The legally mandatory security of roofs and other accessible areas with the risk of falling persons from a height can be implemented in two different ways. Individual persons equipped with personal protective equipment, as well as persons without special equipment, can be secured by using some element from the category of collective protection. In larger construction projects, a combination of the two methods is usually used.

Buildings must be equipped with means to protect persons from falling in such a way as to secure all the edges of the fall that the building has (edges of roofs, terraces and skylight trim). This hedge can be done in a number of ways, and there is no single universal one. The resources used and their distribution depend not only on the needs and limitations of the expected works, but also, for example, on the material and construction of the base.
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Collective protection of persons

Collective protection of persons does not necessarily serve to protect persons from falls. In addition, it can also fulfill the function of protection against falling objects on people. These include fixed handrails, safety nets (vertical, horizontal) and mobile handrails. The function of the railing is clear - not to allow people to approach the edge of the fall at all, while safety nets are used to catch already falling objects or people, which are often used in construction, among other things.

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Individual protection of persons

Individual protection against falling persons from a height requires that any person moving in a place at risk of falling be equipped with personal protective equipment. Using them, the worker attaches to the anchor point or pliable rope line. Such meshes and devices are designed and placed on the roof in such a way that in most cases they do not allow falling over the edge at all. The anchorage point or device then functions as a retaining system in the event of a person falling, catching the falling worker in time, that is, before he would hit any structure laid below. In most cases, the anchor points are designed to cushion the fall by their own deformation. In particular, the standard ČSN EN 795 places very strict requirements on the means of individual protection. Rope grips are mostly made of stainless steel to exclude the possibility of corrosion and deterioration of the elements during its expected service life.

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Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists, among other things, of a full-body harness with a connecting rope fitted with a fall absorber. With this rope, persons connect to anchor points or rope lines. PPE shall ensure that a timely capture occurs in the event of a fall — that is, before any structure below is struck. However, this does not ensure the full safety of the worker and the use of additional safety features such as protective helmets is required. The use of PPE is also governed by the standard ČSN EN 795 and a number of other strict standards.

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Regular revisions of anchor points and equipment are also a prerequisite for reliable operation. However, not only the devices themselves are important, but also their interaction with the substrate. It is therefore also necessary to demonstrate at all times that any anchor point is installed correctly on the roof and its resistance to release from the supporting base is suitable for the purpose.

We offer a wide range of fall protection safety systems that meet all legal requirements and ensure maximum safety when working on roofs.
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