AU2022283745A1

AU2022283745A1 - Roof Anchor

Info

Publication number: AU2022283745A1
Application number: AU2022283745A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Liam Rushworth; Robert Steggles; Nirooban Vigneswaran
Original assignee: Safetylink Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Safetylink Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2022-01-12
Filing date: 2022-12-08
Publication date: 2023-07-27

Abstract

The invention is broadly directed to a temporary roof anchor 10 secured to a roof 12. The roof 12 includes roof cladding 14 fastened to underlying structural or associated elements such as a roof purlin 15. The temporary roof anchor 10 broadly comprises: 1. an anchorage 17 including an anchor point 20 adapted for coupling to a coupling arrangement 22 associated with a person; 2. a mounting arrangement 16 integrally connected to the anchorage 17 and including a mounting rail 30 adapted to detachably secure to the roof purlin 15 or other structural or associated element of the roof 12. The mounting arrangement 16 also includes stiffening means in the form of a protruding section 34 formed integral with and disposed in the same plane as the mounting rail 30. The mounting arrangement 16 is thus configured whereby, in the event of the person falling, the protruding section 34 reduces the likelihood of the mounting arrangement 16 dislodging in a rolling action from the roof purlin 15. NO

Description

NO ROOFANCHOR

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates broadly to a roof anchor and is directed more particularly to a temporary roof anchor. The invention also relates broadly to a method of installing a roof anchor on a roof. In both aspects the roof anchor is intended for coupling to a person to in the event of a fall, arrest them.

Background of Invention

[0002] In managing safety at heights there is generally a requirement for fall arrest where a person is tethered to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly may be permanently or temporarily fixed to a roof or other structure at heights. The anchor assembly may include energy absorbing capabilities which in the event of a fall minimises damage to equipment and structure associated with the system and importantly reduces impact on the person arrested by the system.

[0003] The applicant's granted Australian patent no. 2014203632 is directed to a temporary roof anchor assembly for attachment to a clad roof, typically metal sheeting. The roof anchor assembly includes a cable which is secured to the roof at multiple points via a series of eyelets screwed or otherwise fastened to the roof using appropriate fasteners. The fasteners associated with the eyelets are screwed into an underlying batten or rafter of the roof either through the roof cladding or (on part removal of the cladding) directly into the batten or rafter. The roof anchor assembly also includes a shock absorber coupled to the cable and tethered to a worker to, in the event of a fall, absorb at least some of the shock energy associated with the fall.

[0004] Although relatively effective in arresting the fall of a worker, the temporary roof anchor of Australian patent no. 2014203632 includes a large number of components and is time consuming and demanding to correctly install. When installed, the temporary anchor presents a potential trip hazard and makes it difficult for unobstructed access across the roof.

Summary of Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a temporary roof anchor comprising: an anchorage including an anchor point adapted for coupling to a coupling arrangement associated with a person, a mounting arrangement integrally connected to the anchorage and including a mounting rail adapted to detachably secure to a structural or associated element of a roof, said mounting arrangement also including stiffening means formed integral with the mounting rail whereby in the event of the person falling said stiffening means reduces the likelihood of the mounting arrangement dislodging in a rolling action from the structural or associated element of the roof.

[0006] Preferably the mounting rail is detachably secured to the structural or associated element via a plurality of screw fasteners. More preferably the mounting rail is detachably secured to the roof in an orientation substantially transverse to a general direction of fall of the roof. Even more preferably the structural element is in the form of a purlin and the mounting rail is aligned with and fastened to the purlin via the plurality of fasteners. Alternatively the structural element is at least one of a plurality of rafters and the mounting rail is oriented transverse and fastened to said at least one rafter via at least one of the fasteners.

[0007] Alternatively the mounting rail is detachably secured to roof cladding fastened to underlying structural elements of the roof. In this variation the mounting rail is secured to the roof cladding via a plurality of clamp sub-assemblies each dedicated to respective of ridges of the roof cladding. In this example the clamp sub assemblies each include a pair of interlocked clamp elements configured to clamp about the corresponding ridge of the roof cladding.

[0008] Preferably the stiffening means includes a protruding section extending from and disposed in the same plane as the mounting rail. Alternatively the stiffening means includes a stiffening flange extending in a general upright disposition from an elongate edge of the mounting rail.

