What type of safety equipment is essential when working near open edges of a roof?

When working near open edges of a roof, a safety harness is essential because it provides fall protection, which is a critical safety measure in construction. Roof edges are often at significant heights, and the risk of falling is a serious hazard. A safety harness is designed to secure the worker to a fixed anchor point, which can prevent falls from the edge of the roof. This equipment is part of a broader fall protection plan, which may also include guardrails or safety nets.

In contrast, while protective gloves, hard hats, and safety glasses are important for overall safety on a construction site, they do not specifically address the risk of falling from heights. Gloves protect hands from cuts or abrasions, hard hats protect against falling debris, and safety glasses shield the eyes from dust and flying particles. However, none of these options provide the necessary fall protection when working near open edges, making the safety harness the most critical equipment in this context.