Roof safety equipment: an essential guide for roofers in Canada

The right roof safety equipment plays a key role in preventing roofers from falling. Find out which types of roofing safety gear and devices your team needs

Roof safety equipment: an essential guide for roofers in Canada
The right roof safety equipment is your team's first line of defence against fall hazards.

Falling is one of the biggest risks roofers face. If you have employees working at heights, you’re required to put in place the appropriate safety precautions to prevent them from falling. These measures include providing your team with the right roof safety equipment. 

In this article, Canadian Occupational Safety gives you a walkthrough of the different fall protection equipment that occupational health and safety laws require. We will also list our picks for the best available safety equipment for roofers on the market.

If you’re wondering which safety gear and devices are required to protect your staff against fall hazards, this guide can help. Read on and find out how to pick the best roof safety equipment for your team.

What types of safety equipment are required for roofing?

Most jurisdictions require employers to have fall protection systems in place for employees who are at risk of falling at least three metres. These include:

1. Guardrails

Guardrails are a type of fixed barrier designed to prevent employees working at heights from falling. Most employers opt for guardrails as a means of fall protection because they are simple to use and install. They also don’t require other types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Guardrails are convenient alternatives where covers, floors, and walls cannot be installed.

Guardrails typically consist of a top rail, mid-rail, and toe boards with evenly spaced post. They can be job-built, meaning they are constructed at the worksite by employees. They can also be manufactured and come in a wide range of materials.

The Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) lists several factors that are key to making guardrails an effective fall protection system:

  • They must be high enough to prevent workers from falling over the top.
  • They must be strong enough to withstand the force of the number of workers who are likely to lean or push up against them.
  • They have evenly spaced posts that are close enough to prevent workers from falling through the gaps.
  • For manufactured guardrail systems that don’t have vertical posts, they must provide equal protection against gaps.
  • They must be installed as close to the open edge as reasonable.
  • They must extend along the whole length of the opening or unprotected edge.
  • They must use materials with smooth surfaces, such as metal and wood, so as not to cut skin or snag clothing.

Here are our top picks for the best roofing guardrails:

Find out which type of roof safety equipment fit your business’ needs in this essential guide to personal safety equipment. This guide includes downloadable checklists of the PPE requirements for each industry.

2. Safety harnesses

Safety harnesses are an important part of an effective travel restraint system. This type of PPE acts as an attachment between the user and a stationary anchor point held by a cable and a locking mechanism. As roof safety equipment, harnesses are designed to prevent roofers from falling or moving outside a safe range. Wearing the right roofing harnesses often spells the difference between disabling or even fatal injuries and worker safety.

There are five classes of safety harnesses used in Canadian worksites:

  1. Class A harnesses are used for general fall arrest situations. They have large D-ring anchor points on the back. These harnesses are most suited for construction and roofing jobs.
  2. Class L harnesses are also called ladder harnesses. This type of safety harness allows users to attach themselves to climbing structures or vertical safety systems.
  3. Class P harnesses, also called positioning harnesses, have two D-ring anchors near the hips. This type of safety harness allows free use of both hands while working at heights.
  4. Class E harnesses are designed for emergency evacuation. They have two D-ring anchors on the shoulders that let the user maintain an upright position while being raised or lowered.
  5. Class D harnesses are used for tasks that require workers to be raised or lowered. This type of harness has two D-ring anchors on the shoulders. Some versions feature padded seats.

Here are our top choices for the best safety harnesses for roofers:

  • 3M DBI-SALA ExoFit X-Series safety harnesses
  • Honeywell H700 full-body safety harness
  • MSA V-FIT safety harness
  • Palmer Safety Hammerhead safety harness
  • PSG Guardian Fall Protection S1 safety harness

Check out our complete list of the best safety harnesses for the worksite in this guide.

3. Travel restraint systems

A travel restraint system is an essential form of roof safety equipment. It allows roofers to work on edges without falling over. A travel restraint system is often used where guardrails aren’t possible.

A travel restraint system has several components, according to CCOHS. These include:

  • a Class A full-body safety harness
  • a fixed-length or adjustable lanyard
  • a lifeline
  • rope grab to attach the lanyard to the lifeline
  • sufficient anchorage and anchorage connectors that meet your jurisdiction’s load requirements

All components must be CSA-approved.

