Are You Servicing Your Safety Equipment, Such at Self-retracting Lifelines? 

Self-retracting lifelines can be serviced and recertified, offering a more affordable option to stay OSHA compliant.

By Roofmaster.

Recently we assisted a contractor that had a large development job with Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Because the work being conducted was on the military base, certain governmental procedures had to be observed while performing the work, especially pertaining to safety. Our extensive background and knowledge in safety products saw the contractor use the team at Roofmaster as a trusted source to remain compliant for the extent of its military work.

30′ HALO Self-retracting Lifeline One of the most difficult OSHA restrictions on the contractor was the need to provide safety equipment that allowed the crew to operate efficiently while limiting the distance the crew could fall. In accordance with OSHA regulations, we recommended a combination of anchors, harnesses, and Guardian’s Halo self-retractable lifelines (SRL.) In addition to the initial sale of the safety equipment, the team at Roofmaster provided service to this contractor by repairing its SRLs. With most SRLs ranging from $500 to $1500 per unit, repair quickly became a more practical option instead of replacing units. For a fraction of the cost of a new unit, we inspected and re-certified the contractor’s SRLs. Roofmaster’s re-certification process for self-retractable lifelines includes the following:

• Check and reset tension on the line as per manufacturer’s specifications
• Check all hardware components for wear (e.g., shackles, eye bolts, turn buckles)
• Check fixing elements (finger grips) for signs of wear
• Lubricate all moving parts (e.g., turnbuckles and shackles)
• Repair and/or replace any damaged or worn parts to manufacturer’ specifications
• Re-certify all self-retracting lifelines and provide 2-year re-certification certificate for OSHA documentation

Over the past decade OSHA has been cracking down on rooftop safety. OSHA 1926 requires each contractor to employ at least one competent person, defined as, “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” There are two key components to this regulation:

1. Inspection by the user is required prior to use of any fall protection equipment. Best practice states that visual inspection of equipment should include wear and tear, malfunction, or damage before and after use of any safety, fall arrest, or fall restraint equipment.
2. A competent person must inspect fall protection equipment every month.

In addition to visual inspections, re-certification of safety equipment is required every two years, when a unit undergoes repair, or when a unit is deployed in a fall arrest or fall restraint event.

We have seen that rooftop safety is an area upon which OSHA has increasingly focused. Roofmaster’s service and re-certification of SRLs can keep rooftop crews OSHA compliant and at a fraction of the cost of a new unit. Speak with a Roofmaster salesperson today to learn how our industry leading sales and service can help with all of your rooftop safety needs.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on the Roofmaster blog and can be viewed here.