Office of Environmental Health & Safety
ROOF ACCESS PROGRAM
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Prepared By: Jacob Campbell August 1, 2013 Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Table of Contents
SECTION
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Purpose
Regulatory Reference
Scope
Elements of the Program
Responsibility
Prepared By: Jacob Campbell August 1, 2013 Office of Environmental Health & Safety
ROOF ACCESS PROGRAM
1.0
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide information regarding access to campus
building rooftops. This document is intended to supplement the Institute’s Fall
Protection Program.
2.0
Regulatory Reference
29 CFR 1910 Subpart D, Walking-Working Surfaces
29 CFR 1926 Subpart M, Fall Protection
3.0
Scope
This policy applies to all employees, students, contractors, and visitors needing roof
access, but are NOT engaging in activities that require application of the Fall Protection
Program. For roof access requiring full fall protection procedures, please refer to the
Institute’s fall protection program.
Only authorized employees are permitted to have limited access to the rooftops of
selected buildings. Access by others is not permitted. The Institute specifically
prohibits students from being on the roofs and balconies of any residence, as well as
other college buildings unless being specifically escorted by authorized employees.
4.0
Elements of the Program
1. Authorization: The Senior Director of Facilities Operations or his designee must
authorize employees to gain limited access to selected rooftops for legitimate
purposes. Access falls into three categories:
A. Employees with the need for regular access to roof areas who are trained according to
the standards of the Fall Protection Program may be issued a roof access key. The list of
all employees with roof access keys will be maintained by the Locksmith and reviewed
annually. Internal controls over the issuance, replacement and retrieval of keys will be
established by the Facilities Operations Keys and Electronic Access Policy. Training for fall
protection and roof access will be provided on a regular basis by the Institute’s EHS
Manager or their designee.
B. Public Safety personnel will also be issued roof access keys, but their use will be
limited to emergencies and notification shall be made to the EHS Manager and/or the
Director of Facilities Operations if access to a roof is necessary or has occurred.
Emergency Exemption: While Public Safety must comply with this policy in the course
of normal operations, they are exempt during emergencies and may provide access to
authorized technical personnel and first responders as needed.
Prepared By: Jacob Campbell August 1, 2013 Office of Environmental Health & Safety
C. All other employees requesting periodic roof access must submit a workorder for said
event, and be accompanied by Facilities Operation personnel to provide access and direct
supervision of their activities.
Contractors requiring roof access will continue to check roof access keys out from the
Locksmith on an as-needed basis once their work has been cleared by Facilities
Operations; these keys will continue to be returned and accounted for at the end of each
business day.
The issuance of a numbered key for roof access must be specifically approved and logged
using the existing Key Control system. No key may be loaned to or used by anyone other
than the person to whom it was issued.
2. Hazard Determination: The Manager of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) or their
designee will be responsible for reviewing requests for limited roof access, and
submitting requests for approval to the Director(s). Criteria for review will include:
•
•
•
The purpose for the access is limited, for legitimate maintenance or security/emergency
purposes, and necessary to the Institute’s operations;
The activity being conducted will not cause damage to Institute property, or present
unreasonable hazards to those involved; and
The area being accessed and the activity being conducted does not require application of
the Fall Protection Program or other Institute safety policies.
3. Fall Protection Program Exemption. The requirements of the Fall Protection Program need
not be applied for limited rooftop access so long as the following criteria are met:
• The area is accessed through a viable door or hatchway that does not require special
measures (i.e., a safety harness) to utilize.
• The area being accessed is flat (i.e., not pitched), safe to walk on in all weather conditions,
and purposely designed for occasional use by workers for maintenance activities.
• The area being accessed does NOT come within 6 horizontal feet of the roof’s outer edge or
other location presenting a potential fall distance of greater than 6 vertical feet (i.e., from a
higher portion of a flat roof to an adjacent lower portion), OR is currently protected by a
parapet or other solid barrier at least 42-inches in height.
• Authorized employees must operate using the “buddy system” when accessing rooftops.
All other circumstances involving roof access require application of the Fall Protection Program.
5.0
Responsibility
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety Management (EHS) is responsible
for this program. Facilities Operations has final responsibility for key access.
Prepared By: Jacob Campbell August 1, 2013 ROOF ACCESS PERMIT
Permit Requestor:
Supervisor/Contact Name:
Department/Contractor
Performing Work:
Building & Location:
Roof Type:
(Circle)
Flat
Sloped
Corrugated
Other
Task to be performed:
Permit Valid:
Start Date: ___ /___ /____
Time: ______ am/pm
Close Date: ___ /___ /___
Time: ______ am/pm
GENERAL SAFETY CHECK
EHS & Facilties Operations aware
of work?
Yes / No
Roof surface has no slip/trip
hazards (ice/snow/debris)
Yes / No
Roof plans available and/or
reviewed?
Yes / No
All equipment to be used is safe &
free from defects?
Yes / No
Signature:
Comments:
Comments:
Comments:
Risks from the following hazards have been assessed/mitigated?
Heat: Y/N Light: Y/N Power: Y/N Emissions: Y/N HVAC: Y/N
Equipment in close proximity:
Associated hazards:
Specify safety controls:
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
__ Fall Protection Required: Barrier___ Harness/Lanyard___ Anchor___
__ Safety shoes must be worn
__ Approved respirator must be worn (stack emissions)
__ Emergency routes are defined
__ Lighting levels are adequate
MEANS OF ACCESS
Method of access to roof:
System used for safely transferring tools & equipment to roof:
Wind poses a risk of falling:
Other relevant permits completed?
Yes/No
Yes/No
Requestor: I accept and agree with the safety precautions stated above.
Print Name:
Signature:
Date:
Issuer: All permit conditions have been approved and I authorize access to the roof.
Print Name:
Signature:
Permit Cancelled:________________________________
Date: