Roof Safety Mesh Installation — Safe Work Method Statement
Safe Work Method Statement for installing roof safety mesh over purlins on new metal roofs and beneath existing roof sheeting, covering perimeter edge protection, rolling out and tensioning mesh, laps and fixing.
Download this template
Roof safety mesh is installed over the purlins before metal roof sheeting goes on, and beneath skylights and fragile sheeting on re-roofing jobs, so that a worker who falls through the roof is caught. Installing it is high-risk construction work (HRCW): until the mesh is down and fixed, the installers are walking on purlins with open space below them, often well over 2 metres above the floor. A SWMS is required before work starts.
Safety mesh must be manufactured and installed to AS/NZS 4389 (Roof safety mesh) and the manufacturer's instructions. That covers the wire gauge and spacing, how the mesh is tensioned, how side laps are joined and how ends are fixed to the purlins or the end of the roof. Mesh that is slack, not joined at the laps or not fixed at the ends will not catch a falling person. Remember that mesh only protects against falling through the roof. It does not protect against falls off the edge, so perimeter edge protection must be in place before the mesh crew goes up.
The hazards specific to this work are falling between purlins before the mesh is laid, tripping on the mesh roll or on mesh that is not yet tensioned, cuts from wire ends, the coiled mesh springing back during tensioning, wind lifting the mesh, and dropped rolls. On existing buildings, older roofs may contain asbestos cement sheeting and fragile skylights that must be identified before anyone goes onto the roof.
No high-risk work licence is required for mesh installation, but installers must be trained in the mesh system and in the fall protection method used. Plan the work so installers are protected by perimeter edge protection and, where there is a fall-through risk before the mesh is in place, by a fall arrest system with a rescue plan, or by working from an EWP or scaffold below.
Customise this template with the roof size, purlin spacing and height to the floor below, the mesh product and installation instructions, the perimeter edge protection system and handover tag, the fall protection used while laying mesh, the mesh delivery and lifting method, any asbestos or fragile roofing on the building, and the inspection sign-off before roofers start sheeting.
Personal Protective Equipment
High Risk Construction Work Types
- •Risk of a person falling more than 2 metres
Risk Assessment
1.Pre-start checks and perimeter edge protection
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall from the roof edge while laying mesh | Catastrophic | Confirm the perimeter edge protection is installed, complete and tagged before any mesh work starts. Mesh does not prevent edge falls. Check that the access point (stair tower or secured ladder with a protected landing) is in place. | Low | Supervisor |
| Hidden asbestos cement sheeting or fragile skylights on an existing roof | Catastrophic | On existing buildings, check the asbestos register and roof survey before going on the roof. Treat all skylights and old sheeting as fragile and cover or barricade them. Do not cut, drill or break any material suspected to contain asbestos. Stop and follow the asbestos management plan. | Low | Supervisor |
2.Lifting mesh rolls to the roof
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh rolls dropped onto people below or overloading the purlins | High | Lift rolls by crane, telehandler or hoist with rated slings, directed by a licensed dogman where slinging requires it. Barricade the area below. Land rolls over a frame or at the purlin positions approved by the builder, never as a point load mid-span. Never throw or roll mesh off the roof. | Low | Supervisor / Dogman |
| Back strain from handling heavy rolls | Moderate | Use two-person handling for rolls, use mechanical lifting to roof level, and use a roll bar or dispenser for rolling out. | Low | Installers |
3.Rolling out mesh over the purlins
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falling between purlins before the mesh is laid | Catastrophic | Work from the edge-protected end of the roof and roll mesh progressively so installers stand on purlins with laid and fixed mesh beside or below them wherever possible. Where an installer is exposed to an unprotected fall-through, they must be connected to a fall arrest system with a rated anchor or static line, with enough clearance and a rescue plan. Alternatively, work from an EWP or scaffold below. Never walk on unfixed mesh. | Moderate | Installers / Supervisor |
| Tripping on the roll or loose mesh | High | Keep the roll in front of you and work facing it. Keep tools and offcuts off the roof walking line. Do not roll out more mesh than can be tensioned and fixed in the same run. | Moderate | Installers |
| Wind lifting mesh or rolls | Moderate | Stop rolling out in strong or gusty wind. Fix each run before leaving it. Secure partially used rolls at the end of the shift. | Low | Supervisor |
4.Tensioning, lapping and fixing
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh not able to catch a falling person due to poor tension, laps or end fixing | Catastrophic | Tension, lap and fix the mesh exactly as set out in the manufacturer's instructions and AS/NZS 4389, including side lap joining and end fixings to the purlins or end of the roof. The supervisor checks each run before sign-off. | Low | Installers / Supervisor |
| Cuts or eye injuries from wire ends and spring-back when cutting or tensioning | Moderate | Wear cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses and long sleeves. Hold the mesh before cutting so the free end cannot spring. Turn in or cap cut wire ends. Keep your face clear of the mesh when tensioning. | Low | Installers |
5.Inspection and handover to roofers
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers working over incomplete or damaged mesh | High | The supervisor walks the full roof area and checks coverage, tension, laps, end fixing and any penetrations. Record the inspection and hand over in writing to the roofing contractor. Mark any area not yet meshed as a no-go zone with barricades. Inform the roofers that any mesh cut for penetrations must be trimmed and reinforced in line with the manufacturer's instructions. | Low | Supervisor |
6.Pack-up
| Hazard / Risk | Initial Risk | Control Measures | Residual Risk | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offcuts and tools left on the roof creating trip and drop hazards | Moderate | Collect offcuts and wire ends into a bin or bag as you go. Lower waste and tools by hoist or rope, not by throwing. Remove harness and lanyard only once back in a protected area. | Low | Installers |
Relevant Codes of Practice
Worker Acknowledgement
By signing below, I confirm that I have read, understood and agree to comply with this Safe Work Method Statement.