If your workers have to go up on your roof to do periodic or regular maintenance jobs, then you need to ensure that they are fully kitted out with height safety gear. You also have to mitigate against other potential accident hotspots.
If you have skylights on your roof, then it's worth putting protectors around them. How do these protectors work and why should you install them?
What Are Skylight Protectors?
Roof skylight protectors are devices that fit over and around a skylight window. While product designs vary, these safety devices are usually boxes or cages made from strong metal bars or mesh.
The main aim of the protector is to put a kind of crash barrier over the top of the skylight's glass or plastic window. The device doesn't block out light; however, it prevents anything — or anyone — from coming into contact with the window itself.
Why Install Skylight Protectors?
Skylights are a weak spot on your roof. If someone is working up there and falls on the skylight, then they could fall straight through the glass or plastic. This could cause a serious injury or even death if the drop through the skylight to the ground below is big enough.
While you might think that this won't happen because people can see the skylights as they work, this isn't a guarantee against an accident. A simple trip could propel someone down on to the window from a distance with some force. Or, if someone is busy and distracted, then they might stand on the edge of the skylight as they work. They might assume that it is safe because it seems like a solid structure.
However, if your skylights are old, then they might actually be more fragile than you think. Daily exposure to sunlight can make skylight window materials turn brittle. A little extra weight could cave one in. If you install skylight protectors, then you make these areas safer. If someone were to fall on to one of the windows, then the protector would take the brunt of their weight. It would protect the light itself and prevent the person from falling through it.
Plus, as an added bonus, these devices can also protect your skylights from general damage. They prevent anything that might damage it from falling on to the glass or plastic.
To find out more about skylight protectors and how to choose the right devices for your factory windows, contact height safety products suppliers.
Share23 November 2020
Hello, my name is Richard and I own a medium-sized industrial unit in Sydney, Australia. I only started the business a few months ago, so I am not a professional in any sense of the word. Before I could set the business going, I had to kit out the new factory with equipment. I didn't have a clue where to source the best equipment or how to get the best deal. Thankfully, my brother-in-law is worked in manufacturing for many years. He came along with me when we viewed the equipment and got me the very best stuff. I decided to start this blog to help others who are just starting out.