Installation of roof fans

Problem

A large warehouse storing goods for a catalogue company has several roof fans which are in need of replacement. Temperatures in the summer become uncomfortable as a result of poor air circulation and in the winter heated air is not being circulated properly.

Risk assessment/planning and organisation

The roof area is very large and has a gentle slope to edges 20 m above the ground. It is made of non-fragile material, but has several skylights which are fragile. Fixed racking within the warehouse is situated beneath most of the fans.

The manager responsible considers that the work has to be done at height. The roof has no fixed access to its surface and there is no parapet or edge protection for the roof edges so an existing safe place of work cannot be utilised. She has no equipment that would give safe access from the inside due to the height involved and obstructions from the racking. She quickly realises during this early planning stage that she does not have the necessary experienced staff or equipment for the job so she decides to employ a suitable contractor.

Solution

Following close liaison with the client company (which included meetings and the preparation of a risk assessment and a method statement) the contractor carried out the work using a tower scaffold to access the roof. Walkways with barriers were provided on the roof from the tower scaffold to the work areas so that contractors were kept away from the roof edges and fragile skylights. Additional work equipment in the form of personal fall protection systems were used when the fans were being installed in the roof surface in order to minimise the distance and consequences of a potential fall through the temporary roof void. A rescue plan was also put in place.

How was this solution reached?

1. The manager's risk assessment showed that work at height was necessary in order to change the fans. However, the roof could not be used as a working platform as it contained fragile surfaces and did not have suitable edge protection. Similarly, it was not possible to use work equipment owned by the company due to the heights involved with the work and the obstructive racking which would hinder access.
2. The manager realised the company had neither the adequately skilled staff nor the correct work equipment for the job, and so called in a contractor. She would still have ultimate responsibility for the health and safety of the contractor, and so made sure the job was properly planned with a risk assessment and a method statement.
3. The contractor carried out the work using a tower scaffold. The scaffold, and all walkways, were provided with suitable edge protection. This also prevented access to the fragile materials.
4. As an extra precaution, all workers used personal fall protection systems in order to minimise the distance and consequences of any fall.