Fall Protection

[premierjax]

Hey guys I started my 60x36 x14 pole barn the other day. Im using the metal ag web trusses so I built them all on the ground and had a crane out to lift my 3 sections. I then built a basket out of some old pallets I had laying around, and had my father drive me around on the tractor while I put the purlins up in the remaining two bays. When I was building the 3 bays on the ground it was nothing to run up and down my 2'oc purlins, but now that they are 14' up in the air the "pucker factor" has changed, Im not going to lie I didnt have the balls enough to even stand up when I was on them, I looked like a scared cat up there Im sure. I did manage to get a strip of metal up on both sides so I feel a little safer walking up on my knees screwing the panels on but I was wondering if anyone uses any type of fall protection when doing metal roofing. I know guys that do this everyday run up and down like there walking on the ground, but for us DIY's that dont do this every day, is there a way to make it a little safer? Thanks for all the help guys

 

[rockwithjason]

A fall harness and a shock absorbing lanyard are the way to go

 

[24ModelTFord]

Wearing the properly fitted fall arrest is half of the equation. Proper harness, shock absorbing lanyard will work well. If you happen to fall, you need a way to get down. Don't work alone. You need someone to get you down, even if they get you a ladder. Hanging from a harness for hours waiting for someone to get you isn't a good way to spend an afternoon.

 

[neel2008]

at least have a cell phone in a zipper pocket if you end up hanging from the ceiling and you're by yourself. lol always went through my mind when I went hunting and used my tree stand harness.

 

[premierjax]

I would assume hooking the lanyard at the peak on the truss, is the best anchor point? Or should I screw a D ring to one of the purlins?

 

[kbs2244]

A lot depends on if there is going to be a need in the future to get on the roof again.
The good thing, and the bad thing, about metal roofs is that they are slippery.
I have seen more than one installed with harness anchor points placed every 5 feet along the ridge.
It is a real pain during install, but it pays back big if you ever need to get up there again.

 

[bad_idea]

Hanging from a harness for any period of time is a safety hazard. Something about it cutting off circulation and the blood pooling in your legs. I don't quite understand it, but I know it can kill you. If you don't believe me, google it. It is covered in our safety training at work.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Are you talking about metal roofing or siding? When I did my roof I tied a rope to the peak of the truss about 4 trusses behind me. The rope was not long enough for me to fall off of the roof. I moved the rope as needed. I did the same thing when putting the ridge vent on. The rope fit under the vent between the ridges of the roofing. We left it there until everything on the roof was done.

On a hot day good tennis shoes will stick very well to steel roofing on 4/12 roof. I don't think I trust them on anything steeper though. And even with good traction I didn't untie the rope unless I was straddling the peak.

 

[Milton Shaw]

There was a tree worker that was using a harness and had an accident and was hanging in the harness for about an hour before the fire department could get him down. He died later that day in the hospital from blood clots. This happened just about two weeks ago here in Knoxville Tn. So you must have someone around and help there quickly. Harness is safer than a fall but not safe enough to work alone with. I would prefer to use scaffolding around the outside and then work from bottom up with the slide being at most back to the scaffolding than falling or danging in a "safety harness"

 

[boomer12831]

On my fall protection harness there is a pouch which contains a device that i can stand up in so it relieves pressure on my thighs from the straps on the safety harness. " suspended trauma " is a very dangerous thing and we are trained that if we call 911 for an accident we are supposed to notify EMS that it is a possibility

 

[JoeFin]

I don't know - I literally hate the freaking things

I remember when we would just wear the belts with a lanyard. It wasn't so cumbersome as to inhibit your ability to get your work done and it made a lot of sense. Now days the full body harness with dual lanyards and shock absorbers weighs 3 or 4 times as much.

Doesn't seem like much but when you add in hard hat, safety goggles, H2S monitor, 2 way radio and a backpack full of test equipment you lugging around 70 - 80 lbs of gear. The fatigue factor makes you more prone to accidents of all types.

If it were me and I genuinely had a concern I would think about running a lifeline across the peaks and tying off to that with a Swiss Seat and a D ring. Worked good enough repelling down the sides of mountains and out of Hueys in the military.

But thats just me

Oh ya - here is a video How to tie a Swiss Seat

 

[danski0224]

I know guys that do this everyday run up and down like there walking on the ground, but for us DIY's that dont do this every day, is there a way to make it a little safer? Thanks for all the help guys

You need a rated tie-off point first. I'd suggest permanently installing several along the ridge.

Most roofers will use a rope connected to the tie-off point and there is a grabber that must be moved around on the rope that maintains slack.

Keep in mind that the edge of the roof is sharp and may cut your rope or lanyard. Or you.

Special boots called Cougar Paws have inserts that stick to most anything. Well worth what they cost.

I have seen metal roofing crews work out of big "cherry picker" lifts.

Sometimes, it is good judgement to pay a pro.

Wearing the properly fitted fall arrest is half of the equation. Proper harness, shock absorbing lanyard will work well. If you happen to fall, you need a way to get down. Don't work alone. You need someone to get you down, even if they get you a ladder. Hanging from a harness for hours waiting for someone to get you isn't a good way to spend an afternoon.

You have about 15 minutes until you lose the leg(s) or die when you are cut out of the harness and blood flow is restored.

There are special harnesses with a leg relief so you can "climb" the harness and stretch. This (and cell phones) only works if you maintain consciousness on the way down or after you slam into the wall below once you go over the edge.

Rescue from a harness is a big deal. The local FD has to have a ladder big enough to get to you and access to do it.

Working alone is really stupid.

 

[histeel1]

Also at 14' max tie off height a standard shock absorbing lanyard isn't going to help. Most are 4-6' long not extended. When you fall into them they grow in length sometimes by twice their normal length. No you're up to 8-12' of just lanyard length plus sag in harness plus your body length. Not trying to make it complicated. These days alot of places are going to retractable yoyo lanyards at heights below 18 feet because of the above. They work like a seatbelt when jerked on allow slow methodical movement. If you fall using standard shock absorbing lanyard as suggested "harness morbidity" by hanging there isn't going to be a factor because you will have a;ready hit the ground.
This being a backyard operation I'd just find two of the shortest non shock absorbing lanyards I could find. There are SO many factors that go into fall protection..
DBI Sala has it all...Lots of good info.
http://dbi-sala-safety.com/

 

[Farmerjonathan]

My daughter and son in law are avid deer hunters. They hunt out of their stands with fall protection harnesses. They have a device, believe it cost them around 90 bucks, it is a one time use, but if you fall, it will lower you to the ground at a slow rate. So if that is what you are looking for, check out the big name stores for hunting and ask about fall protection and auto lowering devices.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Before fall protection was the be-all, I used the bottom half of a grade I ladder hooked over the peak of the roof. I could walk up and down on a 12/12 slope in the snow.

Richard