Hatch Access to Rooftops, Mezzanines, and Landings

Fall Protection Program Fundamentals – Part 4

Anyone that leaves the office environment will more than likely end up using a hatch to climb out onto a rooftop, mezzanine, landing, or some other walking or working surface. The use of these hatch openings is inherently dangerous as they usually involve some sort of transition from an apparatus such as a fixed ladder, through an opening, and onto a higher level surface. These situations shave been thoroughly studied through the years. Safety engineers provide us with some simple guidance that will greatly reduce the chance of a fall or other mishap while transitioning through a hatchway.

There are two fundamental purposes for emergency lighting: (1) safely complete/terminate tasks when primary task lighting is lost; and (2) egress from the workplace during an emergency. This article addresses the first case, emergency task lighting. Emergency task lighting is addressed in several places in OSHA regulations and industry consensus standards.

If a day tank is manufactured with an “emergency vent” port, that port must be plumbed to the outside of the building. The emergency vent line must be terminated with the type of cap, usually a pressure relief “pop-up” type, specified in the manufacturer’s installation manual.