex layouts, where the risk of a fall is typically greater.
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Safe Movement & Access
Aside from the major safety benefits discussed in our previous point, roof anchors offer significant advantages when it comes to enabling safe movement and access. These solutions allow workers to move across and access different areas of a rooftop with a high level of freedom and safety.
By providing secure tie-off points, roof anchors allow workers to perform tasks such as inspections, cleaning and maintenance in confidence, free from the fear of slipping or falling from height. Again, this benefit lends real value to elevated spaces with complex equipment layouts, as well as slippery surfaces and uneven terrain.
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Supporting Regulatory Compliance
As we often remind our customers, safety regulations under Canada’s Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA), as well as Canada’s Westray Law require you to go above and beyond to ensure fall protection for workers operating in environments at a height above three meters (always remember – even falls from under 3m present a risk of fatality).
When properly installed and maintained, roof anchors help your building remain compliant with these key pieces of legislation, reducing the risk of penalties, legal action and the severe ramifications these consequences can pose to your organization’s reputation. Whilst this is a significant benefit, it should always be remembered that roof anchors should only be relied upon as a secondary fall prevention measure to primary measures such as guardrails and access ladders.
What Should I Consider When Choosing a Roof Anchor?
In order to select the right roof anchor system for your commercial building, you must first begin by understanding the various factors that affect their performance and suitability.
To start, it is essential to consider your building structure and roof layout before you make any purchasing decisions. With commercial buildings often having unique designs including flat roofs and sloped roofs, it is critical that your choice of roof anchor is compatible with your rooftop. It is also important to consider the material of your rooftop, as this can impact the type of fasteners and installation methods your anchor may require.
Secondly, your choice should depend on whether a permanent or temporary solution is required. While temporary anchors might be the right choice for short term projects or one-time tasks, permanent roof anchors are a better choice where regular rooftop access is required for general maintenance tasks, for example. Longevity should be prioritized here, particularly across areas of Canada where adverse weather conditions are common.
Next, you should carefully determine the load capacity and strength requirements you need from your roof anchor. To achieve basic compliance, your anchor should be capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker attached. You should also consider the number of workers who will be using that anchor at any one time and ensure it is rated accordingly. Where multiple workers are using an anchor at one time, a higher load capacity is essential.
Another key consideration behind your choice of commercial roof anchor is around legal compliance. It is critical to ensure that your roof anchors comply with the relevant standards and regulations set forth by agencies like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), and provincial safety codes. In Ontario, for example, OHSA mandates the use of roof anchors when working at heights above three meters. Building managers must stay informed of the local regulatory environment to ensure that their fall protection systems, including roof anchors, meet compliance requirements.
Last, but not least, your choice of roof anchor should take account of the installation and maintenance requirements. While some anchors are straightforward to install and don’t require permanent modifications to your rooftop, others may require professional installation. Meanwhile, roof anchors should be selected based on their easy access for inspection and repair. Materials such as galvanized steel or stainless steel are ideal for roof anchors as they are resistant to corrosion and rust, ensuring long-lasting performance.
Tips for Safe Use of Roof Anchors
Specifying the right kind of roof anchor for your commercial building is only the first step you should take in this process. It is crucial to remember that these systems offer little value without sufficient training, regular inspections and proper use in conjunction with other safety systems. See below for a brief checklist on how to use roof anchors safely:
- Training and education: Ensure that workers are properly trained on how to use roof anchors, harnesses, and fall arrest systems. Regular training sessions through Skyline Group’s Lunch and Learn program can help prevent accidents and ensure that workers are aware of best practices for rooftop safety.
- Regular inspections: Conduct routine inspections of roof anchors and associated fall protection equipment to ensure they are in good working condition. Any damaged or worn-out equipment should be replaced immediately.
- Use in conjunction with other safety systems: Roof anchors should be used as part of a broader fall protection strategy that includes guardrails, walkways, and access ladders. Combining multiple safety solutions can provide comprehensive protection for workers.
While roof anchors are crucial in fall arrest systems and enhance safety by securing workers at height, they operate under the assumption that exposure to the hazard still exists. Therefore, they are employed after more proactive measures, such as installing guardrails or redesigning work procedures to minimise exposure to falls, have been considered. For more information, check out our guide to the Hierarchy of Controls.
Elevated Work, Elevated Safety: Choose Skyline Group
Here at Skyline Group, we’re more than just a safety solution supplier. We’re the trusted choice for rooftop safety across North America, providing the experience and expertise you need to protect your people, company and brand. To get started, browse our full selection of safety solutions or contact us to organize an on-site consultation.
