Roofing Harness and Anchors (Personal Fall Arrest)

Falls are a leading cause of death and serious injury in construction, and roofers are especially exposed. A personal fall arrest system (PFAS) is designed to stop a worker who falls before they hit the ground or a lower level, and to limit the forces on the body. It is one of several fall protection options alongside guardrails, scaffolding with edge protection, and safety nets.

Components

• Anchorage: a secure point on the structure. On pitched roofs, temporary roof anchors are commonly screwed or nailed through the sheathing into rafters or trusses; permanent anchors are installed on some buildings for future maintenance. OSHA guidance states that anchors must not be attached to sheathing alone.
• Full-body harness: distributes arrest forces across the thighs, pelvis, chest and shoulders. Body belts are not permitted for fall arrest under US rules because they can cause serious injury in a fall.
• Connector: a shock-absorbing lanyard, a self-retracting lifeline, or a rope grab running on a vertical lifeline. Rope-grab systems are common on residential roofs because they let the worker move along the slope.

US requirements (example)

Under OSHA's construction rules (29 CFR 1926 Subpart M), fall protection is required for residential roofing work at 6 ft (1.8 m) or more above a lower level. Anchors used for personal fall arrest must support at least 5,000 lb (about 22 kN) per attached worker, or be designed with a safety factor of at least two under the supervision of a qualified person. Employers must train workers, and written fall protection plans are permitted only where conventional protection is shown to be infeasible.

Other countries apply different thresholds and hierarchies. Many European and Australian rules emphasise eliminating the risk or using collective measures such as scaffolding and edge protection before relying on personal equipment.

Good practice

• Install anchors as close to the ridge as practical and before accessing the roof edge.
• Minimise free-fall distance and check clearance below so the worker does not strike the ground.
• Inspect harnesses and connectors before each use and remove any that have arrested a fall.
• Plan for rescue, since suspension in a harness can quickly become dangerous.
• Remove or cover temporary anchors as specified by the manufacturer when work is complete.