Question #1: What is the advantage of permanently installed roof anchors?
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Answer: Jobsite fatalities and serious injuries due to falls rank as the number one safety hazard for construction workers. Tie-Off points (anchors), lifelines, and personal fall protection equipment provide a cost
effective way to guard against falls and ensure site safety for many trades
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during the framing stage. Permanently installed anchors have the added advantage of providing a way for warranty and maintenance personnel/workers to tie-off after the initial phase of construction.
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Question #2: How many anchors do I need?
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Answer: The number of anchors
needed to provide 100% fall protection is based on whether the anchors are required for fall restraint or fall arrest applications
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Numbers can vary based on roof shapes, protrusions from the buildings such as verandahs and others on the roof such as air-conditioning units, solar panels etc...
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Question #4: Who uses fall protection?
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Answer:Some of the trades most
likely to use the anchors are: Framers, roofers, labourers, painters, HVAC, gutter installers/cleaners, Aerial installers, pool heating and solar panel installers.
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Question #5: Where do I place the anchors?
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Answer: Often the anchors are located on
the back side of ridges and hips like other penetrations. Spacing is based
on fall protection zones that are configured in circular patterns (similar
to lawn sprinkler systems, if you like).
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Indications on how to do this are found in the ARS Instruction/Specification
manual, on our website, or by requesting assistance from Super Anchor Safety.
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Question #6: Where can I purchase Super Anchors?
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Answer: Super Anchor Safety has a number of resellers within AUstralia and sells directly from this site Australia Wide. Click this link Resellers to
find a supplier in your area.
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If you do not have a reseller in your area, contact our
sales office at 1300-131-881 by phone or email our sales department at sales@superanchor.com.au.
You may also order online |
Question #7: How long do the anchors last?
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Answer: The standard ARS series of roof
anchors are made from #304, 14 gauge stainless steel and are attached with
a 8mm die-chromate coated grade 8 bolt. The santoprene flashing base
is rated for 20 years.
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When re-roofing, only the flashing base should need to be
replaced, and the attachment bolt checked for corrosion at this time. |
Question #8: Does the equipment comply with OH&S and Australian Standards?
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Answer: All of our equipment meets or exceeds
OH&S and AS/NZS standards.
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Question #9: What effect does a fall impact have on the anchor
point?
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Answer: The ARS series of anchors are designed
to absorb hundreds kilograms of shock when subjected to a fall impact.
All Standards and Codes of practice require any equipment subjected to a fall impacts be
removed from service.
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The stem section of an ARS will bend in the direction of the fall which
also provides a means of visual inspection. Anchors are easily replaced by
removing the attachment bolt. |
Question #10: What can I do about existing structures that do not have anchors?
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Answer: Any ARS anchor can be easily retro-fitted
and flashed into the roofing system.But for ease and simplicity, our “RS-20” flashing-free anchors are installed by simply
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removing the tile and fixing directly to the top of the rafter. There is no need to penetrate the sarking or gain access to the attic space. One of the simplest and most cost effective anchor on the market |
Question #11: Who needs to tie off?
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Answer: The OH&S Act requires that
every person that is at risk of injury by falling is required to have some means of fall protection. A thorough analysis
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of most building sites indicates that
as many as 15 trades will be exposed to fall hazards during initial construction,
call backs, warranty work, or service and maintenance.
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Question #12: What is the difference between “Fall Arrest” and “Fall
Restraint”?
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Answer: “Fall Arrest” is defined
as a free fall of no more than a 1800mm (6 feet). “Fall Restraint” systems
are designed to withstand a maximum 600mm (2 feet) free fall.
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Many of the components supplied by Super Anchor Safety withstand
a 15kN force load for Fall arrest and one person attachment
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Question #14: What if we have our sub-contractors
provide their own fall protection?
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Answer: Although a general contractor may
work closely with his sub-contractor to provide fall protection, it does
not relieve the general contractor of his or her responsibility for jobsite
safety.
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It is in the general contractors best interest to oversee
whatever “safety” others are providing on the job site to ensure
that is complies with current safety standards and upholds the job site safety
plan.
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Question #15: What is a “Job Specific Plan” (JSP)?
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Answer: What OSHA terms a “Job Specific
Plan” is an outline that addresses the hazard exposure of each type
of work being done. The hazard is identified and then a means to guard against
it is specified. The plan may also include instruction, equipment specifications,
supervision, rescue, etc.
