If you’re in a business where you need roof access walkways in Dallas, you most likely have a lot of concerns about the safety of this potential new addition. We believe that the best way to make your walkway safe and functional is to carefully consider every aspect before installation. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Work with the Right People

The first step is to find people that you trust to do the work. Your manufacturer and supplier should both be able to prove their expertise in roof walkway systems in Dallas, TX, and they should have a long history of successes. If you know anyone else who recently had walkways installed, you can always go to them for recommendations. Either way, you should also look online to get a broader sense of their reputations.

Choose the Right Materials

Since your roof is somewhat fragile, you don’t want anything too heavy sitting on top of it. Lightweight materials like aluminum are common for rooftop walkways in Dallas, TX. They can’t be too fragile, since walkways are load bearing structures, and you don’t want them to buckle or break.

Prevent Slipping

The walkway needs to have an anti-slip surface, such as one that is ribbed or serrated, in order for your workers to have the best traction. You’ll also want to make sure water doesn’t accumulate on the walkways, as that is another hazard, so it’s best if your walkways have built-in drainage. Obviously, guardrails and handrails also help enormously, and you should install them wherever they are necessary.

Incorporate It into Your Building

As you’re building your walkway, you’ll have to make sure you’re paying attention to the rest of the building and not doing anything that might damage it. For instance, it’s helpful to clamp the walkway to the roof whenever it is safe to do so rather than piercing the sheeting. Every time you penetrate your building by putting cracks in it, you make the building slightly less waterproof.

Follow OSHA Standards

This maybe goes without saying, but it’s perhaps the most essential piece of advice: Follow OSHA standards, and don’t take any shortcuts. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a set of safety standards in place for a reason. They have taken the time and the trouble to create them out of their vast experience, and if you try to skirt around these standards, you’re only putting your workers in danger. Roof walkways in Dallas, TX, can be perfectly safe spaces as long as they’re built and used correctly.