Roof rails can be a sensible first consideration when attempting to protect workers who need to access roofs and work on them at substantial heights above the ground.
In the fourth edition of its Health and Safety in Roof Work industry guidance, published in July, the Health & Safety Executive provides an outline of the priorities that should be taken into account when trying to safeguard a roof.
And while options like man anchors can be good for individuals who need to access surfaces where there is no edge protection, roof rails can be a wise first choice.
“”Those planning work at height must consider measures that protect everyone who is at risk before measures that only protect the individual,”” the document explains.
In the introduction to the guidance, the HSE also points out that roofs are not solely accessed by trained roofers, but may also need to be open to maintenance workers and surveyors.
Particularly in these instances, fixed edge protection that safeguards all workers may be preferable to clip-on man anchors that may be unfamiliar to these untrained individuals.