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Anchor Points 
Pre-engineered or custom anchor points for many different applications.
Cable-Based Lifelines
Horizontal and vertical cable lifeline systems, for travel restraint or fall arrest.
Catwalks
Provide safe and easy access to elevated work stations while mitigating fall hazards.
Confined Space & Rescue
Equipment for access in confined spaces, or to allow for prompt worker rescue.
Ladder Systems
Safety systems designed to keep users on ladders protected from falls.
Loading Platforms, Stairs & Gangways
Passive safety systems that protect workers no matter what they need to access.
Portable Fall Protection
Systems that can be moved or stored as needed, for ultimate flexibility.
Rigid Rail Systems
In areas with minimal fall clearance, rigid rail systems are the solution.
Roof Fall Protection
Systems to protect rooftop workers from inboard and outboard fall hazards.
Roof Guardrail & Safety Railing
Passive safety solutions that don't require special training or regular inspections & testing to be compliant.
Suspended Access & Window Washing
Anchorage products, davits, monorails, and rigging sleeves for window washing and suspended access maintenance.

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If your worker is subject to a fall while on the job, Diversified has a solution. We can design, engineer, fabricate, and install fall protection systems for any application.

Aircraft & Aerospace
Proven fall protection solutions for aviation maintenance and manufacturing.
Construction
Permanent and temporary fall protection solutions for construction applications.
Feed & Grain
Solutions for feed & grain worker protection during storage, maintenance, transportation, and more.
Government & Military
Fall protection solutions for government and military installations, including aircraft hangars, rooftops, and more.
Healthcare & Education
Systems for hospitals, schools, universities, and more.
Industrial Applications
Versatile safety systems for industrial facilities.
Oil, Gas, & Chemical
Protect at-height workers on silos, towers, pipe racks, drilling platforms, rigs, and more.
Retail Fall Protection Equipment
Systems to protect workers at shopping and retail centers.
Road & Rail
Railcar, truck, and bus fall protection solutions.
Ship & Barge
Fall protection for ships & barges transporting oil, grain, materials, and more.
Stadiums, Arenas, & Convention Centers
Keep workers and visitors safe while protecting aesthetics at any large venue.
Steel & Foundry
Fall protection solutions for foundry and steel mill applications, including crane rails & more.
Suspended Access & Window Washing
Anchors, outriggers & rigging sleeves, davit systems, and more for suspended access.
Utilities & Energy
Systems for power plants, solar and wind generation, and more.
Data Centers
Systems that protect workers maintaining critically important data equipment. 

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Not sure which system you need? Find the right solution for your application by industry.

Fall Hazard Assessment
A fall protection expert can visit your site to assess all fall hazards and ensure nothing is missed.
Design & Engineering
Our in-house P.E.s and structural engineers design application-specific fall protection systems to meet your specific needs.
Guardrail Rental
Only need to ensure safety for a temporary job or construction project? Diversified offers OSHA-compliant guardrail rental to keep you compliant without needing to purchase a full system.
Fabrication
While we have excellent relationships with many suppliers, we also have the capability to design custom products & solutions for a variety of applications.
Installation
Diversified has a network of installers nationwide who will ensure your system is installed correctly.
Training
Required Authorized User & Competent Person training, performed onsite to avoid workplace disruptions.
Inspections & Recertification
We will perform federally mandated annual inspections, or regular required recertification & testing of systems. When we inspect systems, we assume all liability for its proper functioning.
SIT Services for California
OPOS creation, suspended access inspection, letters of written assurance, and more

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Diversified will perform all necessary services to keep your site compliant, and provides and stores all documentation about its performance as required by OSHA.

OSHA & ANSI Regulations
A breakdown of current OSHA regulations and ANSI standards and how you can ensure your compliance
Product Literature
Access our full spec sheet library to learn more about our fall protection products and systems.
ROI Calculator
Get a general idea of how much a single workplace accident can end up costing.

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Learn about fall protection every week in our free educational webinars! Most are eligible for AIA continuing education credit.

13 Dec, 2019 Roof Fall Protection

How to Specify Rooftop Fall Protection

Roof replacement is an ideal time to address rooftop fall protection issues.  Design of effective and practical solutions to suit the owner’s specific rooftop maintenance needs is critical.  The fall protection marketplace offers an endless array of products, but there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.  Rather, the appropriate solution will vary based on a fall hazard survey, as well as on architectural and budgetary constraints.

ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007 establishes minimum requirements for a comprehensive, managed fall protection program.  These requirements should be addressed in the design and construction phase. This ensures that the installed fall protection system can support the owner’s maintenance needs and fall protection procedures now and into the future.  Essential to the design process is a fall hazard survey which serves to identify fall hazards and one or more methods to eliminate or control each identified hazard (Section 4.2.1).  The designer should consult with an owner-designated competent person who is familiar with rooftop maintenance activities and methods.  The survey should identify applicable factors such as the reason for the exposure, possible severity of a fall, maintenance frequency, task duration, environmental conditions, and history of incidents related to the task (section 4.2.5).  For example, risk factors associated with access to gutters for cleaning on a sloped roof will vary significantly from those related to access to a security camera near an unprotected edge on a flat roof.

