Depends upon the size of the roof to be inspected, material of construction ( i,e is it fragile etc), height of the roof, is it flat or sloping, what type of inspection and what do you constitute as short duration?

Just to clarify .... assume roof is flat and single storey, roof construction is not fragile, inspection is visual (i.e. to determine scope of any repair or refurbishment needed) and duration is in the region of 15 minutes to 1 hour. The surveyor is going to be on the roof with the client's representative in most cases. The surveyor understands the risk and that he needs to stay at least 2M away from a position where a fall could occur. However, the HSE guidance infers that short duration work of this type still requires robust control, and that even a painted line or bunting to mark out the safe working zone would not provide sufficient protection..... the wording suggests some form of physical barrier would be required ...... hence my suggestion to use a demarcation system (not full edge protection).

The main consideration is ensuring a safe place of work for your employee, the Act 2.1 The overriding consideration here is working at height and avoiding it, if you don’t have to step on to the roof ie visual a mewp / cherrypicker providing the terrain in suitable

I am not sure if you intend to venture on to the roof or merely view visually, i wil assume to view visually

The time period is immaterial case law Ferguson V Dawson & Parteners Ltd (10-15min is an appreciable) consider the principle. you seam to have everything in place. your controls are good.

What other contractors do again is immaterial it is a case by case basis; it is not them that will have to explain to criminal barrister why you failed to use such a system “ Oh everyone thought i was going over the top as compared to other contractors” in the
cold light of day after the accident it will then seam glaringly obvious; why did i not use the controls.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pr...asp?SF=CN&SV=4264266

So far as is reasonable practicable
is base on time cost and effort principle

What you are proposing by way of safety control is what i would expect of a SSOW for this type of work. Remember Sect 2 of the act is a general duty .

You may find this website useful

http://rwww.accessindustryforum.org.uk/wahsa.htm

P

(c) is acceptable taking into account the variables highlighted by others on the proviso that a 2 metre exclusion zone from the edge is identified with a physical barrier of some description.

The answer depends on the means of access available to you. If there is an access hatch then it will be relatively simple to set up a man-safe fixed lanyard system to prevent access near edges.
Other than that, there is little lee-way in HSE published guidance (HSG33 et al) and a ladder tower and temp.edge protection would be the order of the day -irrespective of what we may all think is OTT!
Otherwise use of a MEWP, survey from higher vantage point, or make use of a camera on an R.C. helicopter.
(I read recently of a successful bridge survey undertaken using an R.C. helicopter).

HSE's discussion of 'short-duration' relates more to working from a ladder, not with regard to any "sfarp" need for edge protection. A risk of fall from an edge is not a time-bound incident.

Best of luck in convincing others!

Surely, in the circumstances offered forth, the implementation of edge protection/barriers might well simply expose others - whomever fits/installs them - to more danger that we're looking to mitigate against with respect to the original task at hand?

My own personal 'AFARP' test for this would suggest that a thorough briefing of the safe system, 2 person working - don't stray to within 2 metres of the edge - coupled with a buddy system of monitoring would be fine. Whether that'd stand up in court after a mishap is another matter and we'd all only be guessing.