Fall Protection Around Skylights

With the 1st day of Spring less than a month away, I know I’m looking forward to spending more time outdoors enjoying longer, warmer days which got me thinking about the OSHA Walking-Working Surfaces topic of skylights.

Skylights have become increasing popular as an easy way to add interior building light in an economical and environmentally friendly way however most models in the market are not designed to be OSHA compliant for fall safety meaning they are not rated for at least twice the weight of employees who might stand on them. See OSHA CFR 1926.502(i) for the definition of a “cover”.

Flexible Lifeline Systems offers two options for permanently addressing this issue.

One popular option is skylight screens because of their economy and wide application range for various roof types.

The other option for low slope roofs (1:12 slope or less) is free-standing guardrails because they can more easily accommodate non-standard shapes, do not block light, and can be installed further from the edge of the skylight so they are not visible from below. These are also the best option for operable skylights and automatic smoke vents.

If you have questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us anytime at www.fall-arrest.com or (832) 448-2900. We would appreciate the opportunity to be a resource.