Restraint and Fall Arrest Design

We recognize the role of safety in the workplace. A safe workplace is generally a more productive workplace benefiting both the contractor and the property owner. The liability that both the contractor and the owner are exposed to as the result of an accident causing injury or death is staggering. Each state or province has specific legislation regarding safety. This legislation incorporates the notion of "due diligence", which usually leaves the contractor or owner "guilty until proven innocent" after an accident has occurred.

We will consult with the property owner to ensure all federal, state and provincial regulations are being adhered to with regards to fall arrest and occupational health and safety.

The following is an excerpt from the Occupational Health and Safety Act of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and is typical of many federal, state and provincial regulations:

This Act may be cited as the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The foundation of this Act is the Internal Responsibility System which is based on the principle that:
1. Employers, contractors, constructors, employees and self-employed persons at a workplace, and
2. The owner of a workplace, a supplier of goods or provider of an occupational health or safety service to a workplace or an architect or professional engineer, all of whom can affect the health and safety of persons at the workplace, share the responsibility for the health and safety of persons at the workplace.
3. These regulations apply not only to roofing contractors who may be working on the roof, but to anyone who accesses the roof including employees of the building owner or manager. RoofChek can protect the building owner's liability by conducting a Roof Safety Audit of the client's existing facilities to confirm fall protection compliance with OSHA or other applicable regulations. RoofChek can design a certified fall protection system for either roof maintenance or window washing for virtually any type of building, with the capability of providing stamped engineered drawings in any of the 50 US states or 10 Canadian provinces.

Duties and Precautions

Every employer shall take every precaution that is reasonable in the circumstances to
1. Ensure the health and safety of persons at or near the workplace;
2. Provide and maintain equipment, machines, materials or things that are properly equipped with safety devices;
3. Provide such information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities as are necessary to the health or safety of the employees;
4. Ensure that the employees, and particularly the supervisors and foremen, are made familiar with any health and safety hazards that may be met by them at the workplace;
5. Ensure that the employees are made familiar with the proper use of all devices, equipment and clothing required for their protection; and
6. Conduct the employer's undertaking so that employees are not exposed to health or safety hazards as a result of the undertaking.
7. Every owner shall:
  1. Take every precaution that is reasonable in the circumstances to provide and maintain the owner's land or premises being or to be used as a workplace,
    1. In a manner that ensures the health and safety of persons at or near the workplace, and
    2. In compliance with this Act and the regulations; and
  2. Give to the employer at the workplace the information that is
    1. Known to the owner or that the owner could reasonably be expected to know, and
    2. Necessary to identify and eliminate or control hazards to the health or safety of persons at the workplace.

Our specifications always insist on contractor compliance with respect to fall arrest and occupational health and safety.