We call roofs to all that set of building or construction that forms the “upper enclosure” of a building or industrial building, obviously to protect everything that is inside and to protect the same structure from inclement weather (rain, snow, dirt, leaves, birds, etc …)
Contact Gold Coast Edge Protection. Here all your priorities will be considered, and we will ensure keeping hassle to the lowest level possible in your renovation or rehabilitation process.
What does a roof offer us?
Among other things, the roofs and roofs provide us with waterproofing, thermal and acoustic comfort. In addition, they present a plus of danger every time that we need to raise them to carry out any task of maintenance, cleaning or installation of auxiliary means, machinery, a / c systems, photovoltaic plates, etc.
Whether the work entrusted to you is on a roof, false ceiling, skylight, skylight or roof, a company that boasts must perform a planning of the works according to the area of work.
The field work involves knowing well the following:
- What the roof covers
- What material is it made, the thickness, its measurements and inclination
- Protective measures that we will need
- Security measures that already exist
- Secure access means
- Personal protective equipment required
- Equipment that we will need, drills, tooling …
We should check out some issues before going up, given that our team or ourselves as workers have direct responsibility for our own safety and decision-making:
- Is there a sign in the area, for example at the foot of the vertical ladder, indicating the prohibition of its use by unauthorised personnel?
- Is there any measure of protection that prevents intruders from climbing onto the deck?
- Signage of obligation of the use of the harness?
- Are there adequate fall protection devices at the height to climb?
- And most importantly, this type of work at height requires skill.
There must be at least two operators at all times, given that if an accident occurs, the other worker must give the distress call to prevent the person who climbed, be isolated and alone.
On the other hand, you should never do this type of work at times when the weather is unfavourable, especially snow and rain can make a user slip, especially on sheet metal or if the wind speed is higher at 50 km / h.
Finally, during the realization of the works, we must mark the accesses, as we have said, signal and prevent access to outsiders.
How dangerous is it to walk on the roof?
If yes, you have to know that these are unsafe places, where any failure can lead you to fall rolling down the slope or due to any incident, in white sheet covers for example, visibility is very bad due to reflection of the light.
Walkable roof
The transitable covers are all those that are part of the structures of industrial buildings, factories, laboratories, farms, and all kinds of large office buildings. If they are walkable is that the thickness of the sheet and its configuration is “safe” for a person to step on and walk on it.
Unwalkable roof
These are generally self-supporting roofs, which are configured in such a way that it is not safe to walk on them, therefore it is strictly forbidden to send a worker to climb up to perform any repair, cleaning or maintenance of the roof if they do not exist overpasses, walkways for decks or any security system for access.
Landscaped and flooded roofs
These are covers that have a function beyond the decorative: to improve the ambient temperature and the thermal sensation of the interior.
In addition, to be sustainable ways of creating green spaces in neighbourhood communities, office buildings, villas, large corporate groups whose facilities want to be more sustainable, etc.
In them we can find even lakes, pools, gardens, solar panels and tanks for watering.
Imagine the amount of repair, cleaning, maintenance and care services that this kind of covers can bring, where we also need to take extreme precautions to work at height.
Elements that are part of the structure of roofs and roofs (beams, slabs, trusses, belts, ridge, breastplates, etc.).
Various elements for the use of the building (chimneys, vents, antennas, skylights, skylights).
Water evacuation elements (drains, gutter, pipes, etc.).
Fall protection elements on roofs or roofs (safety rails, balustrades, parapets, lifelines, anchor points).
Repairing roofs safely
A fast, efficient and complete repair goes through 0 security problems. Whether they are covered or roofed, the work that is carried out in this type of environment is considered dangerous or works with risk due to fall in height.
That is why you will need to have a professional work team, whether they are self-employed or a company specialised in repairing roofs.
On what depends the success of a good repair?
There are several factors on which the repair of roofs or roofs depends, or we have made a huge mistake when contracting less specialised services.
It is clear that work accidents are the order of the day in this type of task, especially when outsourcing services that end up using labour from ETT’S, temporary jobs or operators with work experience.
Safety on roofs and decks
It is the labour market itself and the companies that really worry about risk prevention during the work that is carried out in hard-to-reach areas, the ones that are fighting against the low qualification of the workers, the price war that entails the lower cost and time based on saving in security.
On the one hand, there is a need for operators to have access to a minimum training in work at height and on the use of the necessary material for vertical work and positioning by means of ropes, lifelines, retractable devices, etc. On the other hand, the supply of epis certified by specialised manufacturers to workers by companies that repair roofs and roofs.
This type of material is what you need to work in work zones with risk of falling (we start counting from one and a half meters high, depending on the case) must be regulated by its manufacturer providing a series of documentation and manuals for use so that the operator who is going to use it does not have any doubt about its use.
You can also call us to inform you about the details of your project on roofs and we advise you on the preventive measures you need to take before you start budgeting a job.
Suppliers and manufacturers
Thanks to our suppliers and manufacturers we are able to service dozens of companies that need to supply all types of fall arrest systems adapting to the workplace.
Our teams have been in all types of companies for the installation of fall prevention systems from horizontal, vertical lifelines, sliding anchoring systems in vertical ladders, provisional systems of positioning by means of ropes thanks to mobile anchor points (anchored to metal profiles, screwed in walls and walls, etc.)
Other preventive measures on roofs
There are also other security measures such as temporary edge protection networks, gallows type, type S, vertical enclosures, etc. although they are less used for carrying out maintenance tasks on roofs, roofs and decks. Obviously, in addition to traveling on these flat or inclined surfaces, you need to access in a safe way.
Remember that you need safety equipment for all works carried out in your ceiling. Top suppliers such as Gold Coast Edge Protection have developed diverse types of security systems looking for the perfect way to provide workers with the safety they need.