Since we’ve already revealed our top choices for harnesses, we will now list our choices for the best safety lanyards, which are an integral part of a travel restraint system:

  • 3M DBI-SALA EZ-Stop energy-absorbing lanyard
  • Bunzl Safety Workhorse shock-absorbing lanyard
  • Honeywell Titan II pack-type shock-absorbing lanyard
  • MSA Safety V-Series Leading Edge safety lanyard
  • Tractel Tracforce two-arm shock-absorbing lanyard

4. Fall arrest systems

CCOHS defines a fall arrest system as a “group of equipment, components, and systems used to arrest (stop) a fall from height.” The agency adds that fall arrest systems should only be used when other fall protection measures aren’t possible or available.

Fall arrest systems are designed to:

  • minimize the free fall distance
  • reduce the impact of the fall
  • prevent workers from striking other objects or surfaces while falling
  • protect workers from the pendulum effect or swing falls

Fall arrest systems used in Canadian jobsites, including roofs, must meet several safety standards, including:

  • CSA Z259.17: Selection and use of active fall-protection equipment and system
  • CSA Z259.12: Connecting components for personal fall arrest systems
  • CSA Z259.16: Design of active fall-protection systems

Here are our picks for the top fall arrest systems for roofing tasks.

  • Atbest SecuRope Quickset cable vertical lifeline system
  • Malta Dynamics 50' personal fall arrest system
  • MSA Safety V-Shock Edge personal fall limiter

5. Safety nets

CCOHS classifies safety nets as a form of passive fall protection system. This type of safety equipment can be installed either as a barrier to prevent a fall or beneath the worksite to catch a falling worker. Safety nets have three main functions:

  • to reduce the fall distance
  • to absorb the impact of a fall
  • to minimize the likelihood or seriousness of a fall injury

Safety nets are often used when installing a fixed barrier or an anchored fall arrest system is impractical or impossible. They also don’t replace a fixed barrier, such as guardrails, as the preferred method of fall protection.

When choosing the right safety net for your team, CCOHS recommends considering the following factors:

  • whether it’s intended to catch falling people or objects, or as a barrier to prevent falls
  • what's in the areas above, below, and around the safety net
  • the maximum capacity the safety net will need to support
  • the length of time it will be used, along with possible weather conditions during the period
  • local requirements in your jurisdiction related to safety net systems and fall protection

These are our picks for the best safety nets for roofers:

  • Barry Cordage fall protection safety net
  • Eagle MH barrier netting system
  • Leavitt Safety fall protection and debris safety netting

Find the answers to the most common questions about fall protection systems in Canada in this guide.

What standards does roof safety equipment in Canada need to meet?

All fall protection systems, including roof safety equipment, must meet Canadian Standards Association (CSA) requirements for safety. Roofing safety gear and devices approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) may also be acceptable in some worksites.

Here are some safety standards that fall protection equipment in Canada must comply with:

Roof safety equipment in Canada – applicable safety standards

Standard

Description

CSA Z259.1-05 (R2020)

Body belts and saddles for work positioning and travel restraint

CSA Z259.2.2-17(R2022)

Self-retracting devices

CSA Z259.2.3:16 (R2020)

Descent devices

CSA Z259.2.4-15 (R2020)

Fall arresters and vertical rigid rails

CSA Z259.2.5-17(R2021)

Fall arresters and vertical lifelines

CSA Z259.10-18

Full body harnesses

CSA Z259.11-17(R2021)

Personal energy absorbers and lanyards

CSA Z259.12-16(R2021)

Connecting components for personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)

CSA Z259.13-16(R2020)

Manufactured horizontal lifeline systems

CSA Z259.15-22

Anchorage connectors

CSA Z259.16-21

Design of active fall protection systems

CSA Z259.17 -21

Selection and use of active fall protection equipment and systems

ANSI/ASSP Z359.1-2020

The Fall Protection Code

ANSI Z359.2-2017

Minimum requirements for a comprehensive managed fall protection program

 

The full CSA requirements can be viewed on the CSA Group website, but you must first create an account with the CSA Communities platform. Once logged in, click on the text below the “OHS Standards/View Access” graphic. You can select your jurisdiction to access the corresponding CSA Standards in your location.

