19 Jan When is Roof Safety Mesh Required?
It’s no secret that working at height is dangerous and requires fall protection to keep workers safe from harm. Roofs are no exception. When we talk about fall protection for a roof, however, we’re not only concerned with falls from the edge – we also need to consider the possibility that a worker could fall through the roof itself. This is where roof safety mesh becomes an important feature.
With more than 20 years experience in fall prevention systems across a range of industries, the Australian Height Safety Services team understands the importance of height safety (from a wellbeing and regulatory standpoint). Get in touch with our helpful team today to discuss your fall protection needs.
What is Roof Safety Mesh?
This is a mesh layer that is installed over the entire roofing plane before work on the roofing installation starts.
It must comply with AS/NZS 4389 Safety Mesh. This states that it should be formed from wire that is 2mm in diameter with a tensile strength of no less than 450MPa that has been welded into a mesh where the longitudinal wires are not more than 150mm apart and the cross wires are not more than 300mm apart. After installation, the safety mesh should be covered by the roof cladding as soon as reasonably practical.
Care must be taken to ensure that the mesh has been securely connected to the structure and that any overlap between adjacent sections is sufficient to resist the force of a person falling onto it.
The idea is that, if part of the roof were to give way when a worker is standing on it, their fall would be arrested before it had the opportunity to cause serious injury or death.
What Sorts of Wire Can be Used?
In most cases, stainless steel is the most popular choice for roof safety mesh, as it’s the ideal solution for corrosive environments and it will be able to withstand the Australian environment for the lifetime of the building it has been installed on. Galvanised metals should never be used, as they corrode and are not able to provide workers with adequate protection.
Why is Roof Safety Mesh Important?
Even from low heights, falls can leave workers with permanent and debilitating injuries. These include concussions, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and brain damage. The risk of serious injury and even death increases significantly as the working height increases – the higher the roof, the more important fall prevention (like roof safety mesh) becomes.
Do All Roofs Require Roof Safety Mesh?
According to SafeWork Australia, protection must be provided if work is being done on the top of the roof and there is a risk of falling through it. Protection in the form of roof safety mesh must be installed under ‘fragile’ roofing or skylights.
Roofs are likely to be ‘fragile’ if they are constructed from:
- Asbestos roofing sheets
- Fibre cement sheets
- Liner panels on built-up sheeted roofs
- Metal sheets and fasteners (where corroded)
- Glass (including wired glass)
- Chipboard and similar (where rotted)
- Wood slabs, slates, and tiles
- Polycarbonate or plastic (common in skylights)
- Roof lights (particularly where they’re difficult to see in some conditions or have been hidden by paint)
All roofs should be treated as ‘fragile’ until a competent person has confirmed that they’re not. No sheeted roof (regardless of the material it has been constructed from and including roof ridges and purlins) should be relied on to bear the weight of a person.
Can I Install the Mesh Myself?
No, it should be installed by competent persons in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions (in short, by a team like that employed by Australian Height Safety Services). These persons should be protected against falls whilst performing the installation through the use of appropriate control measures (such as scaffolding, fall-arrest systems, and elevated work platforms).
Comply with All Relevant Standards with Roof Safety Mesh from AHSS
The safety of all workers who need to access the roof of a building, from the initial roofing installation through to undertaking maintenance and repairs down the line, should be your top priority. When you partner with Australian Height Safety Services for the supply and installation of fall prevention systems, including roof safety mesh, you can rest assured that every worker on your site will be in good hands.
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