Safe Roofing

On any roofing project, the importance of taking safety precautions cannot be understated. Far too often, workers are hurt or killed because of not having in place, or not following a safety plan. According to MSN there are approximately 37 fatalities  annually among roofers for every 100,000. It’s this writer’s opinion that overconfidence is to blame for a lot of these unnecessary deaths. Ignoring sound safety principles no matter what your skill level may be, is asking for trouble. I hope to provide some useful tips to help keep you safe, but the real key is consistency. You must always practice safety.

Ladders – Since ladders are usually dealt with before the roof, it seems like a good place to start. Always make sure the ladder is set level and at safe distance from the structure. Some method of stabilizing the ladder should be used. One way to do it is to notch a piece of plywood (big enough to accommodate the width of the ladder) and fasten it to the roof with screws or nails. Using rope; tie the ladder to the plywood, adding even more stability. This method also protects gutters from being damaged by the ladder.

Also, plan carefully how you will get tools and equipment onto the roof. Sometimes it is best to attach a rope to a bucket and haul stuff up that way. It is best to try and maintain three points of contact while climbing a ladder.

Safety Harness – Is perhaps the cornerstone of a good safety plan. Always check your harness for damage or defects before wearing. Check safety ropes, straps, fasteners, and any other part of the harness/line system that may fail. Make sure that harness is the right size and adjusted properly. Tie-down knots should be checked and re-checked.

Hard Hats – Anyone on the ground of a roofing project should be wearing a hard hat, and sometimes it may be required of roof personnel as well (especially when crane work is required). Falling tools, plywood, and nails, all are very possible dangers on most job sites.

Safety Glasses – Another critical (and OSHA required) piece of equipment. No matter what your particular part in roofing project is, there’s a chance of something bad happening to your eyes if you do not wear these.

Roof Surface – A wet roof is a very dangerous environment, and should always be avoided. When on a roof, always wear rubber soled shoes or boots with a good grip. Arrange extension cords in such a way that they do not become slipping or tripping hazards. Stepping on an extension cord can cause it to roll, causing you to roll.

A broom is a must have piece of safety equipment. No matter how good the grip on your shoes is, a little bit of sawdust can give you the quickest trip possible off of a roof. Screws, nails, and sawdust need to be regularly swept up from the roof surface.
For more safety tips visit https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Build/RoofingSafety.html