It is everyone’s responsibility to look after their own health and safety and that of others when they are working on a roofing project. Making sure that you are aware of any potential hazards is a good place to start as once you know that these hazards are then you can start to think of ways to avoid them. Here are the 10 most common rooftop safety hazards:
Stability Of The Roof
If the roof is unstable then there may be risk of collapse under a persons weight. The roof should always be checked before more than one person goes up there.
Placement Of The Ladder
Most roofing accidents occur because the placement of the ladder is incorrect. The feet should always be secure and the top of the ladder should be tied to the roof if practical.
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. If the roof is too wet then any work should be postponed until the weather conditions have improved.
Holes In The Roof
The roof should always be checked for skylights that have not been covered up or holes of any other kind. Falling through the hole in the roof could cause serious injury and is something that can be easily avoided by carrying out a few simple checks.
Losing Awareness Of The Edge
It is easier than you think to lose awareness of where you are in the roof and falling from the edge can lead to fatalities. 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 and so it is important to take a moment every now and again to stop and think about exactly where you are.
Improper Training
The training that you undergo before you start working on roofing jobs will teach you all you need to know about staying safe when you are working on a roof. 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.
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. Common mistakes that are made when using safety equipment include the lanyard being too long and the tie off point being too weak.
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. Maintaining a good line of sight is important so that you know where you are in relation to the edge of the roof and so you can see any other potential hazards that may be on the roof.
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. There is also more danger from falling shingles on a sloped roof so you will want to make sure that all shingle bundles are properly secured.
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. There is also a greater chance of falling from the side of the roof as these areas are unlikely to have any kind of barrier that could prevent the fall.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed whenever you work on a roof and it is vital that this is used correctly. If an accident did occur and there was a problem with the protective equipment then the consequences of this accident are likely to be more severe. If you are unsure about how to use any piece of PPE then you should ask someone to help you. PPE is there to help you but you also need to take some responsibility for your own safety.
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The article is provided by George G. an experienced safety expert. Safety is important at home too. Keep your children safe with the safest and strongest pool fence.