[0009] Preferably the stiffening means and the plurality of fasteners associated with the mounting rail cooperate to, in the event of a fall, reduce the load on said fasteners. More preferably the mounting rail includes a plurality of fastening apertures configured to receive respective of the plurality of fasteners for direct securement of the roof anchor to the roof. Still more preferably each of the fastening apertures is chamfered or radiused at its upper and/or lower perimeter edge thereby reducing the likelihood of shearing the corresponding fasteners in the event of a fall.

[0010] Preferably the anchorage includes an energy absorbing element including the anchor point whereby, in the event of the person falling, the force exerted on the anchor point via the coupling arrangement in arresting the person's fall causes the energy absorbing element to plastically deform. More preferably the elongate energy absorbing element includes a plastically deformable member formed in a serpentine arrangement and configured, in the event of a fall, to distort for elongation of said energy absorbing element and thus at least in part absorb the energy of the fall. Even more preferably the plastically deformable member extends back and forth along the length of the extension rail whereby, in the event of a fall it is effective in absorbing the energy of the fall regardless of the direction of fall. Still more preferably said deformable member is one of a pair of said members each formed in the serpentine arrangement and disposed either side of the central member defining the anchor point.

[0011] Preferably the mounting arrangement also includes an extension rail extending from the mounting rail, the energy absorbing element being rigidly connected to at least the extension rail. More preferably the extension rail includes a flange connected to and extending along the mounting rail, the energy absorbing element rigidly connected to the flange. Even more preferably the mounting rail is in the form of a mounting web and the flange extends substantially perpendicular to said web, the energy absorbing element being arranged in the same plane as the flange of the extension rail wherein said energy absorbing element is oriented substantially perpendicular to the roof. Still more preferably the energy absorbing element is elongate and formed continuous with the extension rail. Even still more preferably the energy absorbing element includes a central member defining the anchor point of said energy absorbing element.

[0012] Preferably the energy absorbing element also includes a frangible element connected to the mounting arrangement, said frangible element configured in the event of a fall to fracture thereby absorbing an initial component of the force exerted on the anchor point. More preferably the frangible element is configured on fracturing to visually indicate deployment of said energy absorbing element. Even more preferably the frangible element is one of a pair of frangible elements associated with the central member of the energy absorbing element. Still more preferably each of the frangible elements is connected between the central member and the mounting arrangement via a bridging leg configured to facilitate fracturing of the corresponding frangible element at a relative low load thereby, in the event of a fall, reducing stress imposed on fasteners used for securement of the mounting rail to the structural or associated element of the roof.

[0013] Preferably the coupling arrangement includes a lanyard releasably coupled at opposing ends to the anchor point and a harness worn by the person, respectively.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a temporary roof anchor on a roof, said method comprising the step of: providing a temporary roof anchor including (a) an anchorage including an anchor point for coupling to a coupling arrangement associated with a person, and (b) a mounting arrangement integrally connected to the anchorage and including a mounting rail, said mounting arrangement also including stiffening means formed integral with as the mounting rail; securing the mounting rail of the mounting arrangement of the roof anchor to a structural or associated element of the roof whereby in the event of the person falling the stiffening means of the mounting arrangement reduces the likelihood of said mounting arrangement dislodging in a rolling action from the structural or associated element of the roof.

[0015] Preferably the step of securing the mounting arrangement to a structural or associated element involves fastening of the mounting arrangement to the structural element via a plurality of fasteners. More preferably the mounting rail of the mounting arrangement is fastened to the roof in an orientation substantially transverse to a general direction of fall of the roof. Even more preferably the structural element is in the form of a purlin with which the mounting rail is aligned and fastened. Alternatively the structural element is in the form of a rafter with which the mounting rail is transversely oriented and fastened.

[0016] Preferably the step of securing the mounting arrangement involves removing a plurality of existing securing roof cladding to the structural element to which the mounting arrangement is to be secured. More preferably said step also involves either: i) replacing the existing fasteners with respective of the plurality of fasteners; or ii) using the existing fasteners as respective of the plurality of fasteners for fastening of both the mounting arrangement and the roof cladding to the structural element.

[0017] Alternatively the method also comprises the step of removing roof cladding associated with the roof to expose at least part of the structural element. In this variation the step of securing the mounting arrangement to a structural or associated element involves fastening of the mounting arrangement directly to the structural element.

