Fixed roof rails may be a better method of edge protection than scaffolding in some instances, as the latter could have security implications.
On October 21st, Greater Manchester Police’s ‘City Centre’ account on Twitter tweeted about how officers had seen a spate of break-ins which used scaffolding as the point of entry.
The tweet revealed: “3 Burglaries this weekend where offenders have used scaffolding to climb up to insecure windows before gaining entry to flats”
In follow-up comments, @GMPCityCentre went on to say that the scaffolding had been erected during improvements to the building – allaying one Twitter user’s fear that “some very quick scaffolders” might be responsible for the thefts.
The comments are a useful reminder of why the right edge protection should be used for the job in each circumstance – and not only for safety reasons.
Fixed edge protection such as roof rails can help to ensure nothing and nobody can fall from the edge of a roof, without providing a means of accessing the roof for wrongdoers.
Similarly, safety ladders are often placed inside a lockable cage, so that the route to the roof can be closed off to trespassers when required.