What ever kind of off grid construction projects you choose, safety is very important. Any kind of accident can make the remote location a hazard that compounds your problems. You always need to be aware of safety and “what ifs”. What if; this doesn’t hold me? If this breaks? We have a dear friend in a wheelchair from a bad fall from something less than five feet!
Everyone has a different level of comfort being in high places. Roofs are one of those places. Walking around, and working with your hands means that a safety backup is in order. I remember vividly, a concerned relative seeing my construction projects and making dire safety predictions. (I guess that was the best safety motivation of all.)
When building the house and especially the second story, it was critical to stay “roped off” for safety. One unique feature of my house project was the extra poles through the roof. On two of the longest poles, were not trimmed but allowed to protrude through the roof 2-4 feet. These were intended as secure locations to mount various antennas. There was a extra bonus to this decision, and that was how they served as secure rope anchors above the roof surface.
I was able to anchor my climbing gear and rope between these poles on each side of the roof. Because of these anchors and a little climbing gear, we probably saved some good money without having to rent scaffolding. Instead, I purchased a 28′ ladder and did a lot of climbing.
Ready for "high" level work!
Everything about the protruding pole decision was not positive, however. Sealing up the roof and pole interface has been a constant chore every year. With the pounding weather elements up here, water does its best to wick down the poles into the house!
Being roped off on the 25′ roof was critical in a solo off grid project. Potential falls were limited because some or all of my weight would be on the rope so that I didn’t have to worry about balance as much. This freed up both hands for the construction. The experience I had rock climbing in college helped with my confidence in the rope techniques for the project. It was not very complicated, just knowing 2 or 3 knots, and how to anchor a rope. I used a special variation of friction knot that would act as a self-arrest system on the rope.
The real difference in my technique is that instead of having a rope to catch your fall, I work with a secured rope with my weight already on the rope.
If there is reader interest, I’ll pull up more photos and post details of the ‘climbers construction technique‘ I used for our off grid construction. Have you ever worked with ropes as safety equipment? What is your experience working in “high” places? Tell us below in the comments!
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I was compelled to work with a harness like the one illustrated in picture with the attachment point in the chest. I much prefer using the kind of belt and rigging as used by rock climbers. Workplace compensation gear is often approved by committess not by people who actually have to work with the stuff. AT the workplace wher I ahd t o wear fall arrestors the ‘approved’ safety strap was longer than the fall distances we normally worked with. It took 10′ to begin the activation and fall distance totalled 30′ before full arrest happened. Given we normally worked between 5 and 15 Feet above ground this didn’t seem very effective. When on my own, I use gear purchased at a rock climbing equipment store.
The system I used worked well and was simple. An extra disclaimer is in order here – nothing is officially approved for any official use for anything. Its only provided for informational use as, “what worked for marshall”.
Another point to mention is training and familiarity with whatever equipment you use. On one job I had, we did not recieve any training.I was issued a set of spurs and a belt but had to figurre out how to use it myself. That was fine until one day my spurs kicked out 30 feet above ground and I took a fall.EventuallyI learned what I had done incorrectly. Later on, when working in a union job for a power utility company we received monthly safety training and we were never issued any equipment until we first had been trained on the correct use.When on my own I bought rock climbing gear I attended rock climbing gyms to learn the right way to use the gear safely. I agree with you Marshall, the system that supports your weight and leaves your hands free to work is far better that something that arrests your fall after you slip. Some pictures would be good.
Hi Marshall & Jackie:
This reminded me of one of my first ever experiences up on a roof. Luckily for me, it was a small cottage & not too high up.
I was helping my grandpa re-roof an old place on the lake down from us. This was my first year working with him, in the industry which became my career.
Our job was to reshingle over top of the old shingles & a job-type which I later went on to do many more of.
As I was laying down my rows of shingles, my grandpa asked me to be also aware of the tabs looking uniform & straight, so they would appear to be going up in a straight line when veiwed from the ground level.
I had down already, 3 or more rows of shingles, starting from the eave of the roof, so I figured I should stand up & check this out right away before continuing any further.
Being a greenhorn, young & in-attentive, I stood up & took a step back to get a better veiw of the rows of tabs rising vertically.
Thats when every thing became dis-oriented! There I was, laying on my back, looking up at the clouds & my mind could not register this veiw correctly. In my mind, I thought I should be looking “down”, at rows of shingles, yet my eyes were seeing clouds, “up” in the sky from an horizontal position.
I had stepped right off of the roofs edge & fallen backwards into a Juniper bush which luckily again, broke my fall.
It happened “so quickly”, my mind could not register it properly!
I was fortunate! Youth & circumstance saved me from “any” physical harm, but I did learn from that experience & did take great care on roofs from that day on!
the mercy we receive for our dumb mistakes in the physical world, let us live to be, just a little bit older. Thanks for “telling about it”!