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Did you know that temperatures on roofs in the southwest can reach 170 degrees Fahrenheit? That’s hard on roofing materials, as well as roofers who have to go up and fix or inspect them.
Heat can cause all kinds of stress on roofs, including cracks, bumps and other signs of damage that you probably won’t notice until the next rain. A regular roof inspection will catch heat-related damage before it gets out of hand.
Of course, roof inspections and repairs during the summer heat are even harder on our employees than it is on the roofs. No one can handle 170 degrees for very long and heat-related illnesses are not uncommon. We watch our team members very carefully for signs of heat stress (red face, excessive sweating, dizziness, fatigue, confusion and nausea). We also take additional safety precautions during the summer months, including starting earlier in the day to avoid the heat, having extra safety talks and taking extra safety measures when on the rooftop, as well as keeping workers hydrated and insisting they take regular breaks in the shade to cool off. It does extend the roofing process a little, but these precautions prevent accidents and keep our professional standards high. In addition, the precautions keep our team members healthy and out of the hospital.
Other safety factors to consider when working on a roof in during the summer months:
