Everyday Roof and Ladder Safety
Roofing Magazine recently published an article titled, “Everyday Roof Safety,” discussing why roof safety, regardless of whether you are a professional roofer or not, is extremely important.
“There’s no safe way to fall off a roof, so roofers owe it to themselves and family and coworkers who depend on them to do everything they can to prevent life-altering falls from occurring in the first place,” says Jay Butch for Roofing Magazine. “That involves learning as much as possible about roofing safety equipment and its use, government safety regulations for roofers (especially those issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA), and trade association safety recommendations.”
Following Federal Safety Protocols
OSHA enforces a federally mandated safety program for all roofing contractors. This includes regular training and employers providing roofers OSHA-approved fall protection equipment while working 6 feet or more above a lower level. Even experienced roofers deal with unpredictable fall hazards caused by uneven sheathing, openings in the roof deck for skylights or hatches, loose roofing materials, and slick surfaces, so employers must evaluate the hazards and take measures to reduce the risk of falls.
Basic Roof Safety Tips
Tie-off: Wear a safety harness that is securely tied off to a fall-resistant device.
Avoid slippery roofs: When the roof is slippery from rain, snow, frost or dew, it’s best to wait until the roof surface is dry to begin work.
Keep it clean: Make sure someone keeps the roof clean by frequently removing sawdust, wood, shingle particles, and other kinds of dirt.
Wear rubber-soled shoes or boots: Rubber-soled boots typically provide better traction than leather-soled boots. Some crepe-soled boots also provide good traction. Whatever shoes or boots you decide to wear, make sure they’re in good condition. Badly worn shoes of any type can be a real safety problem.
Secure openings: Cover and secure all skylights and openings or install guardrails to keep workers from falling through.
Dealing with wet conditions: Dew, frost, and rain all pose safety and liability problems. In the case of dew and frost, early mornings present increased risks for workers walking on a roof. In all wet weather conditions, be sure to protect shingle bundles from getting wet. Wet bundles can be difficult to handle.
Install temporary wood cleats for toeholds: Nail two-by-four wood cleats or adjustable roof jacks to the roof deck to provide temporary toeholds. Remove the cleats or roof jacks as the roofing is installed.
Constantly inspect the roof for tripping hazards: Tools, electric cords, and other loose items can all pose hazards and should be removed from the roof.
Ladder Safety
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ladders account for nearly 20 percent of fall injuries among the general public. Among construction workers, ladders are the cause of 81 percent of fall injuries. It’s important to take extreme precaution when using ladders.
Here are some important ladder safety tips:
Tie-off: A ladder used for extended period should be tied off at the bottom rung to a stake driven into the ground (or stack two shingle bundles on the ground against the base of the ladder) and also tied off near the top to an eye bolt screwed into the fascia.
Ladder rating: Ladders are rated by how much weight they can safely bear. Consider using the highest-available rating of 1A or 300 pounds.
Material: When it comes to safety, the best material for a ladder is fiberglass. Although wood is cheaper and aluminum is easier to handle, wood also deteriorates when used outdoors, and aluminum is dangerous when used around electric circuits.
Power lines: Even ladders made of wood or fiberglass should not be used in the vicinity of power lines or other electrical hazards.
Positioning: Ladders should extend above the eaves by 3 to 3 1/2 feet and sit on a firm level base. Leveling can be attained by digging or by use of adjustable leg levelers. Firmness can be attained by use of a two-foot square piece of 3/4-inch plywood under each leg.
Ladder angle: To be at a proper angle, the distance of the foot of the ladder from the wall supporting it should be one quarter of the height of the wall (1 foot for every 4 feet of vertical rise).
Avoid over-reaching: Don’t over-reach to either side while on a ladder. A good rule is to keep your belt buckle between the rails.
Not a plank: Do not use the ladder or even a section of a ladder as a plank or to provide stiffness to a wooden plank. Besides the danger of failure, the stresses set up during this usage loosen the ladder’s connecting points.
Step ladders: Step ladders are intended for use fully opened — not closed and leaning against a wall. The highest step for standing on is 2 feet below the top.
Inspection: A ladder should be inspected every time it is set up for use. Check the ladder from bottom to top for any visible defects or wear and ensure it is securely anchored and properly positioned.
In your efforts to prevent falls, be sure to always implement proper safety procedures and use common sense. Safety programs and regulations can’t predict the conditions or layout of every roof on which you may have to work. Adapt to protect yourself and your co-workers.