Once hazards are identified, use the fall protection hierarchy as a preferred order of elimination or control for each identified hazard (section 5.1).  The first and most effective control measure is to eliminate the identified fall hazard (section 5.1.1).  As an example, can leaf guards be installed on gutters that require access from a steep-slope metal roof area?  The second preferred control is to provide passive fall protection—typically a guardrail system to provide protection along a roof edge or furnishing a compliant cover for roof openings such as skylights (section 5.1.2).  In addition to traditional structure-mounted guardrail systems, non-roof-penetrating guardrails are also available.  Systems such as the one shown in Figure 1 are ballasted and designed to meet OSHA load requirements.ballasted portable rooftop guardrail

Figure 1 – Ballasted Guardrail System

Passive fall protection solutions are always preferred, but especially when the exposure is high-frequency and the area is accessible to personnel that have not been trained to use active fall protection systems.  In some cases, guardrail systems are not practical for low-frequency tasks. Architectural requirements may prohibit installation of a system that is visible from street level.  In those cases, a travel restraint system is the next preferred control.   It provides anchorage and a body harness with a properly sized lanyard that is short enough to prevent the user from reaching the fall hazard (section 5.1.3).  Travel restraint systems are limited to low-slope roof areas with pitch not to exceed 4:12 (section 5.2.6).  The primary objective for an effective fall protection design should provide controls that keep the user from the roof edge and from experiencing a fall event. But such controls are sometimes not possible given the building parameters and access requirements.  In those cases, a fall arrest system should be designed to safely arrest the user after a fall has begun.  Provision should be made for timely rescue of the suspended worker in the event of a fall.  Travel restraint and fall arrest systems are both categorized as active fall protection systems and require specialized training in order to designate personnel as “authorized users.”

For active fall protection systems, connection to an anchorage point located above a user is most desirable.  An overhead connection will best limit the user’s maximum free-fall distance.  However, for rooftop applications, connection is generally to an anchor that is designed with an attachment to suit the existing roof structure.  Anchorage systems are typically low-profile, minimizing design loads to the existing structure and, therefore, minimizing structural modification and bracing if required.  Single-point anchors and horizontal lifelines are the most common forms of anchorage for active rooftop fall protection systems.  Single-point anchors are generally composed of a baseplate with attachment hardware and a vertical post to include a point of connection compatible with self-locking snaphooks and carabiners.  Horizontal lifelines are generally composed of a cable system supported by anchors attached to the structure.   While single-point anchors provide user access to point locations on the roof, horizontal lifelines allow continuous mobility along a fall hazard.  Specifications for horizontal lifelines vary, and certain products require that the user detach and reattach his or her lanyard for bypass at intermediate anchor locations (typically with a double-leg lanyard). Other products have the added cost and benefit of continuous bypass through intermediate anchor locations by means of specialty post brackets and integrated travelers as shown in Figure 2.

rooftop horizontal lifeline system in use

Figure 2: Horizontal Lifeline System with Continuous Bypass

When access is required along a building edge, horizontal lifelines are an intuitive approach.  The lanyard is sized to prevent the user from reaching the fall hazard and creating a pendulum effect.  The geometry of such a system prohibits the user from extending along the building edge, away from perpendicular, to the extent that the user could experience a dangerous swing fall as shown in Figure 3.  Single-point anchors also provide effective fall protection anchorage.  They do, however, require the user to be mindful of lanyard length compared to the distance of the anchor from closest building edge.  This system is best suited for maintenance activities that do not require access to the entire perimeter or when maintenance is less frequent.

graphic displaying possible pendulum effect for worker connected to an anchor point

Figure 3 – Swing Fall

Also critical for a complete design is to ensure that there is an adequate means to safely access the installed system.  For example, a horizontal lifeline along the ridge of an 8:12 pitched roof would require an access lifeline from eve to ridge if access is by ladder or lift from the roof eave.

Design, selection, and installation of certified active fall protection systems should be under the supervision of a qualified person (section 5.4).  Certification of the anchorage point should include analysis of the anchorage system and applied loads to the existing structure by a qualified fall protection engineer.  For bidding and budgetary purposes, it is helpful to include a layout that indicates the extent of the desired system and a specification that details the performance and design requirements.  Fall protection manufacturers often provide assistance with conceptual layout and details for bidding purposes.

For active fall protection systems, the installed system should include provision for training of the owner’s personnel as system authorized users.  End-user equipment, such as harnesses and lanyards, should be designated and included as part of the system package.  Otherwise, a qualified person should review any existing owner equipment and determine compatibility with the installed system.

Travis Nelson, PE
Peak Fall Protection, Inc
A Diversified Fall Protection Company

References

ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007 Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program

Schedule an assessment with Diversified Fall Protection

Contact Us to request a fall safety review