Fall protection for maintenance companies and facility management: A guide to mobile solutions
Building cleaners, building services technicians, facility management teams, and maintenance companies have something in common: they regularly access flat roofs, often alone, for short periods – and frequently lack their own safety infrastructure for working on roofs. This guide shows which solutions are suitable for this application.
The special situation of maintenance and FM teams
Maintenance companies and facility management businesses do not work on a construction site – they enter finished, managed buildings. This has consequences: there is no construction site infrastructure, no installed railing, often no permanently installed anchor points. At the same time, teams cannot set up a complete safety system for every short visit.
The solution lies in mobile, quickly deployable systems – and in good advance planning of which buildings require which permanent infrastructure.
Mobile Anchor Devices: The fastest solution for maintenance inspections
For regular maintenance inspections by one or two people, mobile anchor devices are the most practical solution. They are positioned on the roof surface, offer a standardized anchor point according to EN 795, and can be used without penetrating the roof.
Prerequisite: The lanyard must be correctly adjusted (restraint system), all involved parties must be instructed, and there must be a rescue plan in case someone is suspended.
Temporary roof edge protection for larger maintenance work
As soon as several people are working on the roof simultaneously or the work takes longer, collective side protection is the better solution. A temporary roof edge protection protects all persons simultaneously without each person having to put on PPE individually. Setup takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the roof length – an investment that clearly pays off for half-day assignments.
Building operators are responsible
Maintenance companies are not the only ones responsible. The building operator has a planning responsibility for fall protection on his roof areas according to the revised DGUV Information 201-056. Buildings with regularly accessible roof areas – PV systems, air conditioning, ventilation technology – should be equipped with suitable anchor points or permanent side protection from the outset.
Maintenance companies can offer their customers as an additional service to evaluate roof areas according to DGUV 201-056 and provide recommendations for retrofitting.
Rolling scaffolds for higher areas
For maintenance work on facades, technical installations near walls, or lighting systems, rolling scaffolds provide a safe working platform. For maintenance companies with many different properties, scaffold trailers are particularly efficient: the scaffold is always with them, and the effort for loading and transport is eliminated.
Recommendation for maintenance and FM companies
The optimal equipment for mobile maintenance teams: one or two anchor devices for short roof inspections, a compact roof edge protection for longer assignments, a 90 cm rolling scaffold in the transporter for facade and facade access assistance. Contact us – we will help you put together the right combination for your application profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every maintenance company have to bring its own fall protection?
Yes, as a rule. The client can provide permanent infrastructure, but the PPE and its use are the responsibility of the executing company.
What if the building operator has no anchor points?
Then the maintenance company must bring its own mobile anchor devices (Sekuranten) or set up temporary collective protection.
Are there flat rates for fall protection equipment for maintenance teams?
At Gerüstexpress, we are happy to advise maintenance companies individually on system configurations and possible quantity advantages. Make an inquiry now.
