1. How do I "tie off" properly when on a ladder or a steep roof.  
I know that while at heights, on steep roofs, or doing any tricky
ladder work window cleaners and roofers always tie off using a
harnass.  How is this done? What do I anchor the rope to?

2.  What equipment is needed to do this.

for an example of what i am reffering to it is clear that in the
fourth picture down on this website
"http://www.windowgang.com/s_pressure_cleaning.asp" the worker is tied
to a rope which must be anchored somewhere.

This site provides a diagram of such a safety system and sells the
equiptment you will need.

Ladder Climbing System
http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/kln50-5.html

" the vertical wire attached to the ladder and tower structure that
serves as an anchorage for the cable grab device"

Additional Sources of equiptment:

Ladder Climber's Safety System
http://www.gemtor.com/ladderclimb.htm

Ladder access harness
http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/e0/0c03cce0.asp

Harnesses & Belts
http://www.ladders-online.com/acatalog/Harnesses___Belts.html

Additional Safety Measures:

Tie off the ladder itself
http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/manuals/PPSAFETY/Ladders.htm

General Ladder Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/ladder_safety.html

Google Search Strategy:

-harness ladder
-"tying off" ladder

I hope this helps. Please request clarification if you need it.

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Request for Answer Clarification by davelazowski-ga on 21 May 2006 06:31 PDT

what part of the tower structure is the person attached to?
Specifically when working on residences.  Or on residential roof tops.
 As in the example photo on the fourth photo down on this website 
http://www.windowgang.com/s_pressure_cleaning.asp

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Clarification of Answer by adiloren-ga on 25 May 2006 00:55 PDT

An anchor is tied directly to the main structure itself. In the case
of the picture you posted above- it would be attached to parts of the
house, near or on top of the roof. In the photo- their are multiple
anchor lines.

Here is some further information:

Diagram of a fall arrest system
http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/kln50-2.html

Further description
http://www.mytoolstore.com/klein/connect.html