 Learn more about the importance of fall protection systems in the worksite in this article.

What other types of PPE do roofers need?

Apart from fall protection systems, roofers need different types of personal protective equipment to protect them from the different hazards of their jobs. These include:

1. Hard hats

Hard hats are required for all construction projects across Canada. All staff working at the job site, including roofers, must always wear protective headgear. Hard hats protect workers from head injury caused by impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock and burns.

Check out our picks for the best hard hats for construction in this guide. If you're looking for personalized hard hats in Canada, there are several top customization providers that offer quality products with customizable options like logos, colors, and designs.

2. Safety footwear

Workers are required to wear safety footwear if they’re at risk of foot injury or electric shock at the jobsite. Roofers are commonly exposed to these types of hazards. The work boots must comply with CSA Z195:14 safety standards for protective footwear. If your workers are at risk of injury due to slipping, you must also ensure that they wear slip-resistant footwear.

Check out this guide to see our picks for the most comfortable work boots for construction workers.

3. Protective eyewear

Employees must wear appropriate eye and face protection if their jobs expose these body parts to potential injuries. Roofers may be exposed to flying debris, sharp objects, and harmful chemicals that can easily send them to the emergency room. This is why safety glasses are an important part of a roofer’s PPE. 

Provinces and territories have different regulations when it comes to protective eyewear, but most require safety glasses that meet CSA Z94.3 standards.

Check out our top choices for the best safety glasses for the construction site in this guide.

Is roof safety equipment required in Canada?

Occupational safety and health regulations in most jurisdictions require employers to provide fall protection systems if workers are at risk of falling at least three metres. These systems are on top of the PPE that workers wear on the jobsite.

Each jurisdiction has slightly different rules when it comes to fall protection systems. The table below sums up the regulations for each province and territory. You can click on the links for the full details of each piece of legislation in your region.

Roof safety equipment – fall protection regulations across Canada

Jurisdiction

Legislation

General requirements

Canada

SOR/86-304 Sections 12.01 to 12.09

Employers must provide a fall-protection system if work is done:

  1. from a structure or on a vehicle at a height of 3 metres or more
  2. from a ladder at least 3 metres in height and the person performing the task is unable to use one hand or both hands to hold onto the ladder
  3. at a height of less than 3 metres if the surface where the person might fall would present a greater risk of injury than a solid, flat surface

Alberta

Occupational Health and Safety Code, 191/2021

Part 9, Fall Protection

Sections 138 - 161

An employer and a supervisor must ensure that a worker is protected from falling:

  1. at a temporary or permanent work area at a height of at least 3 metres
  2. at a temporary or permanent work area at a height of at least 3 metres if there is an unusual possibility of injury
  3. at a temporary or permanent work area to a hazardous substance or object or through an opening in a work surface
  4. at a permanent work area at a height of more than 1.2 metres and less than 3 metres

British Columbia

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, B.C. Reg. 296/97

Part 11, Fall Protection, Sections 11.1 to 11.10

An employer must ensure that a fall protection system is used when work is being done at a place:

  1. from which a fall of 3 metres or more may occur
  2. where a fall from a height of less than 3 metres involves a risk of injury greater than the risk of injury from the impact on a flat surface

Manitoba

Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Man. Reg. 217/2006

Part 14, Fall Protection, Sections 14.1 to 14.29

This section applies to every workplace where there is a risk of a worker falling:

  1. from a vertical distance of at least 3 metres
  2. from a vertical distance of less than 3 metres where there is an increased risk of injury due to the surface or item on which the worker might land
  3. into operating machinery or moving parts of the machinery
  4. into water or another liquid
  5. into hazardous substance or object
  6. through an opening on a work surface
  7. from a vertical distance of more than 1.2 metres from an area used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment

New Brunswick

General Regulation -N.B.

