The defensive backfield of a football team often employs a “zone defense” to counter the offense’s passing game. Every defender has an assigned area on the field to protect against any receiver daring to encroach upon their territory.
Every building with a flat or low-sloped roof—notably commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities—has its own areas to protect. The zone defense is also used, but not based on a football coach calling a play. Regulatory bodies have standards and guidelines to protect workers whenever they access the roof.
Depending on the down, field position, and score, a coach might use any number of defensive backs in its zone defense. On a roof, there are three specific zones.
Zone 1: If workers are within 1.8m of the roof edge or roof opening (e.g., skylight, roof hatch), employers must provide either a perimeter guardrail, safety net, travel restraint system, or a personal fall arrest system (PFAS).
Zone 2: Between 1.8m and 4.6m, protective measures for Zone 1 should be used. However, the employer may establish and mark a “designated area” when the work is both infrequent (monthly or quarterly) and temporary (one or two hours on average).
Zone 3: Beyond 4.6m for infrequent and temporary work, a designated area is sufficient, but workers must be trained not to cross into Zone 2 or Zone 1 without proper safe guards.
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