Things To Consider When Choosing Roof Anchor Points

There are a lot of roof anchor point uses. However, you need to choose the right anchor points for your use. The selection process is not just as simple as finding the nearest object to which you can install your lanyard. You should understand the forces that anchor points need to withstand, the type of anchor point you can safely connect your lanyard to and the work you want to do.

Existing structures

For something to qualify, it should be able to withstand five thousand pounds of force per person or a safety factor of 2. You should therefore grab any person and ask them what criteria for the anchor point. Those that do not know cannot decide on which part of the structure to select. If you have anyone remaining that knows the criteria, ask them which parts of the structure meet the criteria.

Most of them will say they do not know. Other than the engineer who has come to review some specifications and do some calculations, most people will not know what can and what cannot meet the roof safety system requirements, even if they could, they will not provide the proof you need to choose anchor points.

Engineered systems

Buying an engineered system is one of the best things you can do. There is a wide range of different kinds: mobile anchor points, horizontal lifelines, and permanently installed anchor points. Each of these comes with its own cons and pros.

Horizontal lifelines are great once they are in place. The design phase could be time-consuming and these systems could be very expensive but they allow the workers freedom of movement and can be customised to any configuration. They can also be installed to reduce or eliminate lanyards on the working surface. However, you need to know these roof anchor points uses before you use them.