[0018] Preferably the roof anchor is temporarily installed on the roof for replacement after deployment of the energy absorbing element in the event of a fall.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention preferred embodiments of a temporary roof anchor and a method of installing a temporary roof anchor will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1B are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a temporary roof anchor according to a first aspect of the invention, said roof anchor installed on and (for clarity) removed from a roof;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the temporary roof anchor of figure 1 shown in its deployed configuration;

Figures 3A to 3D show various perspective, plan and end views of the preferred embodiment of the temporary roof anchor of figure 1;

Figures 4A and 4B depict detailed views of an energy absorbing element taken from the preferred embodiment of the temporary roof anchor of figures 1 and 3;

Figures 5A and 5B show perspective and rear elevation views of another embodiment of a temporary roof anchor according to the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a temporary roof anchor according to the first aspect of the invention, said roof anchor installed on a roof via roof clamps.

Detailed Description

[0020] As seen in figures 1 and 3, there is an embodiment of a first aspect of the invention broadly directed to a temporary roof anchor 10 secured to a roof 12. In this example the roof 12 includes roof cladding 14 fastened to underlying structural or associated elements such as a roof purlin 15 (shown schematically in hidden line detail). In this example the coupling arrangement 22 includes a lanyard 24 having a carabiner such as 26 at each of its opposing ends. The carabiner 26 or other releasable coupling is at one end of the lanyard 24 connected to the anchor point 20 and at an opposite end of the lanyard connected to a harness worn by the person (not shown). The temporary roof anchor 10 is in this case aligned with and screw fastened to one of the underlying roof purlins 15.

[0021] The temporary roof anchor 10 broadly comprises:

1. an anchorage 17 including an anchor point 20 adapted for coupling to a coupling arrangement 22 associated with a person (not shown); 2. a mounting arrangement designated generally at 16 integrally connected to the anchorage 17 and including a mounting rail 30 adapted to detachably secure to the roof purlin 15 or other structural or associated element of the roof 12.

[0022] Importantly the mounting arrangement 16 of this embodiment also includes stiffening means in the form of a protruding section 34 formed integral with and disposed in the same plane as the mounting rail 30. The mounting arrangement 16 is thus configured whereby, in the event of the person falling, the protruding section 34 reduces the likelihood of the mounting arrangement 16 dislodging in a rolling action from the roof purlin 15.

[0023] In this embodiment the mounting arrangement 16 is secured to the structural element or in this case roof purlin 15 via a plurality of screws such as 32a to 32e. The mounting rail 30, being aligned with the underlying purlin 15, is secured to the roof 12 in an orientation substantially transverse to a general direction of incline or decline of the roof 12. The mounting rail 30 may be directed either upward or downward of the slope of the roof 12 and in both orientations is effective in arresting a fall in any direction. It will be understood that the protruding section 34 and the screw fasteners 32a to 32e cooperate in the event of a fall to reduce the load on said fasteners such as 32a. The protruding section 34 also forms a rectangular opening or handle 35 for carrying or detachably coupling to a harness of an installer prior to mounting or following removal from the roof 12.

[0024] The plurality of screw fasteners 32a to 32e are received by respective of a plurality of fastening apertures 36a to 36e formed in the mounting rail 30. In this example the fastening apertures such as 36a are selected from a series of other apertures formed in the mounting rail 30. The selected apertures such as 36a can be seen to align with corresponding ridges such as 38a of the roof cladding 14 of this roof 12. Each of the apertures such as 36a is chamfered or radiused at its upper and/or lower perimeter edge thus reducing the likelihood of shearing of the corresponding screw 32a in the event of a fall.

[0025] In this embodiment and as seen in figure 2, the anchorage 17 includes an energy absorbing element 18 including the anchor point 20 whereby, in the event of the person falling, the force exerted on the anchor point 20 via the coupling arrangement 22 in arresting the person's fall causes the energy absorbing element 18 to plastically deform. Returning to figures 1 and 3, the mounting arrangement 16 of this embodiment also includes an extension rail 40 extending substantially perpendicularly from the mounting rail 30. The extension rail 40 is in the form of an extension flange connected to and extending along the length of the mounting rail 30 which is in the form of a mounting web. The energy absorbing element 18 is rigidly connected to and arranged in the same plane as the extension flange 40. This configuration means the energy absorbing element 18 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the roof 12 and aligned with the structural element or underlying purlin 15 of the roof 12.

[0026] In this embodiment the energy absorbing element 18 is elongate and formed continuous with the extension rail or flange 40. The energy absorbing element 18 includes a central member 42 which defines the anchor point 20 for coupling to the coupling arrangement 22. In this example the energy absorbing element 18 includes a pair of plastically deformable members 44 and 46 disposed either side of, and formed integral with, the central member 42.

