Is there anyone who does not recognize the danger of working on a roof?

It is not news that falling from the edge of a roof—even a one-story building—can result in serious injury or death. What is often less noticed are several other hazards that maintenance, repair, and construction workers face when performing their jobs on flat and low-slope commercial, institutional, and industrial rooftops.

The first step in working safely on a roof is to identify the hazards. In addition to the roof edge, some risks include roof access, holes in the roof, traversing the roof’s surface, and obstacles on the roof. It is then incumbent to install effective and compliant safety systems and equipment and provide workers with certified training to enhance their awareness of safe procedures and the proper inspection and use of safety equipment.

A roof hatch provides building security and control for roof access. Although roof hatch manufacturers engineer their products for durability and ease of operation, a complete system should have roof hatch railings.

Railings set around the hatch help employees safely transition from an internal ladder through the roof hatch and onto the roof. When equipped with a self-closing safety gate, the roof hatch railings also provide fall protection for workers when the hatch is open.

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