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The term “Specific” means that each JSP must be
individual, detailed, and specific to each project. It must address the issues
for that particular plan as opposed to a “one-plan-fits-all” JSP.
Often the compliance and education divisions of safety and health agencies
are able to provide consultation
in drafting a “J.S.P.” for your site.
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Question #16: Does “Safety Pay”?
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Answer: Absolutely. Extensive studies prove
that a good safety program can save a company a tremendous amount of money.
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Companies can expect savings from OSHA fines, injuries, “workmans” comp.,
insurance premiums, litigation, etc. SAFETY PAYS. |
Question #17: What options do I have for providing fall protection?
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Answer: You have a wide range of choices
to select from.
- Anchors designed to be left in the structure. (Permanent)
- Temporary & Removable anchors.
- Movable Anchor points – anchors
designed to be temporarily located then moved and reused.
- The use of scaffolding & guardrails
for fall protection. Note - When a job specific plan calls for the anchorage
devices to be removed, the ARS or “RS-20” can
be easily removed.
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Question #18: Won’t safety equipment create its own “safety
hazard”?
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Answer: This is an argument commonly heard
in the construction industry which is consistently overridden by state and federal OSHA’s
requirement to provide job site safety. In the case of tripping hazards such
as lifelines, power cords, and air hoses, safety equipment
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provides a means to arrest a fall and potentially save your
life. Take the roofing phase for example: tripping hazards such
as power cords and air hoses can cause a worker to fall. Even though a lifeline
may add to the list of hazards, a lifeline will arrest a fall regardless
of what caused it.
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Question #19: Should roof anchors be removed after construction?
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Answer: The advantage of using permanently
installed anchors is the protection it provides for workers performing call
backs, pick up work, and warranty work. However, in the event that removable
anchors are preferred, we recommend using
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a surface mounted anchor such as our “Retro-Fit” and “RS-20” anchors.
Simply cut off the D-ring with a pair of bolt cutters or power shears. The
strapping from the anchor remains hidden under the roof and is disabled. |
Question #20: What training materials are available to me?
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Answer: Super Anchor Safety provides the
most comprehensive instruction manuals available today free of charge.
Contact
our office at 425.488.8868, fax us at 360.668.1717, or access our website
with over
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150 pages of instructions and specifications that are not
available from any other manufacturer.
Check back often, as new material
is added frequently.
We also offer a video, safety plan outlines, and 25
years
contracting experience.
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Question #21: How do I get my trades to use fall protection equipment?
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Answer: Once you company has made a decision
to use fall protection, it becomes a matter of compliance by your subcontractors.
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We offer a 5 point plan “Fall Protection Outline” that
will assist you in getting started. Call, fax, or e-mail us today. |
Question #22: OSHA is not active in my area. Why start using
fall protection anchors now?
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Answer: Two things to say here:
- OSHA is not active yet.
- OSHA activity will not matter is someone is critically injured on your site. If the accident is fatal, you are required by law to report it to OSHA, and there will be an investigation. If the victim is an employee of a sub-contractor and he is seriously injured, the OSHA inspector will be closely followed by an attorney.
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Question #23: Will using fall protection equipment on the jobsite
reduce productivity?
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Answer: As with all new tools, equipment,
or work procedures, there is a learning curve that temporarily affects productivity.
This is also true with safety equipment. Based on our own experience in contracting
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and the comments of others we have interviewed, normal productivity
is soon restored. The advantage of implementing safety can be reflected by
lower industrial insurance costs and a safer jobsite. |
Question #24: Where can I find information on fall protection
laws and regulations for my state?
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Answer: The best place to start is www.osha.gov.
Some states have their own guidelines.
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You may contact your local state OSHA by following the links
on OSHA website, or by calling
800.320.OSHA (6742).
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Question #25: Why should I use Super Anchor Safety instead of
some other equipment?
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Answer: Our parent corporation, American
Roof, Inc., a tile and slate roofing contractor in the Seattle, WA marketplace
developed and perfected safety equipment specific to the residential market
starting in 1991.
That is why our equipment works! Remaining active in the
construction industry gives us the edge over other manufacturers. We continue
to upgrade, improve, and design new equipment to meet the demanding needs
of the homebuilder market.
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All of our personal fall protection equipment including lifelines,
harnesses, and lanyards are manufactured at our own facility in Woodinville,
WA using state of the art sewing equipment.
In addition to personal customer support, we offer immediate shipping for 98%
of our products, and we pay for UPS Ground freight in the continental U.S.
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