Roof Safety

Time to dust off your roof safety awareness -reduces the harm caused by people and objects
as the renovation and construction craze swingsfalling within the scaffolding.
into action this Spring and you climb back on top• Guardrails on the scaffolding should be
of those homes and buildings.in place at all times.
Spring is an ideal time to tackle roof repairs - the• Easy access for workers, whether
howling winter winds have subsided and theusing a stairway or ladder, should built during the
searing summer heat hasn't yet arrived. Not toconstruction of the scaffolding and not after the
mention that spring showers are a good indicatorfact.
of exactly where those roof leaks are located!Wear a fall arrest system
Workers risking their necksOnce you're up on the roof, you want to stay
But roof work involves the risk of falling, which isthere. If you're more than six feet off the ground
the leading cause of death in the construction(certainly the case for all roofs!) you should be
industry. In fact, falling accidents across all sectorswearing a fall arrest system, which includes a
account for a whopping 19 percent of non-fatalsafety harness, an anchorage and a deceleration
injuries at work, according to the Bureau of Labordevice such as a lanyard, a length of rope or wire
Statistics.that slows you down before you come to a stop.
One-third of all deaths in construction result fromSafety harnesses come in vest and full body
a fall. And the construction industry ranks as onedesigns. Full body designs, which offer more areas
of the top 10 deadliest sectors in the U.S. with aof support, are best for women and men five
fatality rate of 22.7 dead per 100,000 workers.feet, seven inches tall or shorter. The vest style
Yet you can walk past a construction site prettyworks best for men with more mass and height.
much anywhere in North America and likely seeNo matter which design you choose, make sure
at least one worker not wearing proper fallyou have a comfortable fit with the buckles and
protection equipment, or wearing it properly.chest strap in the right places. An ill-fitting harness
Just the act of getting to the roof can becould injure, or fail to support you, in the event of
dangerous! More than 300 people in Northa fall.
America die each year from ladder-related falls,Up on the roof, make sure you've got the right
and countless more are injured on ladders.safety equipment - beyond harness gear, you
Ladder safety 101should always
When you using a ladder, you should• Wear work gloves to protect your
• make sure the feet of the ladder arehands from cuts and abrasions while you're
on solid ground so the ladder doesn't shifthammering in those shingle nails.
• make sure the ladder is a good safe• Protect your feet from dropped tools
distance from tree branches and electrical linesby wearing a good pair of work boots.
• do not lean over the side of the ladder• Don a hard hat at all times on the job;
once you are on the ladder.it should fit your head well and be in good shape.
Scaffolding is another big-time source ofDon't risk your life or your livelihood - get the
workplace injury. The Occupational Safety &right safety gear and use it.
Health Administration (OSHA) listed scaffolding asCooper Lang is a workplace safety advocate. He
the number-one OSHA violation in 2006.holds a full time job in an unrelated field; however,
Tips for safe scaffoldingdue to the experiences of family in the industrial
• When erecting scaffolding, make suresector, he has decided to bring the topic of
that each level has a full deck of planks beforesafety in the workplace to the forefront. He is a
moving on to the next level.freelance writer for - a site dedicated to
• Each level of the scaffold shouldWorkplace Safety offering unique information on
remain in place until it is dismantled; this greatlythings like Personal Protective Equipment.