How to Use a Safety Harness on a Roof

Safety harnesses are designed to protect you when working at heights. A typical harness features straps that fit around your body, including your shoulders, chest and legs. These straps are connected to a strong buckle and a D-ring on the back, which is where the harness connects to a safety line or lanyard.

Safety harnesses are a crucial part of two main safety systems used in roofing work: the work-restraint system and the fall-arrest system.

Work-restraint systems: These systems (also known as fall-restraint systems) prevent falls. They limit your movement, keeping you from reaching the edge of the roof or area you’re working on.

Fall-arrest systems: These systems don’t prevent falls but do reduce injury risks. They’re designed to catch you and stop you from hitting the ground if you do fall. Safety harnesses in these systems also spread the fall impact across your body, reducing the chance of serious injury.

Understanding these systems and how your harness fits into them is key to staying safe on the job.

When it comes to choosing the proper harness for roof work, it’s important to understand the different types available. The type of harness you select should be based on the job you’re doing and the level of protection you need.

Full-body harness: This is the most common and recommended harness for roof work. It covers your entire body with straps around your shoulders, chest, waist and legs. It provides the highest level of protection because it distributes the force of a fall across a larger area, reducing the risk of injury.

Chest Harness: This type secures only the upper body. It offers less protection than a full-body harness and is generally used in situations where the risk of falling is low. Because of the limited protection, chest harnesses aren’t suitable for roofing work.

Falls from height account for around half of all fatal injuries in the construction industry. And risks are even greater when working on a roof because you’re at the highest point of a building, so any fall will be significant.

Because of the inherent danger, all work at height must comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAH Regulations).

Under these regulations, all work at height must be carefully planned, carried out and supervised. One of the most important control measures to implement is using a safety harness and lanyard.

To comply with the WAH Regulations, you must first avoid working at heights whenever possible. There’s no risk of falling if you’re not at height, so do as much work as possible from the ground.

If the work cannot be done from the ground (which is the case for most roof work), then you must take steps to minimise the risks. There’s a clear hierarchy of risk controls you must work through:

1. Avoid working at height if possible.
2. Prevent falls where work at height must go ahead.
3. Minimise the consequences/distance of any falls.

Only after exhausting all possible control measures on one level can you move on to the next. There are also considerations within each level.

Collective protection (such as scaffolds or nets) should be prioritised over personal protection (such as safety harnesses). Passive protection is also preferred over active protection – systems that work without any input from the user are more reliable.

The WAH Regulations also reinforce the need for competence. Everyone involved in the roof work must have the necessary knowledge, experience and training to assess and manage risks. Knowing how to use a safety harness on a roof is just one skill you’ll need.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has provided more information about this in Health and Safety in Roof Work HSG33.

When it comes to fall protection, you must understand the ABCs:

• Anchorage
• Body wear
• Connecting devices

These components fit together to keep you safe while working at height.

The anchor point is where your safety system is secured. It must be strong enough to hold your weight plus any tools and materials you might be carrying. Examples of anchor points include:

• Structural steel beams
• Counterweight anchors
• Specially designed roof anchors

The body wear component is the safety harness itself. A proper safety harness should fit and be appropriate for the planned work. Since there’s no specific roofing harness, a full-body harness is usually the best choice for this type of work.

The connecting device (typically a lanyard) links your harness to the anchor point. Depending on whether you need to prevent a fall or arrest one if it happens, there are different types of connecting devices. Some lanyards are designed to limit your movement, keeping you from reaching the edge, while others are built to absorb shock and slow your fall.

Using a safety harness correctly is crucial for your protection when working on a roof. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you use it safely and effectively:

Select a harness that suits the specific job and risks involved. For most roofing tasks, a full-body harness as part of a work-restraint system is recommended because it provides the most protection.

Make sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines for sizing, weight limits and adjustment points to ensure a proper fit.

Check any harness before putting it on. Look for any signs of wear, damage, or defects in the straps, buckles and D-rings. If you find any issues, do not use the harness.

You must also be sure your fall protection system has undergone a recent inspection conducted by another competent person. Inspections are more thorough and are required at regular intervals to ensure the equipment is in safe working order.

Start by loosening the straps and slipping the harness over your shoulders like a vest. Adjust the straps so that the harness fits snugly but comfortably. The chest strap should be positioned across your chest (not your stomach), and the leg straps should be securely fastened around your thighs. Double-check that all buckles are correctly fastened and that the D-ring on your back is centred between your shoulder blades.

Once your harness is on, attach the lanyard to a secure anchor point. The anchor point should be strong enough to hold your weight if you fall. Make sure the lanyard is the correct length to prevent you from reaching the edge of the roof.

• Falls from height are a leading cause of fatal injuries in the construction industry, making the use of a safety harness on a roof essential for protection.
• Safety harnesses are a key part of work-restraint and fall-arrest systems. Work-restraint systems are typically safer for roof work, but you must consider measures higher on the hierarchy of controls first.
• The Work at Height Regulations require all work at height to be planned, carried out and supervised by competent people.
• Consider the ABCs of fall protection (Anchorage, Body wear, and Connecting devices) to select and use an appropriate fall protection system.
• Proper use of a safety harness involves choosing the right harness, conducting a pre-use check, putting on the harness correctly and securing it to a strong anchor point.

Knowing how to use a safety harness on a roof is vital, but ensuring that the harness is in good condition and safe to use is equally important. Proper inspection and maintenance of your safety harness are key to preventing accidents and ensuring that the equipment will perform when needed.

Our online Safety Harness Inspection Course teaches you how to properly inspect safety harnesses and lanyards. It’s ideal for those responsible for the safety of others on-site, including supervisors, safety officers and anyone tasked with ensuring that safety equipment is in good condition. The course will equip you with the knowledge to spot potential issues before they become serious problems, helping you keep your equipment compliant and team safe.