If you own a commercial building, and employees frequently need to get on the roof, it may be worth installing a rooftop Metalwalk system for your employees' safety. Such a system will put you in compliance with OSHA standards and will minimize your risks of a workers' compensation suit. This article will further discuss rooftop Metalwalk system safety in Atlanta, GA. Non-Slip Surface Depending on the design and material used on the roof of your commercial building, the surface could pose a slipping hazard to any employees that are trying to navigate the roof. For example, roofs made of metal sheeting can become slippery, especially if they're wet. And if those roofs have any kinds of slopes on them, the risk of slipping and injuring yourself is even higher. A Metalwalk system provides a flat, non-slip surface that your employees can use to move around the rooftop. This will protect them from any injuries associated with slips and falls, and thereby protect your business from any lawsuits. Handrails Any time an employee is working in an area high above the ground, it is best for there to be guardrails or handrails for them to use for balance. Even if the surface is a non-slip surface (as mentioned above), trips and falls can still happen. Having a handrail in place helps to further reduce the risks of falling. Metalwalk systems can have tall handrails installed that can be used for balance. It also helps to keep anyone from falling off of the walkway and onto the roof, and deters employees from stepping off the walkway intentionally. Toeboard Metalwalk systems also have the option of installing a 4" toeboard around the edge of the walkway system. How does a low, small barrier improve safety? It actually does so in many ways. For one thing, if someone happens to take a tumble, they won't be at risk of rolling beneath the lowest rail. And, as mentioned above, it will also deter employees from intentionally climbing underneath the rail and out onto the roof. Additionally, if your employees are using tools while on the Metalwalk system, a toeboard can keep tools from rolling off the walkway onto the building's roof. If a screwdriver or other tool were to fall onto the roof, an employee would likely step off the walkway to retrieve it, putting themselves at risk of injury by doing so. Limiting Access Another way that a Metalwalk system improves safety is that it can give full access to areas that employees need, while making other areas less accessible. For example, imagine that you have several glass skylights on your roof, as well as air conditioning units. Occasionally, you will need to send an employee on the roof to repair or maintain the air conditioning units. The Metalwalk system can be built so that these units are easily accessible, but it can stay far away from the skylights, which could pose a hazard to any employees that might try to walk across them. A Metalwalk system can be designed to access any area of your roof, while leaving areas you don't want accessed without an easy route to get to them. This helps to ensure that employees only stay in approved areas, and don't go to parts of the roof that may be dangerous for them. These simple safety measures can make a big difference in your employees' safety, not to mention in your compliance with OSHA's guidelines. If you want to learn more about rooftop Metalwalk system safety in Atlanta, GA, then locate a retailer who installs these systems and ask them to tell you more about the benefits such a system can offer you.
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