[0027] In this example the serpentine-arranged deformable members 44 and 46 are configured in the event of a fall to distort for elongation of the energy absorbing element 18 which thus at least in part absorbs the energy of the fall. Each of the plastically deformable members such as 44 extends back and forth along the length of the extension rail 40. This orientation of the deformable members such as 44 means that in the event of a fall the energy absorbing element 18 is effective in absorbing the energy of the fall regardless of the direction of fall. The deformable members 44/46 are configured with their 1800 changes in direction and corrugated profiles to provide improved energy absorption.

[0028] As seen in figures 4A and 4B, the energy absorbing element 18 also includes a frangible element such as 48a and 48b connected to the mounting arrangement 16. The frangible element such as 48a is configured in the event of a fall to fracture thereby absorbing an initial component of the force exerted on the anchor point 20. The pair of frangible elements 48a/b are associated with the central member 42 of the energy absorbing element 18. More particularly, each of the frangible elements such as 48a is connected between the central member 42 and the extension rail 40 of the mounting arrangement 16 via a bridging leg such as 50a. The bridging legs 50a/b are configured to facilitate fracturing of the corresponding frangible elements 48a/b at a relatively low load, typically at around 3kN. This is intended in the event of a fall to reduce the stress otherwise imposed on the screw fasteners such as 32a to 32e used for securement of the mounting rail 30 to the underlying structural element or roof purlin 15. The bridging legs 50a/b are configured for effective operation of the frangible elements 48 in all likely directions of fall.

[0029] The energy absorbing element 18 is in this embodiment formed integral with the mounting arrangement 16. The mounting rail or web 30 and the extension rail or flange 40 of the mounting arrangement 16 are also formed integral with one another. As such, it is expected that the temporary roof anchor 10 of this embodiment will be formed in one-piece, for example, being stamped and then forged from sheet metal.

[0030] Figures 5A and 5B illustrate another embodiment of a temporary roof anchor 100 constructed in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. Forease of reference and in order to avoid repetition, components of this alternative embodiment which generally correspond with the earlier embodiment have been designated with an additional "0". For example, the mounting arrangement of this other temporary roof anchor 100 has been designated at 160.

[0031] The temporary roof anchor 100 of this other embodiment departs from the preceding embodiment insofar as:

1. the energy absorbing element 180 is absent the frangible and associated elements; 2. the mounting arrangement 160 includes stiffening means in the form of an upturned flange 101 which serves a similar function to the protruding section; 3. the majority of the fastening apertures such as 360a are elongated providing variability in placement of the associated screw fastener (not shown) into the associated roof.

[0032] In terms of its installation and operation, this alternative temporary roof anchor 100 is intended to function in the same manner as the preceding embodiment.

[0033] Figure 6 illustrates the temporary roof anchor 10 of the preferred embodiment of the first aspect installed on a different roof 120. In this variation the temporary roof anchor 10 is secured to the roof 120 via three clamp sub-assemblies

130a to 130c. The clamp sub-assemblies such as 130a each include a pair of interlocked clamp elements such as 150aa and 150ab configured to clamp about a ridge such as 170a of the roof 120 which is of a standing seam configuration. The clamp sub-assemblies such as 130a are each fastened to the mounting rail 30 of the mounting arrangement 16 via a mounting fastener such as 320a. The clamp sub assemblies 130a to 130c may be constructed in line with the applicant's corresponding International patent application publication no. W02020/168378. The contents of this International patent application are to be considered included herein by way of this reference.

[0034] In a second aspect of the invention there is a method of installing a temporary roof anchor on a roof. The method of this embodiment of the second aspect will be described in the context of the temporary roof anchor 10 of the earlier embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. In this embodiment the method broadly comprises the steps of:

1. providing a temporary roof anchor 10 including (a) an anchorage 17 including an anchor point 20 for coupling to a coupling arrangement 22 associated with a person (not shown), and (b) a mounting arrangement 16 integrally connected to the anchorage 17 and including a mounting rail 30, the mounting arrangement 16 also including stiffening means such as a protruding section 34 formed integral with the mounting rail 30; 2. securing the mounting rail 30 of the mounting arrangement 16 of the roof anchor 10 to a structural or associated element such as a roof purlin 15 of the roof 12.

[0035] Importantly the mounting arrangement is thus configured whereby in the event of the person falling the stiffening means 34 reduces the likelihood of the mounting arrangement 16 dislodging in a rolling action from the underlying roof purlin or other structural or associated element.