Reg. 91-191

Part VII, Protective Equipment,

Sections 49 - 51

The employer shall provide, and the employee shall continually use a fall protection system when an employee works from:

  1. an unguarded work area that is:
  • 3 metres or more above water or the nearest permanent safe level
  • above any surface or object that can cause injury to the employee upon contact
  • above any open top tank, bin, hopper or vat
  1. a work area that is at least 3 metres above a permanent safe level from which a person may fall if the work area tips or fails
  2. a work area where an officer has determined that it is necessary for safety reasons to use a fall protection system

Newfoundland and Labrador

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012, N.L.R. 5/12

Part X, Fall Protection, Sections 138 to 146

A fall protection system is required where a worker is at risk of falling from a work area that is:

  1. 3 metres or more above the nearest safe surface or water
  2. above a surface or thing that can cause injury to the worker if the worker were to fall on it
  3. above an open tank, pit, or vat containing hazardous material

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015

Part 7, Personal Protective Equipment, Sections 103 to 109 and Part 9 Safeguards, storage, warning signs and signals, Sections 118 to 124

An employer shall ensure that workers use a fall protection system at a work site if:

  1. a worker could fall at a height of 3 metres or more
  2. there is a risk of injury if a worker falls less than 3 metres

Nova Scotia

Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, N.S. Reg. 52/2013

Part 21, Fall Protection, Sections 21.1 to 21.4

Fall protection is required if a person is at risk of falling from a work area where the fall distance is:

  1. 3 metres or more above the nearest safe surface or water
  2. less than 3 metres and the work area is above one of the following:
  • a surface or thing that can cause injury to the person on contact that is worse than an injury from landing on a solid, flat surface
  • exposed hazardous materials such as those in an open tank, pit, or vat

Ontario

Construction Projects, O. Reg. 213/91

Sections 26 - 26.9

And

Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851

Section 85

Construction Regulations:

Apply where a worker may be exposed to any of the following hazards:

  1. falling more than 3 metres
  2. falling more than 1.2 metres, if the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment
  3. falling into operating machinery
  4. falling into water or another liquid
  5. falling into or onto a hazardous substance or object
  6. falling through an opening on a work surface

 

Industrial Regulations:

Apply where a worker is at risk of falling and the surface to which they might fall is more than 3 metres below the position where they are situated

Prince Edward Island

Fall Protection Regulations, EC2004-633

An employer is required to provide a means of fall protection where a worker is at risk of falling from a work area that is:

  1. 3 metres or more above the nearest safe surface or water
  2. above a surface or thing that could cause injury to the worker if the worker were to fall on it
  3. above an open tank, pit, or vat containing hazardous material

Québec

Regulation respecting occupational health and safety, O.C. 885-2001

Division XXX, Means and Equipment for Individual and Group Protection

Sections 347 - 354.1

And

Safety Code for the construction industry R.R.Q. 1981, c. S-2.1, r. 6

Division II, General Provisions

Sections 2.9.1 to 2.9.

Workers shall be protected against falls in the following cases:

  1. if they are at risk of falling more than 3 metres from the place where they are working
  2. if they are at risk of falling:
  • into a dangerous liquid or substance
  • on a moving component
  • on equipment or material that constitute a danger
  • from a height of 1.2 metres or more where they use a wheelbarrow or a vehicle

Saskatchewan

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020

Sections 9-2 - 9-5

An employer or contractor shall develop a written fall protection plan if: 

  1. a worker may fall 3 metres or more 
  2. workers are not protected by a guardrail or similar barrier

Yukon

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, O.I.C. 2006/178

Protective Equipment and Clothing - Fall Arrest

Sections 1.37 to 1.43

Where it is not practical to protect a worker by guards, guardrails, safety nets, or other devices, the worker shall be provided with and required to use the appropriate fall arrest protection:

  1. when working at a place from which a fall of
  • 3 metres or more may occur
  • less than 3 metres if it involves an unusual risk of injury
  1. where there is a possibility of falling into a pit, shaft, machinery, water, or bulk material that could shift
  2. when climbing or descending from utility poles, communication and transmission towers, or single-point suspension equipment
  3. when working on a swing stage or thrust out scaffold, elevating work platform or basket or suspended platform or cage
  4. when barring or scaling loose material from a wall in an open pit or an earth work
  5. when working on a roof:
  • having a slope of two vertical to three horizontal or steeper
  • where the surface is slippery

 

Visit our Products Resources page to get more news and information about the best roof safety equipment in Canada. Be sure to bookmark this page for the latest industry updates.

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