Investing in a roof safety system is one of the best things you can do for those carrying out work on your roof. These systems are designed to offer fall protection, fall arrest and fall elimination (depending on the system you choose) and are often the best way to protect your workers and comply with all relevant Working At Height regulations.
Below we’ll take a look at the different forms of rooftop safety system, the specific support they offer and where they might be most appropriate to use, and the various pros and cons of each. By the time you finish with our roof safety systems guide today, you’ll know exactly what each system does and will be ready to contact a member of our team at Altus Safety to discuss how we can help you.
Already familiar with roof safety solutions? Want to cut to the chase and have a member of our team discuss your options. Contact Altus Safety today.
What Are Roof Safety Systems?
A roof safety system is a broad category of fall protection equipment that supports workers carrying out tasks at height. They can be designed to offer personal fall protection or collective fall protection, depending on the system’s design:
- Personal fall protection systems: offers fall protection to just one individual user at a time – the system is designed for individual use and offers specific, tailored support to the user depending on the tasks being carried out
- Collective fall protection systems: offers fall protection to multiple personnel at once for maximum safety – designed to protect multiple users in a broader sense
There are multiple examples of roof safety systems which are appropriate for a range of different tasks.
| Roof Guardrail / Handrail Systems | A form of collective fall protection that sits along the edge of the roof to prevent falls. Roof guardrail systems are bespoke and made to your exact requirements to offer the ultimate in roof edge protection. Suitable for a range of roof types as both a permanent and temporary solution depending on your requirements. |
| Roof Safety Line Systems | Another form of personal fall protection, roof safety lines are available in vertical or horizontal configurations and work by attaching an individual to a safety line which will stop falls from causing injuries should the worst happen. These are examples of fall arrest systems. |
| Roof Skylight Protection Systems | Skylights are a fragile roof surface that can cause serious issues for workers, with the latest estimates from the HSE suggesting that one fifth of all work at height deaths occurred via a skylight fall. Skylight protection systems are a collective form of fall protection that prevent these falls from happening in the first place. |
How Do I Know Which Roof Safety System Is Right For Me?
The best way to determine if a roof safety system is right for you is to carry out a thorough risk assessment to properly identify the key risks to your workers BEFORE they begin working at height. At Altus Safety we can carry out a Working At Height Risk Assessment for you to help identify key risks and provide you with the best advice about which system(s) would be best for effective fall protection.
During the risk assessment to determine your best course of action, it’s important that you:
- Identify the task being carried out
- Who will be carrying out the task
- What risks are there to the person carrying out the task
- What precautions can be taken to mitigate those risks
- What systems or equipment are missing that could make their task safer
Below we’ll look at each system in greater depth to compare their pros and cons to help you decide which roof safety system might support you.
When Should I Use Roof Guardrail Systems?
Roof guardrail systems are a great form of edge protection designed to offer robust fall protection for multiple users at once. These meet the highest safety standards, offering the most reliable protection when working at height is unavoidable. They’re best used on commercial buildings and building sites to prevent falls from occurring over the edge of the building and they’re a legal requirement whenever the roof is over 10 ft from the ground – which is the case in most commercial buildings and building sites. They can be specifically designed to your exact requirements, providing robust protection and ensuring secure access to your roof.
Pros and Cons of Roof Guardrails
| Pros | Cons |
| Modular systems are easy to install and fit to your exact roof requirements for complete protection. | It’s a form of passive fall protection, meaning there isn’t anything a worker can do to the system to make it more effective. |
| These modular systems are non-penetrative, reducing the chance of roof leaks and invalidated warranties. | Fixed guardrails can be unsightly (but folding guardrails are available for those concerned) |
| No specialist training required so quick to get up and running. | |
| Durable system for flat and sloped roofs. | |
| Easy installation thanks to modular design. | |
| Fully compliance tested to ensure protection. |
What Are Roof Safety Line Systems Used For?
A roof safety line system is typically used when more frequent, flexible access is required along a roof, stadium, or tall structure. They’re often combined with roof walkway systems (where the safety line follows the route of the walkway system to mitigate fall hazards. Can also be combined with guardrail systems for safe access to a roof.
The safety line system allows an individual worker to attach themselves to the safety line structure and then follow its route to complete tasks safely. Should a fall occur, being attached to the secured safety line will slow the fall and prevent injuries.
Pros and Cons of Roof Safety Lines
| Pros | Cons |
| Incredible flexibility for workers whilst still remaining securely attached to an anchor point. | Can be costly depending on the extent of the safety line system you require. |
| Often not visible from ground level. | Regular testing (compliance testing every 12 months as per BS 7883 2019 & BS EN 795:2012) and must be tested before and after every use. |
| Secure attachment point for workers in the form of active reliable fall protection. | |
| Great form of individual fall protection when collective options aren’t suitable. | |
| Can be designed to avoid obstacles such as HVAC units and air conditioning units etc. |
Should I Choose A Roof Skylight Protection System?
Roof skylight protection systems are ALWAYS recommended for anybody who has a skylight or rooflight installed at their building or site. With so many falls from height occurring through skylights on roofs (because they’re such a fragile structure that can’t support a worker’s weight) a skylight protection system will cover the skylight and prevent access. This should be used in conjunction with other height safety systems, however, as its main job is simply preventing access to a fragile skylight.
Pros and Cons of Roof Skylights
| Pros | Cons |
| Prevents access to skylights, stopping the fall at source. | Can be unsightly – but this is mitigated by their fall prevention properties. |
| Still allows light in. | |
| Affordable solution to a major fall issue. | |
| Quick to install. | |
| Easy to maintain. |
Next Steps: Ensure Your System Remains Compliant
Once you’ve picked your roof safety system by identifying all risks to your workers and ensuring the safety system protects your workers in the most effective way, your next concern is compliance.
In the UK it’s vital that all height safety systems are designed, installed, maintained, and regularly compliance tested to ensure full compliance with the latest working at height safety regulations. Failure to do so can land you in hot water and can mean you’re putting your workers at risk of falls and even death.
When you work with Altus Safety you work with a team who puts compliance at the heart of everything we do. We even have dedicated account managers to support you through the entire system installation process and beyond – sending you a reminder before your next maintenance test is due so you know your system is always fully compliant.
Roof Safety Systems Guide: Final Thoughts
Now that you know a little more about the various roof safety systems, their uses, and the pros and cons of each, you should hopefully feel better informed about which system might be best for you.
At Altus Safety we have decades’ worth of experience in the design, installation, maintenance and compliance testing of a range of roof safety systems, so if you’re still unsure or require any assistance at all, you can contact our team who will be only too happy to support you throughout the process.
Contact our team today!