Fall Protection

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of construction accidents with over 500 fall related deaths occurring every year?  

Identifying fall hazards and deciding how best to protect workers is the first step in reducing or eliminating fall hazards. Occupational fatalities caused by falls remain a serious public health problem.  Any time a worker is at a height of four feet or more, or is working over dangerous equipment or machinery, the worker is at risk and needs to be protected. 

In 1 second your body will fall 16 feet.  By the time you react you’ll be 6 ½ feet below where you were standing.  Without a fall protection system you won’t have enough time to react.  A typical personal fall-arrest system will stop a person’s fall and limit the distance and some arrest systems will also reduce the amount of force associated with the fall.

Anchorage points are commonly seen on our roof tops.  This is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards and deceleration devices.  They must be independent from any anchorage being used for equipment and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds per worker.

Fall Protection Systems – personal fall-arrest systems and the anchorage points need to be maintained and in good working condition…a life may depend on this.  Please note: that ALL components of a Personal Fall Arrest System that are involved in a fall shall be immediately removed from service and disposed of or destroyed.

Remember!

·       Always use approved anchor points.

·       Always make sure fall protection is sufficient for the job.

·       Always inspect your fall protection system prior to each use.

·       Do not use fall protection system to carry materials or tools.

·       Always tie off when coming within 6 feet of an unprotected edge.

*This article was contributed by Wayne Belina (Peach State Roofing - South Florida Office)

Peach State Roofing, Inc. - National Commercial Roofing Services

1-800-604-9309
www.PeachStateRoofingInc.com

Project Profile: Catholic Center at University of Georgia

THE CHALLENGE - The existing church structure located at the heart of the University of Georgia campus is a building that is over 30 years in age. It is a landmark on the campus that was built as a main religious center and has been a part of many experiences through the years. Prior to undergoing its major re-model, the center still was holding its original roof system. This was all over perlite insulation board and tongue and groove wood decking. Overall the structure of the roof covered approximately 11,000 square feet and has faced many leak issues over the years.

Two areas of high focus for the construction of this projects new roof system were safety and a perfect architectural finish. For these purposes Peach State Roofing was selected as the contractor for its past history with complex projects of this nature and a Sarnafil Decor System was selected as the proper roof system to give the owner its much desired look.

THE CONSTRUCTION - Before any immediate construction took place at the project site, Peach State employees spent 4 weeks installing a detailed safety set up to meet both the church's and OSHA's safety requirements. Perhaps the most detailed and hardest part of the set up was constructing the 5 level full rail scaffold system from the base of the tower to the top. This set up was instrumental in addressing safety concerns and also in the workmanship of the Sarnafil Decor System. At all times on this project, Peach State employees were required to be at 100% tie off.

Peach State started off the project by providing all the demolition of the existing roof system down to the decking. Being that it was a full tear off and debris was of abundance, Peach State provided extra field workers simply to bag all existing trash and tear off.

Only a small section at each level could be done each day which could then be roofed back 100% before night fall. Paying attention to detail was instrumental in the success of this project to ensure the perfect look and performance. Tear off and new roof install started at the top and worked to the bottom flat levels breaking down the scaffolding as forces moved downward. Specific detail was given to the way the membrane was cut - "V" shaped sheets of membrane were hand cut to follow along the same pattern that the ribs would be installed thus creating a site that would have no visible seams. Due to this application method, Peach State installed the decor ribs by hand welding tactics at the same time of roof membrane install to ensure that once the wood support structure was broken down, there was no reason to go back up to that roof level. The roof system consisted of 1/4" Dens Deck Prime with fully adhered Sarnafil G-410 bear back membrane on the tower and fleece back membrane on the flat. Overall Peach State Roofing ended up completing 5 foot length sections each day. Another extreme circumstance that faced Peach State workers was having to wrap the Sarnafil membrane and encapsulate the inside parts of the tower. Extra man power was needed from both the inside and outside of the tower to accomplish this. Final completion of the project consisted of painting the cross at the top of the structure and installing new skylights in the 'pit' area between the three tower 'fingers'.

THE RESULT - Through extreme supervision, engineering, and ingenuity, Peach State Roofing delivered a finished project which has re-decorated one of the areas widely viewed buildings. It is because of expert workmanship and the desire for perfection in a roof system that the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia was nominated as a Sika Sarnafil Project of the year.

*This roof project was completed in 2011

Peach State Roofing, Inc. - National Commercial Roofing Services
1-800-604-9309
www.PeachStateRoofingInc.com

Is Your Roof Ready for Winter?

With Winter right around the corner it is important to have your roof inspected. Even if you aren’t located in a climate that gets snow, a Fall Preventative Maintenance Inspection will help with keeping your roof clean and identifying any potential repairs or improvements that may be needed.

Here are some of the items that should be inspected and addressed with a Preventative Maintenance Inspection:

• Drainage - Make sure that water is properly draining from your roof. All drains, scuppers, gutters and downspouts will be checked. All strainer baskets will also be cleaned and inspected for proper attachment.
• Flashings - All flashings will be inspected and verified that they are secure and sealed so water won't accumulate under them and potentially freeze in the cooler temperatures.
• HVAC and other Projections - Ensure there hasn’t been any alterations made to any penetrations. If there have been, make sure all are flashed and properly sealed.
• Metal Details - Inspect and make sure they are secure and installed properly.
• Pitch Pans - Check to insure they are all sealed properly.
• Roof Surface - Inspect the entire roof surface for any wind, hail or other damage.
• Building Use - Has anything changed with the building use that would cause changes to the roof such as oils or grease that may be emitted from manufacturing processes? If changes have occurred, are there any items that need to be addressed on the roof to accommodate for the building changes?
• Safety - Review of roof safety protocol to make sure the roof is a safe place. Are there any safety considerations to take prior to winter? Some of those items would include rail hatch systems, walk pads and snow guards.

After any roof inspection, make sure you are receiving a full written report with photos and fully understand any recommended repairs. The overall goal of the inspection is to ensure your roof is in good condition and will remain that way throughout its useful life.

For Help and Guidance Contact: 1-800-604-9309
www.PeachStateRoofingInc.com

*Article shared by Nick Dunham (Peach State Roofing - Cincinnati OH Office)