Roofing is a risk-oriented job, which includes high risks and hazards. Before getting on to the work it’s very important to ensure the safety of those involved in working. Many accidents occur even after implementing various safety measures and there, the villain is carelessness and over confidence. Maybe you are a trained worker may be you are used of being on the roof for a long while, that never means you can ignore the possibilities of hazards. If tightening a safety belt or safe keeping a ladder would take some time what’s wrong in affording them instead of risking your precious life. Always keep in mind you are at a height and chances of fall is very high and each step with care assures you a safe and happy living.
Managing hazards:
Managing the hazards is an important factor in all work locations and is to be carried out with responsibly. The various steps involved in managing the hazards are:
- Planning the job
- Accessing the roofs
- Safety measures to be assured
- Weather conditions
Before getting on to the job, planning a safe approach helps in getting a detailed view of the jobs to be carried out and the safety measures to be assured. The hazards can be overseen and the precautionary measures that best suite it can be analyzed and implemented.
Accessing the roofs:
A detailed study of the roofs helps us know the various safety measures to be taken which suites the roof most effectively. There are different types of roofing materials used and the way of working on it and the measures to be undertaken for each varies accordingly. Additional care needs to be taken in case of brittle roofs.
Safety measures to be assured:
After analyzing the way the work is to be done and the precautions to be made, before starting the work makes sure that the safety measures are enabled to assist that day’s work. If the administrative people fails to assure it the workers could feel free to remind about it as it’s them who are going to work around and assuring safety is more important to them than to any other.
Weather conditions:
The weather has a great part to play in the work and if it was raining for a while then it’s better to postpone the work and wait for sunshine as rain may cause the roofs to be slippery and hence working on it could be more challenging.
Basic precautionary measures:
These precautionary works are included in almost all roofs working location to ensure safety of the employees. They are:
1.Scaffolding and guard railing
2.Fall arrest system
3.Safety mesh
4.Safety nets
Planning the Job:
Scaffolding and guard railing:
Scaffolding is a temporary structure, which provides an easy and secure access mechanism to work on without having to directly climb on to the roofs. The scaffoldings are more or less like a ladder but in the extended form to wherever needed. They provided edge protection to the workers and are used in almost all work sites. They reduce the risk of falling of the roofs or slipping on through the edges. Before the work starts the workers make up the scaffolding as if a part of work and to ensure their safety.
Fall arrest system:
A fall arrest system protects a worker from free fall and provides a better support by holding him on to the wires, which are attached to the inertia wheel. In case of a fall down it ensures a pendulum effect hence preventing the worker from thrown on to solid objects. All fall arrest restraints and anchors must be subjected to annual recertification to ensure their working condition.
Safety mesh:
If you are working on roof areas without the roofs then a safety mesh is a must, which should be installed as soon as the roof is removed. The mesh should be capable of handling a person’s weight. Even though it’s not a safer mechanism to work on or to walk through, in case of a fall it can reduce the damage with that of a free fall.
Safety nets:
The safety nets are much similar to safety mesh and serve the same purpose but the main advantage over the other is its lightweight and the ease to handle it. They are mostly used in case of smaller job locations to prevent free fall.