Roof Safety

According to OSHA, “In the construction industry in the U.S., falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year, on average, between 150 and 200 workers are killed and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. OSHA recognizes that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently involving a variety of factors.”

There are some simple steps you can take to help avoid a fall.

• Never work on a wet roof — it’s just too easy to slip and fall on wet roofing materials.
• Wear soft-soled shoes which provide the best transition on all roof surfaces.
• Use safety equipment to prevent falling from the roof.

If you have the skills to make repairs, do maintenance or even install a roof, there are other safety measures and precautions you should take before getting started.

Organization
Getting organized is half the battle to preventing roof related accidents and injuries. The first step is to organize your tools and materials and to keep them organized and clear of your work zone. The easiest thing in the world is to trip over the materials you are using and take a tumble off the roof. It is also a good idea to rope or block off your work or staging area from children and pets.

The next step is to identify other hazards on the roof such as power lines, damaged areas that might be unsafe to step on, etc. Create a plan to work around these hazards.

Check the weather! It’s not safe to work on a roof in the rain, ice or snow. Nor it is safe during an electrical storm. Be sure to check the weather report before beginning work and know when to stop when bad weather approaches.

Next, carefully set up your ladder to access the roof in safety. Type 1A ladders are the safest for use when working on a roof. Inspect the ladder to make sure is it in good repair. Make sure the ladder is on solid, level footing, and that it extends 36 inches above the landing or roof surface — this gives you something to grab onto when transitioning onto or off of the roof. Keep the ladder away from electrical wires and use a non-conductive ladder made of wood or fiberglass. A ladder stabilizer is a great tool to keep the ladder in place when you are climbing up or down.

Finally, prepare the roof surface. Dirt, debris or sawdust may cause the roof to be slippery. It’s not a bad idea to hose down the work area and remove these dangers before starting work. Just be sure to let the roof dry thoroughly before starting.

Safety Equipment
There are several pieces of safety equipment you should be using when working on the roof.

• Eye protection — wear safety glasses at all times when using any type of equipment (hammer, power nailers, saws, etc.).
• Safety harness — on steep pitched roofs, a safety harness and safety lines are a must to prevent falls or injuries.
• Guardrails or netting — other types of safety measure to prevent falls are setting up guardrails or netting along the edge of the worksite to catch workers if they fall off.
• Gloves — heavy duty work gloves are important to protect your hand both from the power tools and the roofing materials.

Personal Safety

There are some personal safety tips you should follow that will help prevent injuries.

• When lifting heavy materials, always use your legs, not your back.
• Roof surfaces can heat up quickly, so be prepared with plenty of liquids. Stop work immediately if you begin to feel weak or dizzy.
• Keep your knees bent and your center of gravity low and over your feet when working on the roof.
• Use a basket or some form of lift or hoist to get materials up to the roof. Climbing with your hands full is a very bad idea.
• Avoid dropping things off the edge of the roof — there’s no telling who is standing below.
• Be aware of what is around you at all times.