Managing building maintenance comes with responsibilities as well as facing a number of decisions on a regular basis. One of them could be considering the installation of a roof walkway system. What would be the benefits of installing roof walkways on your building’s rooftop?
Ongoing roofing inspections, repairs, and maintenance are key to keeping the building in good shape, all year around. And, keeping your workers safe on the rooftop becomes a number one priority. When deciding if you should include roof walkways in your maintenance strategy plan, discover some good reasons why installing this system is beneficial.
6 Reasons Your Building Needs a Roof Walkway System
1. Safety
When working at elevated heights, the safety of all workers is a number one priority. The risks of slipping, tripping or taking a misstep are all too real when working on rooftops. The result could be catastrophic if your worker falls from a height without any fall arrest or protection gear. You and your company become liable for any injuries or fatalities sustained by employees in your workplace.
Installing a roof walkway system helps to prevent accidents when your workers are performing roofing inspections, repairs and maintenance. It allows for safer and easier access to areas on the roof that are normally difficult to reach. And, your workers will be able to move with more confidence when carrying tools and equipment at height.
2. Liability Claims
Installing a roof walkway as well as equipping your workers with the right tools and gear for working at heights help mitigate the risks of roofing work. These items don’t only protect your workers but they protect the company from expensive liability claims should there be an accident or worse, a fatality.
Working at heights is hazardous and statistics show that this type of work is one of the leading causes of fatalities in countries such as Australia. Having all the right systems in place helps to minimise the risk of your workers being one of the statistics.
3. Legal Requirements
Your role as a building maintenance manager entails abiding by workplace regulations. This includes minimising or eliminating the risk of falls when working at height. Most countries such as Australia have a National Code of Practice, clearly outlining the requirements for safe working at elevated heights.
Installing roof walkway systems and equipping your rooftop maintenance team with fall arrest and protection kits are ways you can abide by this Code of Practice. Using the Code of Practice as a guideline, you can reduce the risk of working at heights while protecting both your workers and the company.
4. Protects Building Roof Surfaces
Roof walkway systems also protect the surface of your building’s rooftop. If your workers are on the roof often performing repairs or gaining access to the building’s boiler room, the foot traffic will put pressure on the roofing. General wear and tear increases with ongoing traffic, eventually resulting in even more repairs and maintenance being required.
A well-constructed roof walkway prevents needless damage from foot traffic. Creating an equal distribution of pressure on the rooftop as workers follow a clear pathway, lessens unnecessary damage. A roof walkway increases the longevity of the building’s roof surface, making it a smart investment and money well spent.
5. Easier and Safer Access to the Building’s Equipment
Commercial buildings have a number of systems installed to help create a healthy and safe workplace for its occupants. Installation of some of these systems take place on the rooftop. These include:
- Ventilation systems
- Air conditioning units
- Boilers
- Skylights installed to improve natural lighting indoors
Regular monitoring, maintenance and repairs of these systems is essential to keep them in good working order. This means your workers need to have safe access when inspecting or fixing these systems. Installing roof walkways gives the team peace of mind that they can access the rooftop easily and safely.
6. Wet Weather Protection
While your team shouldn’t be on the roof during bad weather, there are times when it may be necessary to send workers above to perform emergency repairs. A roof walkway gives added protection in the form of a slip-proof surface along which the workers can tread while accessing damaged parts.
Your workers will also have peace of mind that they have traction should they be caught working at heights during a storm. A wet roof becomes extremely slippery and hazardous. But, installation of a well-designed roof walkway gives your workers a non-slip pathway to follow as they exit the rooftop during rainy weather.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of reasons you and your company should consider installing a roof walkway system on the building’s rooftop. It keeps your workers safe while working at height as well as preventing nasty accidents and falls from happening.
Your organisation will be protected against costly liability claims and your workers will be more productive knowing their safety is looked after. What’s more, you can rest assured you’re abiding by workplace environment and height safety regulations, an essential aspect of being a diligent facilities manager.
