Roof anchor points in Australia are important parts of a fall protection system. They are also vital pieces of equipment for people working on rooftops and other elevated surfaces. They are installed on a roof and connect lifelines and lanyards to an employee wearing a harness. The attachments of these pieces of equipment can range from simple D-strings to personal fall arrest systems. Engineered rooftop anchor points are the best and safest solution but employees can tie off to the existing structures and this can present a problem.
Picking an existing structure
The problem with choosing an existing structure as a rooftop anchor point is that it is nearly impossible to calculate the load requirements. There are a few things that qualify as an approved and safe way to tie off other than a traditional beam. A structure should withstand five thousand pounds of force per individual attached for it to qualify as an anchor point.
The problem is that it is nearly impossible to calculate the force these types of structures can withstand. Most people on a job site don’t have a clue about the requirements and this makes it difficult for them to calculate the correct specifications.
It is nearly impossible to select a qualifying existing structure unless you are a trained professional. This is why the only way you can exceed OSHA regulations and ensure your employees are safe is with specialised engineered roof safety systems.
Choosing an engineered system
These types of anchor points are made to exceed OSHA regulations. They make sure that your employees can withstand a fall. There are permanent or temporary engineered anchor points you can use.
Permanent anchor points
These are anchor points that are made of stainless steel or galvanised steel. They are permanently affixed to the building or structure. They are becoming very popular in recent years. A lot of builders offer people permanent anchor points on their homes. Permanent anchor points are very easy to install. They are also cost-effective. They can be very useful even after the initial phase of construction.
Horizontal lifelines
These are part of PFAS that allow multiple employees to work at the same time. Most employees can only connect to one anchor point at a time. It may be unrealistic to have every employee tied off to their own anchor point on a job site.
This is where horizontal lifelines come into play. They allow multiple employees the freedom of movement whilst still being well protected. You will want to consider horizontal lifelines if you have a crew of employees working instead of one or two employees.
Portable anchor points
These types of roof anchor points Australia are also very popular. They are very useful in situations where there is a temporary need to access the roof or elevated structures. These non-penetrating and portable weighted anchor points can be set up easily and quickly with common tools. They are great for temporary jobs. They are also good for solutions where you don’t have the option to use permanent anchor points.
