Winter brings unique opportunities for outdoor activities. Play bocce with snowballs. Build an igloo. Create a personal bobsled course.

Winter also brings unique challenges for rooftop work, where slippery surfaces, heavy snow, and high winds increase the risk of a fall. Despite these challenges, workers must still inspect and maintain heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and other building services equipment on the roof.

Preparing rooftop fall protection for wintry weather is essential to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance. Wintertime rooftop safety begins with assessing potential hazards. Are there unprotected roof edges? Where can snow, ice, and debris accumulate? Are there skylights that can be obscured by snow? 

Before winter sets in, inspect the rooftop to mitigate fall hazards. Check structural elements and install fall protection equipment, including guardrails, safety gates, walkways, and lifelines. Confirm they are properly secured and functional.

Roof edge guardrails are “collective” fall protection that safeguards multiple workers collectively without requiring personal fall protection equipment (PFPE) or specialized training. They should be constructed of aluminum or galvanized steel for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.

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