At nearly all roofing job sites, rooftop access presents
concerns for roofing contractors. One common building component for
rooftop access that can be particularly problematic is a roof
hatch.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one-third of
the 680 occupational fatalities reported in 2008 involved falls
from roofs or ladders. And falls through roof openings and
skylights continue to result in fatalities. A roof hatch can
combine ladder use (fixed or portable) and a roof
opening.
When your employees are accessing a rooftop by means of a roof
hatch, you must recognize that a hatch's design and condition and
the available means to access it can result in increased fall
exposures, and appropriate precautions must be taken.
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