How We Protect the First Installer Without Stepping on the Roof

What if the first person on the roof never had to risk a fall?

That’s the question we asked ourselves.

Every roofer, safety manager, and foreman knows this moment: the job starts, and someone—usually the most experienced installer—has to be the first one on the roof. No fall protection is currently in place. No anchors are secured. But the work has to begin.

It’s a necessary risk... or is it?

According to OSHA, falls remain the leading cause of death in construction, with roofing work being one of the top contributors. In fact, over 30% of fatal falls happen during the setup phase—before fall protection is even installed. That means the most dangerous moment of the job is often the very first one.

At Ballantyne Gear, we decided that wasn’t acceptable. So we engineered a better way—one that allows crews to install critical fall protection gear from the ground, eliminating that first exposure.

This is not just innovation for the sake of innovation but a response to a real gap in the industry—a blind spot in jobsite safety that too many companies have ignored.

In this post, we’ll break down exactly how we protect the first installer without them ever setting foot on the roof, what it took to make that possible, and why it matters now more than ever.

The Problem: The First-Person Risk

Let’s talk about a reality that every roofing and construction crew faces, but few truly address: the first person up is the most exposed.

Before a single anchor is in place, before any lifeline is connected, someone has to get up there. And that person, whether they’re a foreman, lead installer, or just the guy with the most experience, is vulnerable from the moment their boot hits the ladder rung.

Here’s what a traditional setup usually looks like:

• One installer climbs to the roof without fall protection, because there’s nothing to anchor to yet.
• They manually install temporary anchors, usually with hand tools, while balancing near the roof edge or steep roof.
• Even after the anchor is set, they are often still unsecured for several moments, lining up the connection point, managing rope slack, and coordinating with the ground crew in danger of fatal swing falls. 

That brief window of exposure may only last a few minutes, but it’s long enough to be deadly.

According to OSHA 1926.501(b)(1), employers are required to provide fall protection whenever an employee is working at a height of 6 feet or more above a lower level. But the standard doesn’t account for the practical reality of installing that protection before you can use it. This paradox has created a loophole that puts real workers at serious risk.

And that risk isn’t hypothetical. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that many fatal falls occur in the first few minutes of a job, often during setup or transition phases. It's a critical blind spot in many safety plans—and one that has been accepted as “just part of the job” for far too long.

We don’t think that’s acceptable. Not anymore.

At Ballantyne Gear, we made it our mission to eliminate that initial exposure entirely. To rethink how fall protection is deployed, so that the first installer can be the first protected.

How We Have Bridged the Gap to Protect the First Installer

Ballantyne Gear utilizes a Line Thrower and that helps us change the game for roof safety. When paired with our Eveook Systems, it transforms the high-risk operation into a controlled method of installation. It is designed to eliminate the risk of sending the installer up unprotected by enabling lifeline setup from the ground.

This thrower features a pistol grip and a full-length shoulder stock, and uses a .22 caliber blank round to precisely shoot the projectile and lifeline over the target roof structure. The simple and efficient tool has protected hundreds of roofers from injuries and from taking undue risks.  (Some customers use an air powered line thrower.)

Advantages of Ballantyne Gear Line Thrower

• Unrivaled Safety for the First Installer: The line thrower eliminates the most dangerous part of rooftop work. It establishes a secure lifeline before the first installer is exposed to fall hazards on the roof, thereby reducing the risk of serious injury or worse, fatality.
• Rapid Deployment, Maximized Efficiency: We believe safety shouldn’t be a bottleneck. The Line Thrower allows for quick deployment of a safety line, minimizing the time workers spend making unsecured areas safe.
• Versatility Across Roof Types: Our Line Thrower enables you to lay line over various roof types, including low-slope, flat, and steep pitched roofs. Additionally, it facilitates easier access to complex roof geometries or areas that are otherwise inaccessible using traditional access methods.
• Cost-Effective Risk Mitigation: Investing in a Line Thrower is a wise financial decision. It prevents falls and accidents, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical costs, compensation claims, legal fees, and lost productivity.
• Enhanced Regulatory Compliance: By addressing the critical scenario of the first installer, the Line Thrower enables contractors to meet and exceed OSHA requirements for fall protection, ultimately leading to fewer citations, injuries, deaths, and a stronger safety record.
• Improves Crew Confidence: Knowing that they are protected from the moment they get on the roof is invaluable. It provides workers with a sense of security and support from the outset.
  

How to Set Up a Fall Protection System with the Line Thrower?

The process of placing the throwline is fairly simple.

1. Prepare the Lines: The first step is to take out the throw line and tie one end to the projectile of the line thrower and the other end to the anchor line. 
2. Lay the Line: Pull out enough throw line to comfortably cross the roof. 
3. Secure the Throw Line: At the side of the throw line that is opposite of the projectile, tie the throw line to the ladder or another anchor point, allowing just enough throw line to cross the roof and land on the ground on the opposite side. 
4. Load and Launch: When ready to launch, load the projectile with .22 caliber blank cartridges. Make sure it’s properly seated in the thrower, hold the thrower firmly, and fire the projectile, sending the throw line cleanly across the house. 
5. Retrieve the Lifeline: Once the projectile has landed on the far side, untie the throw line from the ladder or other temporary anchor, from the first side. Now you can safely pull the throw line, on the second side, until the anchor line is over the roof and in your hand. 
6. Secure the Anchors: With the anchor line lying on the roof, it’s time to secure primary anchors. The first Eveook should already be attached to the first side of the anchor line. Take the other end and secure it to the Ballantyne Gear Eveook Non-Penetrating Anchorage and complete the installation as instructed in the Ballantyne Gear Eveook technical manual. 

This innovative system attaches to the eaves of the roof without needing any drills or roof penetrations. 

See Ballantyne Gear Eveook Technical Manual for complete instructions and images.

A safe and secure fall protection system can be installed for up to 8 users per system to move around and work on a sloped roof. 

Redefining Safety Standards for First Installers Through Innovation

Falls can happen in seconds, and the best way to prevent them is to plan ahead, including the first installer. The Ballantyne Gear Line Thrower, when integrated with the Eveook Non-Penetrating Anchorage System, excels at protecting workers, offering a safe, practical, highly efficient, and non-penetrating solution to a longstanding industry challenge.

From establishing initial anchor lines to attaching the complete fall arrest system, when used properly, the Line Thrower and Eveook Fall Protection System can provide protection before climbing the roof.

Our mission is to redefine safety standards through innovation. Ballantyne Gear believes that no worker should ever have to put themselves at undue risk. The Line Thrower and all our safety equipment offer a practical, effective, and compliant solution to one of the industry’s persistent safety challenges.

Want to see it in action?

Reach out to us at 1-888-996-3565 or explore our full line of fall protection equipment built to protect first.