Roofing Safety Meeting Kit

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Roof safety is a system of preventive and safety measures when performing work and repairs on rooftops.

Performing roof work exposes workers to risks such as falls, which are the leading cause of death in the construction industry.

Roofing is a dangerous profession, but you can minimize the risk by following roofing safety procedures.

Similar to other rooftop safety practices, it doesn’t take much to reduce the risk of working on a roof.

WHAT’S THE DANGER

HAZARDS OF ROOFING WORK

Worker safety is important on any construction job. Working on roofs is no exception. Falls account for more serious injuries and deaths in construction than anything else. Accidents occur not only to those building roofs, but also people maintaining, cleaning, demolishing, and inspecting roofs. Any work on a roof is a risk.

The most common rooftop safety hazards:

1. Stability Of the Roof. If the roof is unstable then there may be risk of collapse under a person’s weight.
2. Placement Of the Ladder. Most roofing accidents occur because the placement of the ladder is incorrect.
3. Weather Conditions. Shingles on a roof can become slippery if it has been snowing or raining and this can make falls more likely. Snow can also add extra weight to the roof.
4. Holes In the Roof. The roof should always be checked for skylights that have not been covered up or holes of any other kind.
5. Losing Awareness of The Edge. Even the most experienced roofers can lose track of where they are on the roof and find themselves stepping too close to the edge on occasion.
6. Improper Training. If the training has not been up to standard, then it may be harder to keep yourself safe as there may be important safety elements that you have not been taught and are therefore unaware of.
7. Improper Use of Equipment. You will need safety equipment before you go up on the roof to help protecting you, but you will not get the benefits of this protection if the equipment is not used properly.
8. Poor Line of Sight. There are many things that can block your sight when you are on a roof such as chimneys, ridge vents, and even other workers.
9. Pitch Of the Roof. Greater care will need to be taken on roofs with a steeper pitch as you will be more likely to fall on a roof like this than you would on a flat roof.
10. Split Level Roofing. Split level roofing brings more safety concerns because it is possible that the highest point of the house is further off the ground than on a single level home.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

BEST ROOF SAFETY TIPS

1. Use Common-Sense. Common sense means moving slowly and cautiously. It means watching your footing and knowing where your tools are. It means being alert to your surroundings and ensuring you are doing everything in your power to remain safe and avoid any nasty spills off the roof.

2. Avoid Bad Weather. Slips and falls happen on iced-over roofs all the time. Practice caution and be wary of areas with moisture as it can freeze and turn into ice.

In horrible rain and wind, you should avoid the roof altogether. If it can possibly wait, try to avoid those adverse weather conditions, and wait until the situation is optimal.

3. Don’t Use Cheap Ladders. While it is understandable that cost can be a concern, safety should be a greater concern. Invest in a quality ladder that isn’t rickety and wobbly or has been around longer than you have. Get a ladder that is sturdily built and will support you solidly.

4.  Dress Accordingly. It is imperative to wear clothes that aren’t restricting yet aren’t hanging off of you. You need to be able to react and move around properly to maintain safety.

Tripping and falling because your pant legs are too loose is dangerous. Keep your pants secure and away from your feet, and you should be able to avoid getting tangled up in your own clothing.

Try to avoid wearing clothing that has rips or tears. This just adds to the possibility of snagging on the roof, which adds to the danger.

5. Wear Proper Footwear. Wearing proper footwear when up on a rooftop is essential. Make certain that you have rubber-soled shoes to get the maximum grip and traction.

A quality pair of slip-proof boots will cost you a little money but consider it an investment in your safety.

6. Protect Your Head. One preventative measure that seems common sense is headwear. Having a helmet is a no-brainer.

Slap a helmet on your head before heading up to the roof.

7. Harness The Power. There are instruments out there are meant to help keep you from hurting yourself while up on a roof. That is why the roof safety harness was created, after all. Simply put, a roof harness keeps you from taking that unfortunate plunge.

8. Create Walkway Paths. If at all possible, walkway paths can be welded easily to an existing roof. This gives even and safer footing to those who have to traverse up there. And at the end of the day, that should be the first priority of anyone who has to go up on the roof.

9. Implement Policies & Procedures. One way to eliminate the laziness that can lead to common rooftop accidents is to implement safety procedure guidelines. Make it mandatory to implement those best practices with punishment for those who don’t follow the rules.

10.  Don’t Drink & Climb. Make certain that you have all of your faculties about you before climbing up onto a roof. Any distractions or limitations can lead to a common mistake that could make you tumble off the roof. Mistakes having an adult beverage like these are easily avoidable but often happen due to carelessness and a blasé attitude.

11. Avoid Distractions. When your smartphone constantly goes off, it just leads to distractions that could compromise your safety. Put your phone on silent while on the rooftop. This will help avoid those distractions that can lead to dangerous situations. Pass off message duties to someone on the ground, who can relay the information to you while you are busy on the job.

FINAL WORD

Roofing whether commercial or residential is an incredibly dangerous job. Workers are required to work at dangerous heights often in scorching heat or chilling cold engaging in heavy lifting, bending, kneeling and frequent climbing.