Roof Access Safety: Everything You Need to Know

Working on roofs can bring about a variety of hazards, and if doing so it’s important that you’re aware of how to keep yourself as safe as possible at all times. Most work done on roofs falls into the construction category and is usually concerned with altering, conversion, renovating, maintaining or demolishing a roof or the structure it’s attached to.

Even minor work not related to construction like cleaning a roof or replacing its tiles can come with considerable risks, and the same safety procedures need to be followed. Any time when a person is in danger of falling, working near asbestos or electrical components or being involved in a demolition project they’re putting themselves at risk.

In this article, we’ll explore the main hazards that come with working on roofs and how these dangers can be controlled and minimized. Keep reading to find out how to keep yourself and those around you safe when working on roofs.

Fragile Roofs

Every single roof you work on should be treated as a fragile one until a qualified professional has declared otherwise. Sheeted roofs should never be trusted to carry the weight of you or anyone, no matter what their material. Roofs should be considered fragile if they’re made from any of the following materials:

• Glass
• Fibre cement sheets
• Wood slabs, slates and tiles
• Asbestos roofing sheets
• Polycarbonate or plastic
• Liner panels
• Roof lights

There are many safety procedures that can be used to prevent injury from working on a fragile roof, such as:

• An elevated platform for workers to stand on rather than standing on the roof itself
• Staging located on the roof surface to spread the weight of the loads
• Safety mesh underneath the fragile roofing
• Guard rails attached to the work and access staging or platforms
• Walkways or crawl boards that are both big and strong enough to handle workers
• A harness system

Safe Roof Access

When planning how to access a roof, it’s important to use the correct method and the appropriate equipment to reduce the risk of falls. Some of the ways to provide safe roof access include:

• Stair towers
• Roof access hatches
• Roof access ladders
• Scaffold access towers

If you’re not able to provide permanent access to the roof, make sure you construct temporary access with clearly signposted access points that reduce any hazards. Where one steps onto the roof should always be sturdy, strong and have no obstructions.

Falls

Falls are the single largest cause of injury or death when working on a roof, so it’s important to reduce the risk of one occurring wherever possible. Some hazards to consider when managing the risk of falling include:

• Fragile surfaces such as skylights
• Trip hazards and obstructions
• Unprotected edges
• Losing balance on steep or sloping roofs

Falls from even low heights can cause serious injuries that last a lifetime, and this risk only increases as the height gets higher. For this reason, the most effective control measures must be taken to minimize falls and the injuries that result from them. This includes:

• Avoiding working at heights by installing items at ground level (such as air conditioning units) and then using devices to get them on or near the roof
• Limiting time spent on the roof
• Fall prevention devices such as safety mesh, guard railing or elevated work platforms
• Travel restraints that stop workers from nearing the edge of the roof

Falling Objects

Injuries from falling objects can occur in a variety of situations, including when there’s a hole in the safety mesh, work is being performed from elevated structures or there’s a gap between the top of the roof’s cladding and the bottom of a toe-board. These risks can be controlled by:

• Safely raising and lowering objects
• Placing tools on lanyards
• Keeping floors and access ways clean and clear
• Installing physical barriers to prevent objects from free-falling
• Limiting access to overhead work

Working on roofs is always going to come with its risks, even with all the correct safety measures in place. However, by following these procedures, you can greatly reduce the risk of serious injuries or deaths occurring and keep yourself and those around you protected to the very best of your ability.