Keeping Your Roof Work Safe

When you're undertaking any project involving your roof, whether you're hiring professionals or tackling the work yourself, making safety your absolute top priority is essential. Each year, countless individuals experience severe or even fatal injuries due to falls when operating at height. You must take extreme care to prevent falls from the roof, through openings in it, or to stop objects from dropping onto those below.

Even for seemingly straightforward tasks, careful planning can save you valuable time, effort, and money. Developing a basic safety plan helps you and your builder identify and address any potential health and safety risks before work even begins.

Using Scaffolding

For most roof work, you will typically need scaffolding. Ensure your scaffolding includes a handrail, a mid-rail, and toe boards. These critical components serve a dual purpose: they prevent you from falling and also protect anyone on the ground from objects that might drop from above. Always remember to extend the scaffolding to cover the entire gable end.

Working with Ladders

If you absolutely must use ladders or stepladders, you are responsible for ensuring they are in excellent condition, are the correct type for the specific job at hand, and remain completely stable throughout their use.