Be careful when cleaning roofs! Use safety equipment when working at heights.
Be careful when cleaning roofs! Use protective equipment when working at height.
Сезон снегопадов традиционно сопровождается ростом производственного травматизма при проведении высотных работ. Очистка кровель от снега и наледи входит в перечень работ повышенной опасности и требует соблюдения требований Правил по охране труда при работе на высоте № 782Н.
Main risks: icing of surfaces, insufficient load-bearing capacity of structures, lack of protective railings, incorrect selection and use of PPE.
Key safety requirements for organizing work:
- Appointment of a responsible person and issuance of a work permit
Work at height without issuing a work permit is not allowed. The responsible work supervisor must conduct a targeted briefing with the crew members.
- Securing hazardous zones
If there are no protective railings around the roof perimeter, the work area must be marked with safety barriers. A spotter must be posted below and the pedestrian area cordoned off.
- Use of fall-protection systems
In accordance with requirements, the worker must use:
— an anchorage device (fixed or portable);
— a safety harness (full-body, not using work belts without shoulder straps);
— a connecting energy-absorbing subsystem (lanyards with shock absorbers, inertia-type locking devices).
- Special equipment for moving on pitched roofs
For slopes greater than 6° it is mandatory to use walkways, roof ladders, or decking with stops. Use of improvised means is not permitted.
- Weather conditions
Work is prohibited at wind speeds of 15 m/s or higher, during heavy snowfall, severe frost, or in conditions of poor visibility.
Roof types, structural features of buildings and the specifics of seasonal work rule out the possibility of a universal set of PPE for all situations. However, a basic principle remains unchanged — a fall-protection PPE kit must include:
- a safety harness;
- a connecting element;
- a reliable anchorage device.
Selection of the PPE kit should be based on an assessment of occupational risks and the specific conditions of task execution. An incompatibility of components or the wrong choice of anchorage device nullifies protection.
For proper outfitting of crews performing seasonal work at height, it is advisable to consult specialized suppliers of personal protective equipment. Specialists at Vostok-Service provide consulting support in selecting fall-protection PPE kits taking into account roof type, work frequency and individual characteristics of employees.
Compliance with regulations, use of certified equipment and correct selection of a fall-protection PPE kit is the only viable strategy to prevent serious occupational injuries when clearing roofs of snow.