[0036] In line with the preceding embodiment, the anchorage 17 also includes an energy absorbing element 18 including the anchor point 20. In the event of the person falling, the force exerted on the anchor point 20 via the coupling arrangement

22 in arresting the person's fall causes the energy absorbing element 18 to plastically deform.

[0037] In this embodiment the step of securing the mounting arrangement 16 to the roof purlin 15 involves screw fastening of the mounting arrangement to the roof purlin 15 or other structural element via a plurality of fasteners such as 32a to 32e. The screw fastening involves removing a plurality of existing screws securing the roof cladding 14 and then either:

1. replacing the existing screw fasteners with respective of the plurality of screw fasteners such as 32a; or 2. using the existing screw fasteners as respective of the plurality of screw fasteners for screw fastening both the mounting arrangement 16 and the roof cladding 14 to the structural element such as the roof purlin 15.

[0038] Alternatively the method may involve removal of the roof cladding 14 to expose at least part of the structural element such as the roof purlin 15 to which the temporary roof anchor 10 is to be secured. This means the mounting arrangement 16 is directly screw fastened to the structural element without the involvement of any intermediate cladding. It will be understood that the roof anchor 10 is temporarily installed on the roof such as 12 for replacement after deployment of the energy absorbing element such as 18 in the event of a fall.

[0039] Now that a preferred embodiment of the various aspects of the invention have been described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that they have at least the following advantages:

1. the temporary roof anchor having a mounting arrangement including a protruding section provides effective fall protection in any direction around the compass; 2. the roof anchor and in particular the mounting arrangement are designed for retention on the roof minimising the likelihood of said anchor dislodging in a rolling action from an associated underlying structural element to which it is detachably secured;

3. the temporary roof anchor and associated method of installation are relatively safe and easy to install using a reduced number of components and associated tools; 4. the temporary roof anchor occupies a reduced portion of the roof and presents less of a trip hazard or obstacle.

[0040] Those skilled in art will appreciate that the invention as described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the shape and configuration of the mounting arrangement may vary provided it provides robust mounting to a structural or associated element of a roof. In a relatively simple form, the roof anchor may resemble a right angle section having an anchor point positioned on its upright flange, the web of the right angle section providing the mounting rail to which an oppositely directed web is integrally formed as the stiffening means. The shock absorbing element may be external to the roof anchor itself where for example this function is provided as part of the coupling arrangement. When the shock absorbing element is integrated within the roof anchor it may vary from the serpentine arrangement provided adequate shock absorption is present in the event of a fall.

[0041] All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A temporary roof anchor comprising: an anchorage including an anchor point adapted for coupling to a coupling arrangement associated with a person, a mounting arrangement integrally connected to the anchorage and including a mounting rail adapted to detachably secure to a structural or associated element of a roof, said mounting arrangement also including stiffening means formed integral with the mounting rail whereby in the event of the person falling said stiffening means reduces the likelihood of the mounting arrangement dislodging in a rolling action from the structural or associated element of the roof.

2. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting rail is detachably secured to the structural or associated element via a plurality of screw fasteners.

3. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mounting rail is detachably secured to the roof in an orientation substantially transverse to a general direction of fall of the roof.

4. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the structural element is in the form of a purlin and the mounting rail is aligned with and fastened to the purlin via the plurality of fasteners.

5. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 3 wherein the structural element is at least one of a plurality of rafters and the mounting rail is oriented transverse and fastened to said at least one rafter via at least one of the fasteners.

6. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting rail is detachably secured to roof cladding fastened to underlying structural elements of the roof.

7. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mounting rail is secured to the roof cladding via a plurality of clamp sub-assemblies each dedicated to respective of ridges of the roof cladding.

8. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 7 wherein the clamp sub assemblies each include a pair of interlocked clamp elements configured to clamp about the corresponding ridge of the roof cladding.

9. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the stiffening means includes a protruding section extending from and disposed in the same plane as the mounting rail.

10. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the stiffening means includes a stiffening flange extending in a general upright disposition from an elongate edge of the mounting rail.

11. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the stiffening means and the plurality of fasteners associated with the mounting rail cooperate to, in the event of a fall, reduce the load on said fasteners.

12. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 11 wherein the mounting rail includes a plurality of fastening apertures configured to receive respective of the plurality of fasteners for direct securement of the roof anchor to the roof.

13. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the fastening apertures is chamfered or radiused at its upper and/or lower perimeter edge thereby reducing the likelihood of shearing the corresponding fasteners in the event of a fall.

14. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the anchorage includes an energy absorbing element including the anchor point whereby, in the event of the person falling, the force exerted on the anchor point via the coupling arrangement in arresting the person's fall causes the energy absorbing element to plastically deform.

15. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 14 wherein the elongate energy absorbing element includes a plastically deformable member formed in a serpentine arrangement and configured, in the event of a fall, to distort for elongation of said energy absorbing element and thus at least in part absorb the energy of the fall.

16. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 15 wherein the plastically deformable member extends back and forth along the length of the extension rail whereby, in the event of a fall it is effective in absorbing the energy of the fall regardless of the direction of fall.

17. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in either of claims 15 to 16 wherein said deformable member is one of a pair of said members each formed in the serpentine arrangement and disposed either side of the central member defining the anchor point.

18. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the mounting arrangement also includes an extension rail extending from the mounting rail, the energy absorbing element being rigidly connected to at least the extension rail.

19. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 18 wherein the extension rail includes a flange connected to and extending along the mounting rail, the energy absorbing element rigidly connected to the flange.

20. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 19 wherein the mounting rail is in the form of a mounting web and the flange extends substantially perpendicular to said web, the energy absorbing element being arranged in the same plane as the flange of the extension rail wherein said energy absorbing element is oriented substantially perpendicular to the roof.

21. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein the energy absorbing element is elongate and formed continuous with the extension rail.

22. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein the energy absorbing element includes a central member defining the anchor point of said energy absorbing element.

23. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 22 wherein the energy absorbing element also includes a frangible element connected to the mounting arrangement, said frangible element configured in the event of a fall to fracture thereby absorbing an initial component of the force exerted on the anchor point.

24. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 23 wherein the frangible element is configured on fracturing to visually indicate deployment of said energy absorbing element.

25. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in either of claims 23 or 24 wherein the frangible element is one of a pair of frangible elements associated with the central member of the energy absorbing element.

26. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in claim 25 wherein each of the frangible elements is connected between the central member and the mounting arrangement via a bridging leg configured to facilitate fracturing of the corresponding frangible element at a relative low load thereby, in the event of a fall, reducing stress imposed on fasteners used for securement of the mounting rail to the structural or associated element of the roof.

27. A temporary roof anchor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling arrangement includes a lanyard releasably coupled at opposing ends to the anchor point and a harness worn by the person, respectively.

28. A method of installing a temporary roof anchor on a roof, said method comprising the step of: providing a temporary roof anchor including (a) an anchorage including an anchor point for coupling to a coupling arrangement associated with a person, and (b) a mounting arrangement integrally connected to the anchorage and including a mounting rail, said mounting arrangement also including stiffening means formed integral with as the mounting rail;

securing the mounting rail of the mounting arrangement of the roof anchor to a structural or associated element of the roof whereby in the event of the person falling the stiffening means of the mounting arrangement reduces the likelihood of said mounting arrangement dislodging in a rolling action from the structural or associated element of the roof.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the step of securing the mounting arrangement to a structural or associated element involves fastening of the mounting arrangement to the structural element via a plurality of fasteners.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the mounting rail of the mounting arrangement is fastened to the roof in an orientation substantially transverse to a general direction of fall of the roof.

31. A method as claimed in either of claims 29 to 30 wherein the structural element is in the form of a purlin with which the mounting rail is aligned and fastened.

32. A method as claimed in either of claims 29 or 30 wherein the structural element is in the form of a rafter with which the mounting rail is transversely oriented and fastened.

33. A method as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 32 wherein the step of securing the mounting arrangement involves removing a plurality of existing securing roof cladding to the structural element to which the mounting arrangement is to be secured.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein said securing step also involves either:

i) replacing the existing fasteners with respective of the plurality of fasteners; or ii) using the existing fasteners as respective of the plurality of fasteners for fastening of both the mounting arrangement and the roof cladding to the structural element.

35. A method as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 32 also comprising the step of removing roof cladding associated with the roof to expose at least part of the structural element.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35 wherein the step of securing the mounting arrangement to the structural or associated element involves fastening of the mounting arrangement directly to the structural element.

37. A method as claimed in in any one of claims 28 to 36 wherein the roof anchor is temporarily installed on the roof for replacement after deployment of the energy absorbing element in the event of a fall.