Roof edge protection, which is designed to protect against falling, is most commonly used in the construction of commercial and residential buildings. It is typically composed of a toe board, primary guardrail, and secondary intermediary rail. The edge protection federation describes it as having the purpose of preventing people or objects from falling to lower levels. There are many kinds of edge protection out there, but certain rules must be adhered to for each type.
What is edge protection exactly?
Edge protection in construction plays an important role in preventing objects and persons from collapsing to lower levels. A simple, yet crucial mission statement that is also broad in scope.
There are many ways that a worker could be said to have been “working at the height”, and many potential scenarios that could result in an injury. An edge protection solution is required to protect against any of these. There are many products on the market that aim to either reduce the impact of falls or prevent them from happening.
What are leading edges?
Leading edges are simply unprotected edges of horizontal surfaces. It could be the roof’s edge or a deck’s platform. This is a dangerous area for anyone who works near it as it can cause significant drops.
Floors, roofs, as well as other surfaces, can present special challenges while being constructed. Leading edges can move and change locations during construction. In order to protect workers throughout the construction process, the leading edge protective gear must be moved.
Workers are safe at the leading edges
It’s crucial to develop a comprehensive safety strategy before any construction works are started. It should contain a description of all tasks workers will need to do near leading edges as well the hazards associated with these operations. It is important to outline all safety precautions. This includes how workers and their tools will be secured to minimize the danger of falling from leading edges.
The first step: Training
Workers should be trained to recognize and avoid leading edges. Workers need to learn how to recognize the dangers of falling and the risks associated with them. They should be taught how and when to use fall protector equipment, erect barriers or guardrails, and what type of signage they need.
The areas near the leading edges should be treated as control zones. Only trained workers should allow access to them. Workers without the required training or bystanders should not be allowed to access areas near leading edges.
Personal fall arrest system
A personal fall protection system is a good option to provide protection for workers who are at risk of falling. Workers need to make sure their fall arrest gear stays on the worker’s body and is securely attached to an anchor.
When others are working close by, a self-retracting lifeline will be used. It will prevent tripping hazards and keep the lifeline spooled.
Keep in mind that leading edges’ locations can change throughout the life of a project. Workers who rely on personal fall arrest systems to keep their safety must ensure that they have the appropriate anchorage in place, even if fall hazards move around. A reusable anchor is a convenient method to ensure that a fall-arrest system provides ongoing protection.
